Cleaning for Health: Custodians Honored for Improving School E...( Cleaning for Health ...),Health

"Cleaning for Health"

"The greatest challenge that I see for school custodians today is to make the paradigm shift from cleaning for appearance to cleaning for health," said Pat Nicholson, the top award recipient. "Custodians that effectively clean for health create and maintain clean schools, healthier students, and higher rates of student achievement. Custodians are vital partners in successful public schools."

Added NEA President Dennis Van Roekel: "Custodians are critical partners in creating healthy, clean and safe schools for our students. They take so much pride in their work and know that what they do every day fosters an environment where students can learn more effectively."

At Brownsville Elementary School in Bremerton, Washington, Pat Nicholson wrote much of the custodial training material for the local school district. His "cleaning for health" practices contributed to lower absentee rates at Brownsville than at neighboring schools, especially during flu season.

Custodians: Making Hygiene a Priority

The other award honorees put forth great ideas in their schools as well.

Briana Rivera at Saks Elementary School (Anniston, Alabama) presents a "clean classroom certificate" to the teacher and students who keep their classroom the neatest. At Round Top Elementary School (Blythewood, South Carolina), Felicia Palmer created a Golden Spatula Award to recognize classes that keep their cafeteria table and surrounding areas clean.

Emmons Elementary School (Mishawaka, Indiana) has a Custodial Cadet Program, developed by Rick Johnson, which is a voluntary apprentice program that provides students with daily practical cleaning experience. Rick also started the school's recycling program.

At Hanover-Horton Middle/High School (Horton, Michigan), the team of Cindy Fisher, Angela Guisinger
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