Night custodian Michelle Williams has a specific rhythm to her work. Upon entering each classroom at Central Elementary, there’s a checklist of tasks she completes each time: emptying trash bins and pencil sharpeners. Sanitizing and wiping down student desks and the sink. Scrubbing bathrooms (for the few classrooms that have their own bathrooms).

Between classroom visits, she’ll sanitize the hallway tables and sweep away the dust bunnies underneath. And at the end of the evening, she returns to each classroom to sweep and vacuum.

Williams has a similar routine for the student bathrooms: while students are still in class, she’ll make a quick stop to pick up trash off the floor, flush toilets, and refill soap and paper towel dispensers. After they leave, she returns to the hallway bathrooms to scrub the toilets and sinks, clean the mirrors, and mop the floors.

Before any of this, Williams cleans the kitchen. That’s because she arrives during students’ final hour of school, and the kitchen is one part of the building that can be taken care of while classes are still in session.

And at the end of the evening, once everything is scrubbed down, Williams vacuums the whole building.

There’s a good reason why Williams has kept the same game plan every night.

“When you get into a routine that’s organized, you stick with it,” she said. “If you change up your routine, you’re more apt to forget something.”

Williams is in her second year as Central’s night custodian, and fifth year overall as a custodian in Ferndale School District. She said she takes pride in keeping her school clean, so Central’s students and staff can focus on learning.

“There’s some satisfaction in knowing that my co-workers and kids are taken care of,” she said. “I like everything in-place, safe, and ready for them to do their best.”

In order to reach that goal, Williams focuses on the details. When cleaning the kitchen, she squeezes her broom into every nook and cranny. She does this before mopping so food crumbs don’t end up in her mop bucket, she said.

“I don’t like all the trash getting in my mop bucket,” she said. “Then you’re dragging it behind you wherever you go.”

Even though much of Williams’ job takes place after everyone has left the building – she works past 10 p.m. every night – fostering relationships with Central’s students is still a priority for her. During the final P.E. class, she’ll occasionally join in on students’ activities if she has a spare minute or two.

“I’ve been known to climb on scooters or go under the parachute,” Williams said with a laugh. “The kids get to know me a bit that way.”

She also introduced the Golden Broom Award in the fall of 2021, which has become a major hit amongst Central students. The award goes to the class that keeps their class the cleanest, and it is a fierce competition. Williams said the award has helped Central students practice cleaning up after themselves – a skill that serves them well into adulthood.

“You can get in the habit of going like, ‘Oops I dropped that … but someone else will get it,’” she said. “I think it’s important for kids and adults to pick their things up.”

If she hears that one of her co-workers had a tough day or needs a boost, Williams will leave a note or a treat on their desk for them to discover in the morning.

“I want everyone to feel encouraged and loved, and know that they’re wanted here,” she said. “I love our staff!”

Marci Schneider, the Dean of Students at Central, said that Williams will occasionally give the entire staff a surprise.

“We have come into school so many times to find the whole staff room has been decorated by Michelle and is full of treats,” she said. “She’s just a great person.”

First grade teacher Lauren Barkley had nothing but praise for Williams.

“She does so many behind-the-scenes things, and we appreciate every bit of it!” Barkley said.