Clay heart
story by Michelle Gustafson
The quiet and stillness of the morning in a dark building slowly begins to illuminate with life inside. James Clay, the 53-year-old custodian at Elkhorn Elementary School, moves quickly from room to room turning on lights, sweeping, mopping and checking bathrooms. He has an hour before students enter the cafeteria for breakfast. It won't be sunrise for another two hours, but he is there.
James has been the janitor for 30 years at the same school he attended as a child. Since high school, he has followed in the footsteps of his uncles, who also worked as custodians in the school system for 30 years before retiring.
The faculty depend on him for everything, from setting up classroom projectors to disciplining the students during breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria.
"He has the best rapport with the students and teachers. They really look up to him," says Rhonda Smith, a third grade teacher.
The kids look to James for comfort and for help, and in turn, James watches out for them. When he noticed a young girl never ate the small lunch she brought from home, he sought her out and learned she couldn't afford the cafeteria food. He immediately took the case to the head of the cafeteria to see about placing her on a free lunch program.
"There are a lot of kids who don't have positive male role models," says Carolyn Lynch, the school librarian and a past high school classmate of James. "He's fair and respectful, but doesn't let them get away with anything."
A student asks permission to use the restroom during breakfast at school. James helps keep the flow of students moving in the cafeteria during breakfast and lunch, disciplines bad behavior and intervenes when there are conflicts between students. "My mom and grandma raised me to be respectful," James says. "To get respect you have to give it. I try to teach the kids the same thing."
James jokes around with the gym teacher, Rodger Owens, after morning announcements and before classes begin for the day. He takes pride in having a good rapport with all the faculty at the school and recognizes the importance of having a strong relationship with them. "I've seen a lot, and this is the best crew of teachers and administration around," he says.
James finds a rare chance to sit down in an empty classroom to rest. "I've been on my feet for 30 years," James says. "I will probably have arthritis. I take Aleve everyday."
James diffuses a conflict between two kids in the cafeteria. He and another custodian are in charge of breakfast and lunch, switching back and forth from wiping tables and sweeping trash, to monitoring the behavior and disciplining when necessary.
James pauses while cleaning the Special Education classroom. Though the school is his main source of income, he also cleans a Presbyterian church three times a week for extra money. "I haven't been able to spend much time with my kids, having two jobs," he says. He has made arrangements with the church so he can be home when his 7-year-old son, Isaiah, gets off the school bus. Becoming slightly emotional, he expresses his reasoning for working many long hours. "I have diabetes. I take the pills for it, so it's not the bad kind. Not yet. I don't know how long i have, and I want my kids to have a home."
James listens to a student who needs his help. "He knows what a lot of the kids are struggling with and what to do to help them," says Kay, a first grade teacher. "He shows them the right way and the wrong way. He spends time with them."
James pauses from cleaning the cafeteria to say the Pledge of Allegiance. James, who attended Elkhorn as a kid, has been the school custodian for 30 years. As lifelong resident of Frankfort, he is more than just the janitor. "He has the best rapport with the students and teachers," says Rhonda Smith, a 3rd grade teacher at the school. "They really look up to him."
James Clay gives first grade teacher Kay Combs, 41, a hug during Farmer's Day at Elkhorn Elementary School. The kids were encouraged to dress up as farmers. Actual farmers from around the county brought agriculture and livestock to teach them about where their food comes from. Though he is often in the background doing routine cleaning tasks, he is the backbone of the school in many ways. His devotion extends to his family. "People ask, 'Don't you have any me time?' When you have a wife and kids, it's a 'you all' time," he says. "I don't really care about me time. I like to spend time with my family."