In every school building, behind the scenes and often behind closed doors, there’s a team of people who play a critical role in keeping classrooms clean, safe, and functional: custodians. While teachers are the most visible presence in a student’s daily life, the custodial staff is just as essential to the school ecosystem. But how strong is the connection between these two teams? What happens when that relationship begins to fray?

Across districts, expectations for cleanliness, safety, and maintenance are often loosely defined—and even more loosely enforced. While there may be general guidelines for how classrooms should look or function, there's rarely a consistent system in place to measure whether those standards are being met on a day-to-day basis. This lack of visibility can create tension: when expectations go unmet, frustration builds—but without clear accountability, there's no easy way to address the gap.

We recently spoke with a veteran elementary school teacher with 35 years of experience in her district. Her insights provide an honest and eye-opening look at how the teacher-custodian dynamic has evolved—and where it could be improved.

A Changing Role Over Time

When asked about how the role of custodians has changed during her 30+ years in education, the teacher didn’t hesitate: “Unfortunately, for the worse.”

She reminisced about a time when head custodians were familiar faces in the building—part of the community. Today, she said, turnover is so frequent that building trust and familiarity is almost impossible. “There are two new people who just started this spring, and I don’t even know their names,” she shared. “Every year there are changes. Sometimes they leave mid-year. And when they’re not around, it’s the teachers who pick up the slack just to get the classroom ready.”

In an aging building, this matters even more. “If you don’t clean it, it gets worse and worse,” she explained. The limited cleaning schedule outlined in their union contract (for example, vacuuming only on Tuesdays and Thursdays) means that teachers often have to go beyond their job description to create a learning environment that’s presentable and hygienic.

A Strained Relationship

When asked about her current working relationship with custodians, she was candid: “Not good.”

She emphasized that even the principal rarely interacts with custodians directly, and many staff members feel they have to constantly remind them to do basic upkeep. “It’s ridiculous,” she said. “They have to be told to clean the front foyer or the front yard.”

Most teachers, she noted, have stopped calling for help unless absolutely necessary. “It’s mostly when there’s puke,” she admitted bluntly. “Truthfully, that’s about it. Otherwise, we just don’t expect anything to get done.”

However, not all experiences have been negative. She recalled one custodian from last year who took initiative to clean and sanitize the staff bathrooms—a task that had been long neglected. “He was shocked at the condition of the school and just did it,” she said. Unfortunately, he chose to put in for a transfer within a month. “People like that don’t last. The ones who care don’t want to stay when others aren’t doing their part.”

The Impact on Learning and Safety

Despite her frustrations, the teacher acknowledged the importance of custodians—especially in maintaining a safe environment. “I don’t always think about it, but I do notice when the snow is cleared from the walkways,” she said. “That kind of work often goes unrecognized.”

But when issues arise, the response is often delayed. “I’ve had old pipes in my room for over 10 years. I leave notes year after year, asking for them to be rewrapped, and nothing happens.” Simple maintenance requests—like replacing lightbulbs or moving furniture—can take days, if not longer.

Improving Communication and Accountability

One key challenge that emerged from the conversation was a lack of communication and visibility. “We never see them. Maybe at lunch. That’s about it,” she said. “If they were just more present, things might be better.”

Currently, she handles most issues face-to-face. No apps, no platforms, just in-person conversations or notes to the principal. She believes a tech-based solution could go a long way. “An app would help. It would make it easier to report issues and track if they’re being addressed.”

When asked about existing procedures for custodians to provide feedback or seek professional development, she responded with a simple, “I don’t know.” That, in itself, speaks volumes.

Recognition, Respect, and a Path Forward

The teacher made one thing clear: “I know it’s not an easy job—but neither is teaching. I’ll do my job. Please do yours.”

Her advice to new teachers? Respect each other. Strong, respectful relationships can lead to a better environment for everyone—students included. “Years ago, we had great people who were amazing. Now, it feels like nobody cares.”

She ended our conversation with a message for school leaders and districts: “Cleaning validation solutions would be worth it for school systems. If you don’t care about the way things look—it’s embarrassing.”

Bridging the Gap: Key Takeaways

Better communication and transparency can help bridge the gap between educators and custodial teams. The ultimate goal is to empower both sides with tools that foster accountability, simplify issue reporting, and create healthier, more respectful work environments.

Here are some of the most pressing issues and opportunities that emerged from our conversation:

Challenges Identified

• High turnover among custodial staff makes it difficult to build trust and familiarity.
• Limited cleaning schedules mean teachers often take on additional responsibilities.
• Lack of visibility and communication between teachers, custodians, and administration.
• Delayed or unaddressed maintenance issues hinder learning environments and safety.
• Low morale among custodians leads to disengagement and rapid turnover.

Opportunities for Improvement

• Stronger onboarding and retention strategies for custodial staff to build consistency.
• Technology-based tools (e.g. issue reporting apps) to streamline communication and track accountability.
• Professional development and recognition programs to support and motivate custodial teams.
• A culture of mutual respect between teachers and custodians that benefits the entire school community.
• Cleaning validation and feedback systems that provide transparency and assurance for all staff.

Because when everyone feels seen, heard, and supported—our schools thrive.