photo credit: John Charley
When thinking of a high school, a few main career roles come to mind: teachers, a principal, maybe counselors or administrators. What doesn’t always come to mind are the vital employees that make up the cafeteria staff.
One of these employees is beloved by the school’s students; his name is Food Service Worker John Charley.
“I am a part-time employee, so I arrive at 9:30 a.m. Since the first lunch begins at 9:50 a.m., my day begins with me logging into the register and getting the station ready for the day,” Charley said.
Despite his day starting a little later than the rest of the students, he still makes a big impact on each student’s day.
“I decided to work for the school system after I retired, because my wife is a teacher in the district, and I wanted a part-time job that would give me the same breaks and days off. This is my semi-retirement gig,” Charley said.
Prior to his job in the school, he worked in the federal government after graduating from Ohio University with degrees in Business Management and Finance.
“I like interacting with him because he always has me leaving his cashier station with a smile on my face. Whether I was having a good or bad day before lunch, I know that any interaction with him lifts my spirits,” senior Tosin Otarus said.
While only being a part of the school’s staff since Feb 2022, he has become an indispensable member of the school’s community, especially to the students.
“I always enjoy talking to him, and I purposefully try to go to his lunch line when I can,” senior Sam Vermeer said.
Interacting with the school’s students is a major part of what Charley enjoys about doing his job each day.
“The thing that I like about my job is getting to talk with the students every day. I enjoy hearing about their days and the events going on in their lives,” Charley said.
His effort to make connections with these students pays off; Otarus even remembers first meeting him three years ago.
“I would describe him as an attentive and considerate person. I remember my first interaction with him during my freshman year and how he would ask me about my day and how I was doing,” Otarus said.
His role and efforts show how much of an impact that seemingly small interactions can have.
“I look forward to talking to him, and I enjoy telling him about my day because he seems genuinely interested in my life and what I’m talking about,” Vermeer said.
These actions by school staff working to connect with students are a very important part of what makes the school community.
“It’s important for school staff to have a good attitude because having a cheerful and welcoming mood promotes happiness. This can transfer through the students and pass on to one another, ultimately resulting in better moods and attitudes throughout the school,” Otarus said.
This community is one that fosters not only good connections between students and staff but also within the staff themselves.
“I also enjoy my coworkers and feel that we have the best staff in the district. Everyone works together doing all that we can to make sure the lunch experience for all of the students is enjoyable,” Charley said.
And then his day ends, leaving the building with a few more smiles than how it started.
“After the final lunch period, I close out my register, and we clean the kitchen so that we are ready for the next day. My workday ends at 1:30 p.m.,” Charley said.
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