DCPS Custodians Go Above and Beyond the Call of Duty as The First Line of Defense
October 27, 2010
 While it may be the perfect place for children to learn, a school isn’t the best place to live for an extended period of time. But under difficult circumstances that call for actions above and beyond the call of duty, Charles Allen will make his school home for as long as it takes.
Take last winter, for example. Blizzard-like conditions dumped feet of snow on the city, closing schools and snarling traffic for days. For many around the district, it meant a few days offs, some time to kick back at home with a mug of hot chocolate, snuggle under warm blankets and watch the winter wonderland from the comfort of a cozy couch.
But for Allen and his custodian colleagues with DCPS, the snow generated more than a flurry of activity and days away from home and family.
“We’re the first line of defense,” said Allen, 42, head custodian at Jefferson Middle School in Southwest. “When that blizzard hit us, I spent the night in here for five days. I bought groceries at the Safeway and cooked in the kitchen. Whenever the snow subsided, I’d come in, have hot chocolate, a bacon and egg sandwich and go back out.”
When the snow finally stopped, Allen and Robin Miles, the school’s other custodian, cleared the school’s sidewalks within two hours.
“We did what we had to do,” Allen said. “I felt so proud to be the second school in my division to call in and say, ‘I’m finished.’”
After making that call, he stayed around to answer phones. “I became administrator for one day.”
It’s that kind of dedication that administrators, children, parents and teachers count on to ensure that schools open on time and operate properly so students can learn.
“We can’t function without them,” said Jefferson Middle School Principal Patricia Pride. “If there’s a big rain storm, [Allen] is texting me at 4 a.m. about leaks. Then he’ll have everything mopped up and ready for the kids. … No matter what it is, if it has to get done, it’s done and if he can’t do it, he’ll find someone who can.”
Pride calls Allen and Miles her “dynamic duo,” for their ability to execute all tasks from air-conditioning and plumbing repairs to masonry, landscaping and painting – all of those “other duties as assigned” you see in a job description. But, like many other custodians and support staff at DC Public Schools, Allen isn’t just caretaker of the school. He also looks after students, offering guidance and support.
“Kids respond to us,” said Allen who has worked for DCPS for more than 20 years. “I guess it’s because we’re average people and live average lives. We can relate to them on their level.”
Recently, while standing in line at the supermarket, a parent approached him, said his son attends Jefferson Middle School and showed him a picture of the boy on his cell phone.
“I said, ‘Yeah, I talk to him every day. In fact, I had to talk to him about running in the hallways,’” Allen said. “Then the father gave me permission to keep him straight.”
But the relationships can grow deeper, especially among children who lack a strong father figure at home and need someone who can serve as a mentor.
“A lot of times we deal with underprivileged kids that no one wants to deal with – the troublesome kids. A lot of times they have issues that a lot of custodians went through,” he said. “We’re like stepfather-type figures.”
Over the years, Allen has counseled students whose brothers have died on the streets. He’s been to birthday parties, graduations and baptisms. He’s bought students coats and groceries. He’s even shed a few tears and consoled youngsters seeking advice.
Last year, a student would arrive at school early in the morning to help out. Allen said he’d pay the boy if he did a good job.
“At graduation, he held me so tight,” Allen said. “His parents said thanks for helping him get through the years. … It’s just my way of giving back.”
Allen said he tries to lead by example, both at school and at home. His three children have put in afterschool and weekend shifts at Jefferson and his wife of 23 years also mentors children in the district.
“It all starts, honestly speaking, with DCPS,” said Allen, whose father worked as an engineer with DCPS for 47 years and helped develop his strong work ethic and sense of duty. “In order to get their allowance, whatever school I’m in, [my children] have to put in their hours. They help contribute by cleaning their community school. It shows them if you take care of your community school, it will spread beyond the school and into your community.”
Share your story about a DCPS unsung hero
Behind the scenes and out of the spotlight, support staff at DC Public Schools routinely go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure our schools are safe, clean and ready for children to learn.
They could be:
- Custodians
- Food service workers
- Nurses
- Office staff
- Librarians
- Counselors
These valuable employees tend to be humble hard workers who rarely toot their own horns. If you have an Unsung Hero at your school, here’s your chance to tell the world. Just send us your stories and we will post a few on the DCPS website.
Read stories that have been shared from the DCPS community »
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