The Two Most Important People a Teacher Should Know At Work

During one of my undergraduate courses, my professor bestowed a nugget of wisdom that profoundly impacted my mind and spirit. His advice was simple yet extremely practical.  As we sat there in the classroom staring at our teacher, we could immediately tell by his demeanor that he felt this knowledge was essential for us to know before we embarked on our teaching careers.  As an education major about to graduate and start a new teaching career, I was eager to hear what he had to say.  Therefore, along with my fellow classmates, I waited with bated breath to hear what he had to say. 

As he stood before us, he made a point to make sure he looked us dead in the eyes and had our undivided attention before he uttered his next statement. He began by stating that we needed to know who the most important person to have as an ally in the school setting.   Next, he paused for dramatic effect to make sure we were paying attention.  Once he knew he had us on the hook, he said, “The most important person you need to befriend in the school is the secretary.” 

His Explanation

Next, he proceeded to explain his statement to drive the point home.  He said that the school secretary is the heart of the building. She is what makes the building tick. She knows everything that is happening in the building.  Plus, she has access to all of the supplies.  Basically, she is the one you will need to see if you need assistance. You will most likely need her before you need the principal, vice-principal, or counselor.  Therefore, you need to make it your mission to befriend the secretary before anyone else in the building.

Upon hearing his speech, I soaked up every word and took it to heart.  When I started teaching, I remembered his sage words and carried them with me into the workplace.  In my twenty-two-year teaching career, I have encountered three school secretaries. I built a rapport with each one. It was a working relationship built on mutual respect.

Since I worked in the same building my entire career, I was able to get to know one of them in particular very well.  I even taught her daughter 8th-grade science one school year.  We got along very well.  Even though I didn’t ask for much, she was always ready and willing to assist me when I was in need.  From getting me various supplies to signing me in if I was running a little late, she always had my back, and I greatly appreciated that.  She always had a way of looking out for me, whether I knew it or not.

The Other Most Important Person to Know in the Building

Even though my professor only mentioned one person that we needed to buddy up to in the school, I learned that there was a second person that I needed to have in my back pocket in the building.  This person is often overlooked but is also vital to the day-to-day functions of the school.  That person is the school custodian or building manager.

Now I know that making friends with the school custodian may not have popped in your mind at first, but hear me out.  This person is responsible for making sure the entire building is physically clean and organized.  They are the ones that quietly move around the building throughout the day, ensuring everything is in tip-top shape. 

Custodians clean every area of the building after school to make sure it is ready for business the next day.  At the beginning of the school year, they are the people that get the building ready and move furniture around, so everyone has what they need to start the school year off right.  Finally, they spend the entire summer working around the building to ensure it is spic and span and ready to go for the next school year.   It is a job that is very much required but never gets the recognition that it deserves.

I was always friendly with the head custodians in the building as well as the ones assigned to my hallway throughout the day. Especially those assigned to my hallway in the evenings.  Since I always worked late, I was able to chat with them for the ten minutes they were sweeping my classroom.  I think because I was always respectful and chatted with them, they were always kind to me. 

Why Is It Important to Make Friends With the Custodian?

There are a few reasons to make friends with the custodians.  One, they have the keys to EVERYTHING in the building.  They can open doors to places like the storage room and the teacher’s lounge when you need supplies and copies before and after hours.  Since I always worked at least an hour and a half after hours, this came in handy when I needed a door opened to make copies, to get extra paper, books, or science equipment.

Secondly, they will look out for you if you need anything, just like the school secretary.  As a science teacher, I always needed paper towels and other cleaning supplies throughout the year.  Because the custodians and I were on friendly terms, they always made sure I had what I needed if they had extra to spare. 

Finally, the custodians, like the secretary, will look out for you even when you are not there.  For example, the custodians in my building would make sure my desks were in the right place when I returned from summer break. They knew how I liked my room set up and made sure it was ready to go when I arrived (from desk arrangement to file cabinets or any other furniture in the room).  Additionally, I hate being hot.  Therefore, the head custodian would make a special effort to check the unit in my room to see if it was functioning correctly, so we were comfortable. 

Pro Tip For New Teachers

Before I end this post, here is another piece of advice that I would like to give.  Make sure you thank the school secretary and custodians and show your appreciation.  I have a friend who has taught for thirty years, and she always takes the time to buy little cards and gifts for the secretary and custodians to show she cares.  Even if you don’t have the money to give gifts, a simple thanks goes a long way.

Final Thoughts

In closing, I would like to say that the words of my professor still ring true to this day.  Even though I have amended them a bit by including the custodian into the mix, it’s still one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received in my teaching career. I am grateful that he made sure he shared it with us before we started teaching.