If you have ever walked through the hallways early in the early morning, you will notice how clean the campus already is, trash cans are empty, and floors are shiny. But someone has to be behind that welcoming start. If you take a walk around campus, you will likely see Mr. Bess, West Lauderdale’s new custodian. Whether he’s emptying trash or tidying up the halls, he is always making sure our school is at its best.

Mr. Bess starts his day early in the morning, before any students arrive at school. He starts by cleaning up the office; this includes taking out the trash, sweeping, and tidying anything that seems out of order. Then, he hops on his bus and drives his morning route. But his work doesn’t stop after that; he’s checking bathrooms, trash cans, and the hallways for anything that might be in need of cleaning. Then, when the final bell rings, he once again drives a bus and heads home, waiting for the repeat of a new day.

Before coming to West Lauderdale, Mr. Bess worked as a custodian at Northeast Lauderdale. He came to West Lauderdale after Mr. Herrington, one of the school’s new assistant principals, moved to West. He says everything seemed to align, the job was open and the same pay, he has clearly shown he knows what it takes for this job!

When he was asked about what he thinks of working here, he smiled and said;

“I really like it here, and I really appreciate how students respect their campus and take care of their campus.”

That appreciation goes both ways at West Lauderdale. It is easy to see how much the students and staff both appreciate his work.

Every school needs people who care, and that’s exactly what makes Mr. Bess special. His hard work keeps West Lauderdale looking beautiful, but it’s his positive attitude that truly makes a difference. Whether it’s driving a bus, emptying a trash can, or greeting students with a smile at the student drop-off, Mr. Bess reminds us that every role matters here at the kingdom.