Just three weeks into her new job as head custodian at Bowie Middle School, Maria Rodriguez is starting to feel at home.
Rodriguez has worked for Ector County ISD for almost three years. She was a custodian at Odessa High School before arriving at Bowie. She wasn’t sure about her the move up at first.
“… I didn’t feel like I was ready to come, but when the position was offered to me, I spoke with my boss and he … was so positive about everything. He was telling me go for it; you can do it. That’s what gave me the will to come over here and do what I’m doing now; make a change for everybody,” Rodriguez said.
“I had heard that the school was broken down. It didn’t have any custodians, but like one or two. … That opened my eyes and made me want to make a turn around here to make things better at the school. That’s what motivated me more,” she added.
Bowie is supposed to have seven custodians.
Although Bowie is a large campus, it’s not as big as OHS. Her staff asks how to handle all the space, but to her the runs are small. The runs are rooms, hallways, bathrooms and stairways that are divided up among the custodians.
“… When I worked in the afternoon at OHS, my run was pretty big. Both of my runs were pretty big. So, to me, it was not new. To them it is and they say they’re big, and I’m like no they’re not and you can do it. You can do the run. If I did it at OHS, you can do it here. … I motivate them to keep their run clean. It keeps them up with the work. It’s not so difficult to keep it up,” Rodriguez said.
There are three people working in the morning and four in the afternoon.
“I think we’re getting it together. There’s a couple of things that do need to get organized and in its place. But as time goes by, we will get everything in order where it needs to be. So far it’s going good. (We) haven’t had any complaints. My coworkers, they do an amazing job, so I can’t complain there either. I’m praying to God that it stays that way and they don’t quit on me,” Rodriguez said.
She and her colleagues work 247 days a year with one week of vacation in December and no spring break.
Spring break with no students makes it easier to clean.
“When I worked at OHS that helped us get a lot of stuff done; even clean up our areas … work on little things that needed to be done, so it does help a lot when there’s no students …,” Rodriguez said.
She added that it was difficult to leave OHS and she misses them.
“But I’m here for a purpose, so I’m trying to make it happen here. I know I did it at OHS . I know I’m a very hard worker, so whatever I did over there I know I can do it here as well. Like I said, so far it’s going really good for us. But yes, I do miss everyone. I miss all my coworkers over there,” Rodriguez said.
Initially, becoming a head custodian was nerve racking because she didn’t think she could do it.
“But like I said, my boss that OHS he motivated me so much that after maybe … two days I told myself I can do this. I can handle this, and yes, I can,” she added.
As a head custodian, Rodriguez said she mainly evaluates coworkers’ duties and makes sure all the work is getting done.
“Because it is a school … we want to make it is as presentable as we can,” she added.
She has to make sure her coworkers are keeping the windows, the floors and especially the classrooms looking good because that’s where the teachers and students are.
“… I’m evaluating everything that they do, making sure the job is getting done, keeping everything … organized … I haven’t been able to reach the reach that point just yet, but I will; I know I will. So far, keeping everybody on track and keeping everything clean is one of my main main priorities,” Rodriguez said.
This is Rodriguez’ first time working in a school. She was previously in the caregiving field. A friend had applied to the schools and suggested she do so, too.
“… Ever since then I’ve liked it and I can’t believe two years later, I’m now a head custodian. I didn’t think I would be in this place where I am right now,” Rodriguez said.
She added that Bowie Principal Amy Russell has been kind to her.
“I love her. She’s amazing. She’s the sweetest person that I have met so far out of everybody, not just because she’s a principal, but she is sweet,” Rodriguez said.
Russell said her campus was in need of a head custodian after Christmas break and the people downtown promoted Rodriguez to her first head custodian job.
“She came on board fast (with much tears from OHS – and well wishes),” Russell said in an email. “We sat down and went over Bowie’s needs. She got to work Day 1 making sure our campus was as clean and tidy each and every day. We are still short custodians that will make up her team, but she and downtown are bringing extra help.”
“What I like about Mrs. Rodriguez, is that day one she had a vision for our Bowie campus and how she could build a strong custodial staff to make Bowie the most fantastic campus. I feel like she’s a partner. I take care of the academics and she takes care of managing her custodial team to take the burden of building cleanliness off my shoulders. She worked closely with her supervisor Mr. Villarreal to prioritize the needs of the campus: clean floors, clean restrooms, graffiti and writing cleaned off restroom areas, replacing light fixtures, turning in work orders on things she takes note of on her daily inspections. I’m so thankful for Mrs. Rodriguez. We talk daily and have open two-way communication,” Russell added.
