As the Director of Education here at the Academy of Cleaning Excellence, it is important for me to keep my certifications current and up to date. In order to instruct professional development classes around the globe, I maintain my ISSA/CMI Accredited Certification Trainer status every two years. Verified certificates from an organization, which is known…
Question: What are the top SIX activities in cleaning that will have the greatest impact on safety and health? Answer: Here is my list of the top SIX activities necessary to impact the health and safety of our public. Train and retrain housekeepers (custodial staff) that their role is NOT cleaning for appearance sake, but…
Custodians have many opportunities to be nurturing to all types of people. From children to adults, everyone needs something in a school setting. To be a custodian who is nurturing you simply perform random acts of kindness when you see the opportunity to do so. Many times, people who are considered a nurturing person are…
Custodians with strong moral principles will likely be of the mindset of doing the right thing even when nobody’s looking. People in a team respond better to a person of integrity because you can count on them. Even in failure they find a way to do and say the right things. They don’t blame others…
There are many things that custodians should analyze. How to react in all types of situations is just one of them. Consider all outcomes before moving forward with what you feel is the best way to approach something. The key to analyzing any cleaning is to minimize the number of trips or steps you take…
A determined custodian will usually have either a really clean area or school. They are always looking to grow, learn and do what’s right for kids. In general, a person who is determined doesn’t make excuses and figures out a way to be successful. Custodians who are determined have the ability to make their careers…
I have worked with and for so many custodians that are pessimistic. It’s been my experience that a lot of them tend to sometimes show a lack of hope and can seem to expect bad things to happen. It goes right to the negative with them! After all, the core of a great attitude begins…
It’s okay to make a mistake. Just learn the art of fessing-up and moving on. Nobody is perfect! This is where taking ownership starts. Stay out of the blame game and away from the “that’s not my job” mentality. It’s the custodians that take responsibility for their actions and perform their jobs at a high…
If you work in a public school then you better understand and embrace the concept of service to others. It’s what we do! We need to be willing to go the extra mile for those we serve. The great thing about doing this is how rewarding it is for you. Have you ever dropped something…
There are so many resources out there for custodians. Of course this book is one of them, but there is simply no excuse not to learn and grow as custodians. Don’t forget the power of networking with other custodians in other buildings or districts. As a school custodian did you ever consider reaching out to…
