It’s common to hear that school custodians perform routine cleaning, handle fire drills, and assist with building security. But we don’t often to get to hear about some of the unique roles they fulfill such as serving as the Chess Master to the school’s top chess champion each year. Rick Larkin, head custodian at Hopewell Elementary in West Chester, Ohio, however, does just that.

For 21 years Rick has worked as a custodian with the Lakota Local School District. At Hopewell Elementary, he exceeds expectations through his interaction with the 850 students, serving as a role model and mentor to eighth-graders at the neighboring junior high. 

Each year Rick volunteers to mentor up to five students with the Butler County Career Based Intervention Program (CBIP). He provides them with a work experience that makes them feel valued and productive while teaching them a work ethic and skills to help them later in life. In the last 10 years, Rick has mentored about 50 young men from the program. Many of them return to visit him after they’ve moved on to high school.

CBIP coordinator Linda Dalton explained that the students may move to a paying job after their 14th birthday. At least three of CBIP students, after working a few weeks for pay, came to her and asked to be moved back to Hopewell. Once she reminded them that they would not be paid there, the students’ answered that they didn’t care about the money, they just wanted to work with Rick.

To assist a student in a wheelchair, Rick ensured that her movement through the building was unrestricted. He had ramps built, repaired her motorized wheelchair, and maintains and runs the chairlift when needed.

Rick is a member of the school’s indoor air quality team. Despite the loss of one of his team members due to budget reductions, Rick and his two colleagues must continue to maintain the same safe, healthy and clean environment. They reduce air-borne allergens by changing air filters more frequently. They routinely disinfect touch-points (high traffic areas where little fingers leave lots of germs), Ki-vac areas, and disinfect tables and desk tops. The increased disinfecting has resulted in fewer illnesses and better attendance for both students and staff.

As a member of the school safety/crisis team, Rick is trained in the use of the defibrillator and on important safety topics including first aid, Jarrod’s Law requirements, insecticides, and blood-borne pathogens.

The custodial mission statement at Lakota Local Schools is “To support academic excellence by maintaining a clean and safe learning environment so that ALL Lakota students may achieve to their fullest potential.” Lakota’s facilities services supervisor, Lance Perry, says that Rick supports this mission on a daily basis with not only his work ethic, but also with his attitude.

Rick Larkin is admired by staff and students alike. He views his work as more than a job; it is a way for him to make a real difference in the lives of the children and adults in West Chester.

“The custodial team is one of the most well respected teams at Hopewell Elementary. They are not seen as ‘just janitors’ but as a vital component of the school community.” Vanessa Reece, Intervention Coordinator, Lakota West High School and President, Lakota Support Staff Association

“A custodian is critical to the everyday running of a school. A principal must have a supportive and dedicated custodian to be successful. Rick Larkin exceeds this in every way! He truly cares for everyone at Hopewell and contributes to its success in so many ways.” Mark Westendorf, Former Principal, Hopewell Elementary