A couple weeks ago, I made a trip back to my middle school to pick something up and I saw my school’s janitor there; he said hi to me immediately. Janitor Jim and I talked about the Milwaukee Bucks and how he went to a game recently. He has a smile that stretches so wide and brightens the room when he talks, especially about basketball.

I first started talking to Janitor Jim when I worked the scoreboard and stat book for middle school basketball games. From then on, whenever he saw me in the hall he would eagerly ask “are you working the scores table tonight?” These questions were an indicator that his job extended past cleaning; he cared about the interests of students.

At the games, not only did he make sure the stats table was set up, but he always offered to get us food or drink from the concession stand. At the end of the basketball season, our middle school hosted a tournament, and again, Janitor Jim treated us like family. I have a vivid memory of when Janitor Jim paid us for working that particular basketball tournament. Along with the cash we earned, he also gave us Culver’s gift cards—bought with his own money.

Besides cleaning the middle school, I always see Janitor Jim’s car parked in the elementary school’s parking lot. It’s clear to me that he spends more time at school than his actual home. His job is not just work, it’s something he would do for free. Janitor Jim treats that school like a newborn baby, nurturing it into something beautiful.

A good education starts with a clean school; we often forget this when we are asked about influential people who have helped us succeed in school. That being said, Janitor Jim, thank you for everything you’ve taught me. You’ve taught me how to treat others with kindness, putting them before myself. You’ve taught me that a bright smile can change anyone’s day. And most importantly, you’ve taught me that good educators teach you things not found in textbooks.