I'm From Kansas: Custodians help create a culture of pride

Posted Date: 03/03/2021

Unless you worked at or went to South Junior High School (now Billy Mills Middle School) in the 1970s-90s you probably don’t know Emory Hamm. Former SJHS principal and Lawrence Public Schools superintendent Randy Weseman passed along his obituary recently. Emory passed away at age 86 on February 3. Emory had a wry smile and a soft-spoken manner. He loved his family, bad motorcycles, and cool cars. Emory loved South Junior High. He was head custodian there for many years. We worked together 35 years ago. So, what made Emory so special that Randy knew that I would want to know of his passing? 

Our Leadership Department staff often use Peter Drucker’s now-famous quote “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” That is the first thing I thought of when thinking about Emory. As head custodian, his kindness, pride, and high expectations were an integral part of the culture of the school. He didn’t talk much but sent strong messages. He was never on stage, but I looked up to him as did others. There are some people who you just don’t want to disappoint. 

An example that comes to mind is when Emory noticed an old beat-up Chevy pickup that leaked oil and presented a general eyesore was parking in front of the school. It made the school look like a junkyard. So, when Emory asked me if I would start parking my truck in the back parking lot, I agreed without question. He wanted his school to look good. A culture of pride and high expectations means that when your boss’s truck is junking up the place, you say something. 

In the past year, our custodians have been more in the spotlight. In the January edition of The School Administrator, a superintendent from New York writes that our custodians have been thrust into the role of superheroes. They have become the first line of defense against a deadly virus. But they don’t have special powers unless it is the ability to work behind the scenes to have a positive effect on the education of kids.   

As I write this, I am looking out the window at our building custodian, lowering our flags to half-mast in remembrance of the 500,000 Americans who have died from the virus. Every day, Naomi works to be a positive part of our culture, by making us safe. Every day my son goes to work to help make the students in the building where he works safe.   

Every staff member does their part to benefit the students in our buildings. Some of them go about it anonymously, while some are more obvious. I wish I would have told Emory what a difference he made for our kids every day. It’s not too late for you to let your staff know.