A Wonderful Welcome Back
It may still be 137 degrees outside, but 'tis the season for all things back to school. Pencils are sharpened, new backpacks are being unzipped, and good friends are reuniting after summer break. I felt the need to create a back-to-school story from a different perspective, but who could give me that? Students and teachers would be the obvious choice, but I needed a twist. Then, one day, Mary Johnson crossed my mind. Mary, or "Ms. Mary," as she's been known to thousands of students who have roamed the halls of Atlanta Elementary, is the head custodian. She is everywhere all at once. She proudly does her work behind the scenes, but she really is the eyes of the school. She's in and out of all the classrooms daily and interacts with all the students who cross her path in a day's time. Though some elementary students may not have been ready for summer to end, the sights and sounds of the first day of school thrill Ms. Mary beyond words.
A few years ago, when my oldest daughter, Claire, came home from college, she and I went to get gas at one of our small-town convenience stores. I was sitting in my car with my window rolled down as Claire got out to fill the tank. Midway through the fill, I heard her yell, "Ms. Mary!" I watched my daughter sprint across the parking lot and throw her arms around a lady who had just left the store. Through the windshield, I watched the two smile, laugh, and part ways with another big hug. When my daughter returned to the car, I asked her who the lady was that she'd just had a random conversation with. "That wasn't a random conversation, Mom. That was Ms. Mary! She was the janitor when I was in elementary school and only like the sweetest person to ever walk the earth!" The same day, my family went to eat dinner at my sister's house. I heard my daughter tell her cousin, who was also in college then, "Guess who I saw today? Ms. Mary!" My nephew grinned and continued to talk about how they hardly remembered Atlanta Elementary School, which didn't include Mary Johnson. With all this admiration, my curious (and sometimes nosey) mind had to find out about Ms. Mary. Fast forward to last week, Mary came to mind, and I thought, who better to give some insight on the first few days of the back-to-school season?
I met with Mary Johnson in the Atlanta Elementary cafeteria on the second day of school. Upon entering the room, she hugged me and immediately asked, "How is Claire doing?" After assuring her that my girl was doing well in the big city, she sat down to talk about how much she enjoyed this time of year. She has been an employee of the Atlanta Independent School District for a total of 37 years but has spent the last 17 of those years at the elementary school. Mary has worked her way to the head custodian position at the school and says that back to school is always a busy time of year, but she wouldn't trade it for anything. "I work year-round keeping this school clean and I'm proud of that, but I work really hard to get the school clean for the students to come back after their summer break." The teachers often text Mary during the summer to ask if they can come set up their classrooms. She and her custodial staff go into the classrooms during the summer and clean the carpet, wipe all the desks down, and make repairs for the upcoming school year. When that's been done, Mary lets the teachers know that they can make their way back to work in their rooms before school starts. "I think a clean school makes for a good start to the year, and keeping the school clean makes everybody happier." The pride that Mary Johnson takes in her work is inspiring and contagious.
Aside from keeping the school meticulously clean, Mary arrives at work every morning at 5 am sharp. On the first day of school, just like every day, she walks the halls while it's still dark outside to ensure everything is up to her standard. She strives to make sure that teachers and students walk into a consistent and orderly environment. As the 7 o'clock hour arrived on the first day of school, Mary staked out her post at the front of the school. "It is my job on the first day of school and every day after that to greet the kids when they walk through the doors. It's my favorite part of my job!" She admits that the first day at the elementary school can be overwhelming for third graders. After all, they're the rookies on campus. Mary assures them that they will love their new school and gives them directions on where to go on that first day. The fourth and fifth graders hit the door with arms wide open to give Ms. Mary their hugs. They have missed her over the summer, but she has missed them more. "I don't like it when the kids are gone on summer break or spring break or at Christmas." The custodian says that during the breaks, the silence in the halls and classrooms is deafening. She enjoys the noise that kids bring to the building. So, after a long summer break, the laughter and excitement that the students bring to the school is sweet music to Mary's ears. Mary says that often, students have shared with her that their dad just lost his job or that a grandparent has recently passed away. It's obviously no accident that kids share personal information with her. The children easily recognize her as a very kind person, a safe place, and a constant pillar of trust. Teacher Alison Highland says, "Ms. Mary loves all 400+ students at AES with all that she is, and they know it! She is a jewel." To have Mary Johnson not only keep a clean school but invest in the kids' lives makes going back to school a seamless process. Her charismatic and unchanging character are the building blocks on which the rest of the school year is built.
Not only do the students find a true friend in Mary Johnson, but the staff of Atlanta Elementary have nothing but high praise for their co-worker. Teacher Tammi Clements (and high school classmate of the custodian) says, "Mary will do absolutely anything you ask her to do. She has always been the kindest person." Principal Dena McCord says, "There's no way we can do anything without her." Mary grins when she says she is considering retirement after this year but hasn't finalized her decision. She knows that she will miss the staff and students. Mary told the principal that she couldn't stay forever, but Mrs. McCord tried to convince Mary that she should at least stay as long as the principal does. It's a joke between the two...sort of.
A good work ethic is a rarity in today's world, and so is an employee who finds true joy in her work. Mary Johnson encompasses both of these qualities. Her light is palpable. Every school and every student should have a Ms. Mary. As the kids walked through the door on the first day of class, the first face they saw was not only the custodian who had diligently cared for the condition of their school but also the woman who genuinely cared that the beginning of the school year was a great one. Mary will be the first face the kids see tomorrow, the next day, and the nine months of mornings after that. She will ensure Atlanta Elementary is a clean place to learn and grow. She'll also make sure that the students can find a listening ear in her should they ever need one. So, to all the teachers and students out there, welcome back! And welcome back to school, Ms. Mary! To her, it really is the most wonderful time of the year!
