Have you ever wanted to be a part of something where you’re more than just? You’re more than just that teenager who is too “naive” or “immature” to know anything. Joining the Liberty custodial team will allow you to feel that way.
Diana Moore, the director of custodial services in the Wentzville School District, has gone out of her way to make sure all of her employees have a safe and loving environment. Custodians at our school love working with the team because of what is put into the department.
After the height of COVID-19 happened, Moore set out for new ways to not only fill in the extra gaps in the department, but to also allow students to have something they can grasp onto. Moore had her peak of students join in 2022, having close to 40 students join. The numbers of students who have taken interest though have quickly dwindled.
This year Moore is eager to take on bright new students who are looking for that one thing that’s missing: a place where they can feel accepted and know they won’t be looked down upon as that immature teenager that someone else looks at them like.
“When a young person is welcomed into their job and they know that they can get along [with their co-workers], they know that people have their backs, that makes it rewarding in itself,” Moore said.
Assistant Principal, Steven Pryor, is in charge of making sure that the right students are picked for this team. Custodial jobs are more than just wiping down tables and sweeping. It’s a trade that takes skill and you can’t just pick anyone for that job. If you’re interested in joining, you’d simply make a meeting with Pryor, have an interview and if he believes you are a good fit you’ll be sent onto a second round of interview with Moore.
There are already a couple of students who joined the team as high school students and ended up sticking with the team. It’s so important to be able to mesh with the right people and find that place where you belong, and for some people it could be custodial service.
“You can take pride in the job because it’s a place that you go to every day,” Pryor said. “It’s not a business outside of the school, but it’s somewhere that we come to every day that we want to be clean and healthy, and I think that a student could have a lot of internal motivation to know that they’re making a difference for the whole student body and staff.”
The custodial department makes it simple for students, You’re allowed to easily pick what times work for you best at the rate of [about] $12 an hour. Students must be 16 years old or older and are only allowed to work part time.
“The biggest takeaway is the flexibility and the ability to somewhat set your own schedule,” Pryor said.
Students are always looking for places to be themselves and find that place where they have people who are for them. Having not only a space for that but also a space where you’re respected is something that students can look forward to in the custodial department.
You’re not just a custodian, you’re so much more. Join the Liberty team and become more.
