OUSD Celebrates Our Custodians, the People Who Keep Our Schools Warm and Welcoming for Students and Staff

Across the nation, today is School Custodian Appreciation Day, a time when we honor all the amazing custodians across the District for their hard work and dedication to caring for our schools and supporting our students. This year, we will celebrate numerous custodians at our schools, and at the same time, we must also pay tribute to two custodians who passed away in September. They were both committed employees who loved working with our students, and keeping their environments sparkling, warm, and welcoming.

George Carminer had been with the District for eight years, and he worked at Crocker Highlands Elementary, Bret Harte Middle, Fruitvale Elementary, and most recently at Melrose Leadership Academy as Head Custodian. There, he was described as “a warm smile in the hallway, a helping hand when it was needed, and a quiet strength that anchored our school community.”

Last year, a group of 2nd graders created a poem for the man they called Mr. George, which they performed in the Martin Luther King Jr. Oratorical Fest. His family is holding a viewing on Friday morning at Bannon Mortuary in Oakland. Then his service will follow on Monday morning, October 6 at Oak View Memorial Park in Antioch.

Keith Givens was with the District for four and a half years, and worked at Bridges Academy, then at Madison Park Academy where he was since 2022. He had also served for years as an assistant coach for the State Champion McClymonds High football team. “Boskie,” as he was also known, was a 1987 McClymonds graduate, and was well-known for his great sense of humor. He would “joke with the student-athletes and help them understand the importance of teamwork and discipline,” said a colleague. So far, plans for a memorial have yet to take shape.

OUSD sends its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of George Carminer and Keith Givens.

As noted above, we also want to celebrate the custodians who carry on the work. There are about 230 custodians who work in our schools during the day, and late into the evening, making sure the facilities are clean, supplies are filled, work orders are placed for anything needing extra attention, and so much more. Here are some of our remarkable custodians in their own words.

“It means a lot to me to keep the school community clean, safe, and healthy… The kids love it, being in such a clean environment,” said Ashanti Lewis, who has been at Sankofa United Elementary for eight years, and in the District for more than 11 years, having worked at numerous other schools including Bunche Academy, Street Academy, and Garfield Elementary. He says he’s had to deal with all kinds of crazy things such as the occasional flood. “One time, about five years ago, I was trying to fix a toilet… And the toilet pipes on there were so old, when I opened it, it all splashed me in the face, all the springs and everything. I was soaked from head to toe. It actually flooded this hallway.“ He had to turn off the building’s water to stop that flood. “As a custodian, you’ve got to make sure things are working. Things that are broken, you got to put in work orders. You know, making sure things are safe.”

“I like to do my job. I do more than 100%,” said Edy Calderon, who has been working at Oakland Academy of Knowledge for the past five years. He worked the previous five years at what was New Highland Academy, now Highland Community School. “All day, I keep on cleaning floors, picking up trash. At 10, clean the restroom, at 2 clean the restroom. When we clean the restroom, we stock the soap, tissue, paper towels… and the toilet, we need to clean it.” Calderon asks families to remind kids to put nothing in the toilets beyond toilet paper because like all custodians, he often has to unplug toilets that students have filled with paper towels or other items.

“I’ve been here in the District for nine years, here at Madison, for seven months,” said Yuliana Robles (pictured on the left, with fellow custodian Santa Garcia), who is the Head Custodian for Madison Park Academy Elementary and 6-12 schools. She also worked at Brookfield, Fruitvale, Laurel elementary schools. “I work here for the students, so they can have a good environment for their school, so they can feel like they are at home.” She added the work is not hard because of the fact that she’s so motivated by the students she supports. “I like to be here.”

“I like it better than other jobs. The students are our future, We need to help them. Keep the school clean, so we don’t get any disease, they don’t get sick, they get their education, that’s a happy life.” said Amar Chumber who has been at Edna Brewer Middle School for nine years, and eleven in the District including working as a substitute custodian at multiple schools. He said he likes working with the students, and that when they make a mess… I saw a notice in my mailbox yesterday, I don’t know who that was from, I don’t remember. They made a mistake and the next day, they said, ‘oh, sorry that you had to clean up that mess. I won’t do it again… The kids care.’”

“It’s not about me, it’s about the kids,” said Greg Nelson, who leads a team of four custodians at Skyline High School. That's him wearing a hat with the Skyline custodial team.

He’s been there since 2019, and he’s been in the District for 28 years. He also worked at Elmhurst United Middle School, Brookfield Elementary, and Madison Park Academy. “We try to engage with the kids, just be a mentor for the kids, if you can. That’s what I tell the staff, you know, try to talk with the kids, engage with the kids, cause I like to think of us as a family, and these are our kids… We’re educators, extensions from your families, counselors, everything, you know?”

“Custodians are the first and last lines of defense to protect our youth,” said Roland Broach, Executive Director of Custodial and Grounds. This means that they’re the first employees to open the schools every morning, inspecting the sites to ensure that all is clean and safe for students to arrive. Research shows that students who attend school in a clean environment have higher test scores than those who don't. Custodians are also the last to leave the schools every night ensuring that the site is clean and the building is secure, protecting the learning environment and the building assets. Most importantly, they are deeply set in the fabric of the school community knowing many students, families, and staff at the sites. It’s important that we highlight our Custodians during School Custodian Appreciation Day!”

“Our custodians are amazing people who do it all,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler. “As a former teacher and principal, I have worked closely with so many of our custodians, and seen how critical they are to the smooth functioning of our schools. They do all the work they do, and so much more. They are wonderful role models for our students, and they help guide our students in the right direction academically and socially. I cannot thank our custodians enough, and I celebrate them here on School Custodian Appreciation Day and all year long.”