Count on custodians

NEA Today, Feb 1999

Bob Henderson sees his job as a custodian at Centennial Elementary in Tampa, Florida, as something more than keeping the school safe and clean. He's part of the education team.

So, every day for IS minutes, Henderson helps eight-year-old Jesus, a second grader, read.

The idea came from Centennial's reading intervention coordinator, who talked with staffers about ways they could help children of migrant farm workers. Custodial staffers decided the best way they could help was to read one-on-one with the kids.

Each of the six custodians at Centennial mentors one student five days a week from 2:00 to 2:15.

"What we try to do is help them sound out their words," says Henderson. "It's great because it spares the teachers' classroom time and gives the kids confidence."