Junior High custodian makes difference in lives of students

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — When you think about educators changing the lives of our children, you might not think of a school’s custodian, but if you go to Churchill Junior High School, you will quickly learn that Lee Leafty makes a difference each and every day.

Lee Leafty has been the custodian at Churchill Junior High School for 17 years. He explained his love for the job, “I enjoy the job. You see, you enjoy the kids, you enjoy the teachers, the staff, great learning environment – if you have a clean school, it makes a great learning environment.”

He might love the job, but the school loves him right back.

Mr. Leafty has been at Churchill for 17 years, but he has been keeping Utah schools clean for 47 years.

Mr. Leafty continued, “You make sure the school is presentable for the kids, the teachers and the parents.  They come in and say the school looks good, and that’s what we want to do.”

For this school Mr. Leafty is more than just the custodian, he is what makes the school so special.

Churchill’s Principal Trent Hendricks said, “When you walk into Churchill, we get this compliment not just how clean it is, but also how it feels and a huge part of that is lee and his team.”

When student Lucy Szajnuk was asked what she thought of when asked about her custodian she said, “I think of his positivity and how he is always bringing joy and smiling whenever I see him. I think he is one of a kind, honestly.”

He might be one of a kind, but if you compliment his work and the way the kids love him, he won’t let it be about just him. For Mr. Leafty it is always about his team.

Mr. Leafty said, “We work hard and we care about what we do and it shows.”

Mr. Hendricks summed it all up, “He runs around this school, doing a million jobs, he’s always whistling and is positive – he just goes above and beyond.”

Churchill Junior High School will celebrate their own 60th Anniversary on September 4th. They invite you to join them!  You can find more information on the school’s website HERE.