VBCPS custodians were celebrated at the “Custodian Appreciation Day” luncheon June 18 at Ocean Lakes High School.
Director of Custodial and Distribution Services Sam Nix welcomed more than 300 custodians who attended the annual thank you event.
“We appreciate all the hard work,” he said to the group. “You are entangled with everything that goes on in our buildings.”
And that includes a myriad of projects that take place during the summer.
Kingston Elementary head daytime custodian Tina Blunt said she enjoys her job and interactions with students and staff.
“We are like family,” she said.
Known as “Miss Tina,” Blunt said she occasionally gets hugs from students. Some need more attention than others, but “I try to stay available for all of them,” she said.
In addition to deep cleaning the school during the next few months, Kingston will host about 85 students from eight schools for summer school.
Blunt said they’re ready.
Alex Felton has worked as a Princess Anne Middle custodian for about four years. “The quietness is always appreciated during the summer,” he said with a smile.
His team will be busy stripping and waxing floors, cleaning windows and making sure the building is in great shape for the next school year. Felton said he enjoys being part of a great team.
Windsor Oaks Elementary custodian Wayne Harrell said one of the best things about his job is the students.
“The first thing they holler is your name,” he said. Harrell, who answers to “Mr. Wayne,” has been a custodian for about 15 years.
“The benefits are very good and there’s lots of opportunity for advancement,” he said.
Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr., Chief Operations Officer Jack Freeman, Executive Director of Facilities Services Melissa Ingram and members of the custodial leadership team applauded the custodians.
Ingram noted they are responsible for 11 million square feet of space within 91 buildings.
“Thank you for your commitment to beach public schools so students have a great place to learn,” she said.
They also heard from the leadership team about the importance of wearing uniforms, taking care of equipment, training new employees, time management, teamwork and more.
Each was given a duffel bag, water bottle, and treated to lunch from Taste Unlimited.
Robertson said custodians impact the education of the more than 60,000 students enrolled in VBCPS.
“Your work matters,” he told them. “We can’t achieve what we want to achieve if our buildings aren’t clean and safe.”
Nix agreed and said he was proud of the entire custodial team. He called them “the eyes, ears and nose of our buildings.”
Students learn better when they have a clean environment, he said.
Remember, “the cleanliness of your space can dictate students’ learning pace.”
VBCPS is hiring custodians, including 18 positions added for the 2025-26 school year. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.vbschools.com/careers.
