Freshmen and sophomores stroll past clean classrooms, spotless floors, and neat areas on a daily basis at Amador Valley. Behind it all are the people who make it happen—our janitors. Hardworking, oftentimes behind the scenes, our custodians get it done to keep the school running.
Dedication and Teamwork
One of the day custodians for Amador, has been working here for about two years. Although maintaining the big Amador campus can be chaotic at times, she still enjoys what she does.
“It’s a huge campus…we’re trying to make it the best we can get. It’s hectic, but I enjoy what I do. We just want to do the best with it. It would be good that we try to cooperate [with each other]. If we do that, the school will look very pleasant,” said Ana Morales.
Behind the Scenes
Vice Principal Akhil Raman worked closely with custodial staff, especially on big events like AP testing. Coordinating AP testing last year, he saw for himself just how indispensable the custodians are.
“They labored four or five hours independently studying for AP tests after they took apart volleyball gear. It just shows how physically taxing this kind of work is. Yet, still, they arrive and do it professionally each time,” said Raman.
A Quiet Impact
English teacher Daniel Kennard explains the janitors don’t always get the recognition they deserve—but they certainly should.
“I adore them. They clean my room, they keep it organized, they’re courteous, they’re compliant. Without them, everything would collapse. When you make something clean, when you improve a space, you can feel it and everybody else can feel it too. That’s something to be truly proud of,” said Kennard.
He also reflects on the future of labor and how custodial work—work with our hands—should be more respected in today’s world.
“In the age of AI, knowledge work might become less and less of a pathway for people to take. If AI can do just about anything that’s through the computer, what is left to us but to do things with our hands? There can be some snobbery around janitorial services, but I just want to say that there’s great dignity in work with your hands. This might actually be the future for many of us—and we need to be more open to that,” said Kennard.
Life Beyond the Job
In spite of their hard work, the janitors are able to relax and enjoy what they love outside of work.
“I enjoy watching a lot of TV and movies in my free time. I’ve been working at Amador for many years but I do enjoy my free time. Spending time with family is something I enjoy a lot. It is something that brings me great joy ,” said night custodian Bobin Lal.
