Episode Details

Anthony Godfrey:
Welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are out in the rain, sleet, snow, and ice, even when it is sunny and nice, protecting students from harm. We're talking about school crossing guards. On this episode of the Supercast, we meet one of the many heroes helping to get students safely across busy streets, to and from school, each and every day. Hear how one amazing crossing guard recently saved a young life.

We are here outside Eastlake Elementary School talking to Lorena, one of the crossing guards. Thanks for taking time with us.

Lorena:
Yeah, my pleasure. I'm glad to be doing this.

Anthony Godfrey:
How long have you been a crossing guard for Eastlake Elementary School?

Lorena:
I've been a crossing guard here for 11 years.

Anthony Godfrey:
And what made you want to start as a crossing guard? What interested you about that?

Lorena:
It was just a really fun part-time gig. I had little babies at the time, and so I could bring them with me in my car. Sit in my car for a little bit, cross kids. It’s just a good part-time job as a mom. And then I just, I started really loving my kids and just stayed here.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, kids start their day with you. You're really the first person that they see outside of the house. The first adult they see on their way to school. Tell me about what that means and what kind of relationship you're able to build as a result. Morning!

Lorena:
Good morning guys. The kids are awesome. Most kids are bright and, you know, ready to start their day. Good morning. How are you? Some kids are not morning people and they just kind of drag their feet. But yeah, I've seen kids grow up and seen little brothers and sisters come on towards the end, for as many years as I've been here. So it's been kind of nice.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, 11 years would take someone from kindergarten to being able to drive. I know that you wouldn't see them past sixth grade, but do they ever stop back by and you see them through the neighborhood?

Lorena:
Yeah. I actually have one family who is really close to where I would park for crossing and they stop every now and then to say hi. And they're like, “Oh, hi!” and they know me and yeah. Their oldest, that I started crossing, she's I think a sophomore or a junior in high school now. It’s nice.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow, that's really cool. So when you see kids in the morning, can you kind of tell whether they've had a bad start to the day already sometimes and you can check in with them?

Lorena:
Oh yes. All the time. We laugh when we say good morning and it's a ‘Good morning!” or grumble. Some kids tell you their whole life story in a matter of the 30 seconds that we cross them. And some kids just kinda drag their feet.

Anthony Godfrey:
I can imagine, but it shows you how nice it is for kids to have a connection with someone they can share that with. What are some of the things that kids will tell you about their morning on their way in?

Lorena:
Oh, one little girl loves to share whether or not her grandma woke up in a good mood or not. And so it's fun. And she'll say, ‘she was great today’. Yesterday she told us something about the dog barking and so everyone was in a bad mood.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. So you get the weather report on grandma every morning. How things are going to go. Tell me, do kids recognize you