The Magic Happens at 6 AM (Before Teachers Even Arrive)

It's 6:15 AM at Jefferson Middle School, and Mr. Thompson is already two hours into his workday.

While most of us are still hitting the snooze button, he's checking the heating system, unlocking doors, and making sure every light bulb works. By the time the first teacher arrives at 7:30, he's already walked every hallway, fixed three broken desk legs, and set up the cafeteria for breakfast service.

The magic of school doesn't start when the bell rings. It starts with the people who make sure everything is ready before we even get there.

Schools run on the dedication of people whose work often goes unnoticed. While we're sleeping, they're ensuring our classrooms are clean, safe, and ready for learning. While we're planning lessons at home, they're mopping 40 classrooms, fixing leaks, restocking supplies, setting up for assemblies, and checking that all emergency exits are clear.

By the time we unlock our classroom doors, they've already put in a full day's work.

Mr. Thompson has worked at Jefferson for eight years. He knows which window sticks in room 214, exactly how to restart the temperamental printer in the main office, and where the spare lightbulbs are hidden. But more than that, he knows the kids. He greets them by name in the hallways. He remembers which eighth-grader is always forgetting their locker combination. When a student throws up in the hallway at 10:30 AM, he doesn't just clean it up—he asks if they're feeling better and walks them to the nurse.

Every custodian has stories that remind us this work is about so much more than keeping buildings clean. Like Maria, who found a student hiding in the bathroom during lunch, crying about bullies. Instead of just reporting it, she sat with him until he was ready to talk to a counselor. Or José, who noticed a light still on in a classroom and found a teacher struggling with a family crisis, staying late to avoid going home. He sat with her for twenty minutes, just listening.

They're not just maintaining buildings—they're caring for the people inside them.

While we're home with our families, they're transforming our disaster zones back into learning spaces. Scraping gum off desks, restocking supplies we forgot to order, deep-cleaning the science lab after that "explosive" experiment, removing tape from walls after project presentations, sanitizing surfaces, making sure the heat works for tomorrow's cold snap.

They see our messiest moments and create order from chaos.

Need the projector moved to the auditorium by third period? They make it happen. Spilled coffee all over your desk during first period? It's cleaned up before you even finish teaching. Air conditioning breaks on the hottest day of the year? They're already on it, fan in hand.

They're the reason we can focus on teaching instead of troubleshooting.

The official duties say "maintain facility cleanliness and safety." The reality includes being the unofficial school therapist at 6 AM, serving as translator for Spanish-speaking families, acting as security guard during evening events, becoming the go-to person for "Does anyone know where...?" and functioning as the school's institutional memory.

Here's what custodial staff want teachers and administrators to understand: "We take pride in our work. That spotless classroom isn't just cleaned—it's prepared with care for your students' learning. We notice everything—the extra effort you put into decorating your room, the way you treat your space with respect, the thank-you note you left on your desk. We care about the kids too. We see them in the hallways, learn their names, and want them to succeed just as much as you do."

This week, before you leave your classroom, take one minute to push in your chairs, throw away obvious trash, leave a brief thank-you note for your custodial staff, and pick up anything that fell on the floor. It's not about doing their job—it's about showing respect for the people who care for our space.

To every custodian reading this: Thank you for the magic you create before dawn. Thank you for the countless problems you solve that we never even know about. Thank you for treating our schools like they matter. Thank you for seeing our students as more than just kids who make messes.

You're not just keeping our buildings clean—you're keeping our dreams alive.

When was the last time you thanked your custodial staff? What small gesture could you make this week to show appreciation for their work?

This conversation doesn't have to end here. 

If this resonated, we'd love to hear your story and explore how we can support the work you're doing. Every educator deserves to feel heard, valued, and equipped for the calling. 

Starting January 2026: Our Empowered Learning Strategies blog series launches—10 biweekly reflections on moving from compliance to ownership in your classroom and campus. 

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