This is super! From the NEA Classroom Superheroes Website. Joseph Maffucci is a great example of the impact that a custodian can have on a school. Through his unwavering commitment and inspiring presence at Bradford Elementary School in Montclair, New Jersey, Maffucci dispels and debunks the stereotype that custodians are somehow invisible and insignificant. “Our building could not operate without Mr. Maffucci,” says Principal Naomi Kirkman. “I depend on Mr. Maffucci’s skill, commitment, hard work and feedback on a daily basis.” As head custodian, Maffucci works closely with the school’s other maintenance workers repairing broken tables and chairs, replacing rotted pipes, running the boilers, spreading mulch, mowing the lawn, solving electrical problems, and shoveling snow off sidewalks. They are everywhere. “I am new to Bradford this year, but have been so impressed by how Mr. Maffucci and the maintenance crew make everything run,” says kindergarten teacher Christina Axelrod. After 14 years with Montclair Public Schools, the last 10 at Bradford, the level of respect and admiration for Maffucci is perhaps best exemplified by Axelrod’s class of 22 kindergarteners. From among many nominees this year they unanimously voted Maffucci as the person they wanted to honor during the school’s Hero Assembly in January. While other classes acknowledged such luminaries as President Barack Obama, John Lennon, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Jessica Rees (child who started “Joy Jars,” which helps kids with brain cancer), Red Cross workers, police officers, firefighters and military personnel, Maffucci was the only one honored with a rap tune (listed below) highlighting his contributions at school. Another thing: he didn’t have a clue that the children had picked him as their hero until they started rapping. “They voted on Mr. Maffucci about two weeks before the event,” says Axelrod. “We then wrote a rap over the next two days in class, with kids brainstorming ideas for the words and me writing them on chart paper.” The children then practiced in secret every day after school and at home, adding body motions and drawing letters on large cards to hold up during the assembly that spelled out: “You’re our hero Mr. Maffucci.” “At the assembly, Mr. Mafucci was surprised that he was our hero,” says five-year-old Talia, who made the letter “Y” for the assembly performance. “It was fun to do the rap.” The rap was performed in front of school personnel and more than 460 students. “For the children to do this in front of the whole school was truly an honor for me,” says Maffucci, a member of the Montclair Educational Association (MEA). “Them knowing and appreciating how hard I work at their school makes my job that much easier and enjoyable.” Maffucci usually arrives at school before 7 a.m. to open the building and walk the grounds in search of broken bottles, stray animals, liter, or anything that might harm students or staff. “My job is not only about cleaning the school, it’s about making the building and grounds safe,” he says. “Since I’ve been here, no one has fallen on the property due to snow, ice or anything like that. I would hate for that to happen. It would bother me.” On a recent morning, Maffucci noticed a large branch hanging off the school’s towering oak tree. He immediately called the district office and arranged for a tree-removal company to send a crew. But before they arrived, Maffucci created a parameter around the hazardous area using rubber safety cones and bright yellow reflective tape with the word “caution” printed on it in bold black letters. Students were fascinated by the tape. “The caution tape really got their attention for some reason,” Maffucci says. “Kindergarteners and first-graders are amazing. They notice everything you do and ask all sorts of questions. That’s why I love my job.” Talia calls him “a really great custodian” because he keeps the school clean. “It makes me happy to have a clean school,” she says. Maffucci learned about plumbing, piping, carpentry, electronics and other maintenance work from his uncle who worked for Montclair Public Schools for 43 years. “When I had a question, I would just call him,” Maffucci says. Most of the two dozen wrenches, hammers, screw drivers and other hand tools he carries in his tool box belong to him. “I bring those from home,” he says. Maffucci’s benevolence is similar to that of many education support professionals (ESPs) across the nation. According to NEA research, NEA has approximately 484,000 ESP members. They comprise about 16 percent of NEA’s total membership of more than 3 million. Among ESPs, 66 percent donate approximately $216 annually to students in the form of clothing, books, classroom supplies, field trip expenses, lunch and prom tickets. “I feel as though the significance of custodians is often overlooked,” says Kirkman. “Not only is Mr. Maffucci responsible for the cleanliness of the building, he is a vital member of our security team.” She says Maffucci sometimes rushes to the school in the middle of the night and on weekends if the alarm goes off. “Custodians are not necessarily thought of as a key piece of the educational environment,” she explains, “but any principal knows that they play an essential role in keeping our students safe.” At the Hero Assembly, Maffucci “seemed touched, though he is a man of few words,” says Axelrod, who is also an MEA member. When asked later what the rap performance and outpouring of adulation from students and staff meant to him, Maffucci responded: “Helping a teacher or staff member at Bradford assist in the children’s futures makes my job easy. It is wonderful to be a part of such a distinguished organization.” Mr. Maffucci’s Rap Written by Kindergarten Axelrod (KA) We’re KA and we’re here to say … We picked a really great hero today. He takes care of school, which is really cool, if something breaks he has the right tool. He clears a path when there is snow, but don’t stop now there’s a lot to go. When a tree branch falls we don’t worry, we know our hero will come in a hurry. He checks on cracks and leaks and drips, just to make sure that no one slips. So by now you’ve figured it out, let’s all give our hero a shout!
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:05:45 +0000
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