“Wendy is the epitome of what being a custodian is all about. She works hard and is a team player and she assures that the building is clean and safe for students and staff. Being an alumni of Wilkinsburg, we stick together to bond a great working relationship that works in Wilkinsburg. I would like to congratulate my colleague and friend.” Karla Givner-Lewis, President, Wilkinsburg ESP

Since 1986 Wendy Fowler has mopped, scrubbed, polished and made repairs to just about everything in every building in the Wilkinsburg School District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. That includes three elementary schools and the junior-senior high school where she has worked for the past three years. Her energy and enthusiasm resulted in her promotion to head custodian after her first year of employment. 

As a student and graduate of the district, Wendy never dreamed that she would return to work there one day. Wilkinsburg Junior/Senior High School’s main building is 122 years old. The first annex was built in 1929, and the cafeteria and kitchen were added in 1969. 

The four-story building has no elevator for its 600 students and 100 staff members. Like so many buildings in use for so long, clutter had accumulated and was one of Wendy’s first challenges. It had to go, and Wendy saw to it.

Many thought of the building as an old, dirty relic, so Wendy set out to change that image. Today the architectural beauty shines again, and students and staff take great pride in their school.  As a result, community use of the junior-senior high school has increased. It now hosts evening classes, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has performed there.

With associate principal Terri Ayers, Wendy helped plan monthly fire drills, a must in a four-story school building. She took a leadership role and notified the fire departments in advance of scheduled drills. Her know-how with the fire pull alarms came in handy when she added blue dye to the stations. Due to her efforts, the school apprehended two students who pulled the alarms for sport.

Seeking to improve, Wendy worked closely with the district building and grounds supervisor to test and select better and safer cleaning products and equipment. She developed ongoing training seminars for the custodial staff to teach new techniques and correct use of the latest products.

Her training sessions don’t stop with the custodial staff. Ten years ago, with the help of the district’s custodial supplier, Wendy started the first hand-washing demonstration in the three elementary schools. They continue today, and demonstrations now include the use of hand sanitizers, but the emphasis remains on the importance of hand washing.

Each day, equipment used for cleaning and maintenance is properly cleaned, disinfected, and stored for the next day’s use to prevent the spread of bacteria. This practice is one that Wendy notes is often overlooked but essential to maintaining a healthy environment. 

Always the innovator, Wendy created an easy-to-use floor-scuff-mark-remover to make life a little easier for the custodial staff. A 6”x9” Scotch Brite pad folds over the top of a wet mop under the handle stirrup to remove scuff marks easily, and it doesn’t harm resilient floor surfaces.

Her dedication and hard work have paid off in many ways. Absences due to illness are down, but school pride is up, along with recognition of the important role of custodial workers.

“Miss Wendy is a role model for hard work, perseverance, good humor and resourcefulness… She is truly a key player on our team.” Carole Miller-Yates, Reading Teacher, Wilkinsburg Junior-Senior High School