They Do Business with Heart at Phelps High in DC
By: Josie Johnson
Note from Jan: This is a beautiful story about a group of individuals who do their business with heart and the impact it has on the morale and productivity of those around them. Thank you, Josie, for sharing this story.
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I teach at a public high school in Washington, DC. I am convinced that our custodial staff consists of some of the warmest men in the city. They arrive before the rest of the staff, stay later, and brightly greet us all. Going above the call of their job description, they act as mentors and coaches for the students of our school. Throughout the day they can be found counseling students and checking up on them in class.
The “Saturday Scholars” committee held a meeting to discuss incentives to boost student attendance to this weekend tutorial program. Our custodial foreman was in attendance to discuss building issues. While we brainstormed, he chimed in that he would be happy to bring his grills and host a cookout when the weather warmed up.
One Saturday, while our students were working diligently in the classroom, thick snowflakes started to fall. Rather than rushing to push everyone out of the building, they opened the gym for an hour long pick-up basketball game. They waited with the last students to be picked up by parents, cleared the parking lot, and shoveled the inches of snow from the tops of teachers’ vehicles.
The dedication of the custodial staff at my school stems not from any contractual obligation, but resonates more deeply with these men. They are inherently kind. Aside from their responsibilities to the structure, it seems that they are motivated to make life more pleasant for their colleagues and the students at Phelps High School.
I am so thankful not only for my bright and gleaming classroom and hallways, but for the positive morale embodied in the staff at my school, in particular our custodial team.
copyright 2010 – Business Class Inc
About the Author – Josie worked as an Administrative Assistant for Business Class while she was a student at UNC – Chapel Hill. Though she now lives and teaches in DC, she continues to contribute to Business Class on a freelance basis - doing research, writing and assisting with website development. Read more about Josie Johnson.
Other Resources to Help Establish, Grow & Nurture a Culture of Doing Business with Heart :
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Don’t you love it? - a collection of stories
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Heart Cards – to help you nurture the “heart” culture
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Team Retreats & Coaching Programs to help you establish, grow and nurture a “heart” culture. Workshops also available upon request.
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