One of the most important yet underappreciated roles in any school district belongs to the custodial and maintenance staff, who work hard before, during, and sometimes long after students have gone home for the day or for the summer to keep the school clean and orderly.
High school custodian Brandon Friday has been part of the TASD custodial team for the past 12 years.
Friday mostly works the second shift, and on most school days, he arrives just before the students leave and works late into the evening. He is responsible for sweeping halls and classrooms, cleaning windows and desks, mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, collecting garbage, and dusting.
Friday takes pride in his work. According to his supervisor and coworkers, they miss his work ethic anytime he’s not on the job.
“[They] were happy when I came back from vacation,” Friday said.
Friday’s supervisor, Craig Lowery, agrees.
“[Brandon’s] work ethic is very good, he has a good personality, and he’s willing to stay over, and he does what I need him to do,” Lowery said.
When Friday is spotted in the halls by teachers, staff, or even students, he usually has a regular conversation with them.
Math Teacher Sean Harker’s room is one of the rooms that Friday was responsible for cleaning.
“[He’s] friendly, personable, and easy to talk to,” Harker said.
Friday has worked in several different locations around the school district, but is currently responsible for the hall from the high school main office lobby to the cafeteria.
One of the most memorable duties was helping Mr. Hawk, the middle and high school band director, move a rather large, heavy item.
“I had helped [him] move a piano out of the band room so he could clean a room out,” Friday said.
Friday is given so much work to do with only so little time. Which is why he said the little things people do help out a lot.
“The little things I see in classrooms and throughout the school that people do to help us really mean a lot,” Friday said.
“It’s important we recognize the custodians because everything they go through when cleaning up after us, they deserve recognition for all their hard work,” sophomore Shiloh Price said.
Friday was born in Tyrone, moved to Philipsburg in 1998, and moved back to Tyrone in 2010.
In his free time, he likes to hunt, fish, and cook on his smoker. He also enjoys making people laugh and spending time with family and friends.
