As summer break continues and the classrooms are empty of students, a different kind of learning takes place in the halls of Goddard High School (GHS). While most teenagers are soaking in summertime with sports or pool visits, a motivated group of current and former GHS students are rolling up their sleeves, donning work gloves, and transforming their school from the inside out. These part-time student employees of the USD 265 Maintenance & Facilities Department have become the unsung heroes of summer cleaning projects, ensuring that when the first day of school arrives, every classroom shines and every corner of the school is ready to welcome back students and staff.
The scope of their work is both comprehensive and demanding. From floor preparation and moving furniture, to carpet cleaning and deep classroom sanitization, these student workers tackle both interior and exterior projects that would challenge even seasoned maintenance crews. They strip and wax floors until they gleam, rearrange and clean desks and chairs to accommodate new classroom layouts, and scrub away the accumulated wear of an entire academic year. The sense of ownership these students develop as they help cleanse their school environment from the ground up is empowering.
What makes their job particularly challenging is the intricate dance they must perform around the school's bustling summer event schedule. With 35 to 50 events spanning just a couple of months - oftentimes with multiple events occurring on the same day, or events spanning a whole week (or more) - these workers must be masters of timing and flexibility. They might start their morning early deep-cleaning the gym bleachers, pause for a summer learning presentation or activity, then return to tackle the auditorium or another project in the afternoon. It's a complex juggling act that requires not just hard work, but strategic thinking and adaptability.
The students excitedly share about their experience, with Avery Silva highlighting the what she gets out of her summer job, "The scheduling is super flexible! They treat us with respect and not just like another number. Doing this work helps me take pride in my school and space, because I'm the one helping maintain it now."
This sentiment is echoed by Claire Meng, who discovered the perfect intersection of necessity and opportunity, "I was already looking for an after-school/part-time job, so this just made sense. Especially after hearing about it from friends! I thought, 'I can definitely do that!' so I jumped in and started. And working with Chris (Kinney) is awesome! She listens and actually gets you what you need to succeed."
The leadership and mentorship provided by GHS Head Building Engineer, Chris Kinney, has created an environment where students don't just work - they grow and thrive. Managing twelve part-time student workers, alongside her five full-time staff, Kinney approaches her role with both pragmatism and heart. "I always have a 'plan b' in place, because you never know what might come up. I want to empower them to do their jobs, and do them well. Accountability has been so good for them! Watching them problem-solve and find solutions is really heartwarming. Everybody has a certain skill that we can plug in somewhere. I really love having them here."
Kinney’s philosophy of finding each student's unique strengths, while maintaining high standards, has created a workplace culture that students like Lily Plank treasure. "This brought me and my friends together, in an environment where we can all thrive. I like how the scheduling is very flexible,” shared Plank. “They work with us and meet our needs, which makes us feel really valuable."
The program's success extends far beyond clean floors and organized classrooms. These positions, available to students who meet academic performance and attendance standards, represent something really significant - a chance for young people to develop genuine ownership and pride in their educational environment. Lory Silva, who oversees all Head Building Engineers for USD 265, explains, "The students love this, and honestly we love having the help! This gives them the chance to feel like they really have a piece of the school that's their own. It fills the students, and me, with great pride!"
In a world that sometimes judges young workers for their lack of experience, these student workers prove that when given real responsibility, meaningful work, and genuine respect, young people will rise to meet any challenge - and take immense pride in contributing to something bigger than themselves. It’s about making the schools, and themselves, better each and every day.