A Shout Out to Those Who Work Behind the Scenes

By Robin Sanders, Pelahatchie Elementary Principal As much as teachers deserve praise and support, there are other heroes in the school who put in the time to prepare for our students.   They work the same hours to help ensure our student are safe and happy.  It truly does take a village.  I want the people behind the scenes to know that we appreciate their support and hard work. School office workers are the heartbeat of the school!  These ladies have mastered the art of multitasking while ensuring that students, staff and visitors feel welcome at school.  They are a school’s first line of defense because they know who’s allowed in the building and who isn’t. Say thank you to your school office workers the next time you see them.  Teacher’s assistants are the lifeline for teachers. They take the time to get to know your kid on a personal level because they spend extra time helping them throughout the day.  They work hard to help a teacher perform their duties and ensuring that students feel loved and supported. Teacher’s aides are the unsung heroes of schools. Custodians rock!  Now more than ever they work tirelessly to make sure that the school building is in working order. They help to ensure that the staff and students walk into a fresh, clean building every morning.  School bus drivers deserve a special place in heaven. If your child rides the bus, their bus driver is the first person to greet them each morning and the last to say goodbye.  Their mission is to provide a safe mode of transportation for your students each day.  Next time you see your bus driver, thank them for getting your child to and from school safely each day.   Cafeteria staff have a tough job, especially with all of the current safety procedures in place. People often don’t realize how much planning goes into a school’s menu, much less how hard it is to provide healthy meals that are safe for all of the children. This is a job that deserves more recognition than these workers usually get.  School nurses. Can we just stand up and give our nurse a round of applause?  She does so much more than just hand out Band-Aids and ice packs. She develops care plans for kids who have diabetes, ADHD, and other physical differences. When an emergency happens in a classroom, or when a child is not feeling their best, the school nurse is on the scene to assist with the situation.  Just like everyone else mentioned above, her duties this year have multiplied. We are grateful for her daily assistance with our staff, students and parents.   Every day, our students are surrounded by an army of dedicated people who are ready, willing, and able to make sure they succeed at school. So, don’t forget to send a card or note of thanks to those who are the often-forgotten heroes of school. They will appreciate it more than you know.