Getting ready to learn starts with a clean and disinfected school environment. Paula Schaefer, daytime cleaner at Cuyahoga Heights Elementary School (CHES) for 17 years, takes her role in helping students reach their academic potential seriously. Her efforts have swept her into the Staff Spotlight for September.
“This job started out as a part-time gig for me and here I am 17 years later. I guess that tells you where a part of my heart lies,” says Schaefer about her commitment to the students and staff at CHES.
Dawn Zorc, secretary to the elementary school principal, who nominated Shaefer for this recognition remarked on Schaefer’s positive attitude. “She arrives at work each day with a welcoming smile, taking the time to greet both students and staff, setting a warm tone for everyone she encounters, and fostering a sense of community and belonging within the school. Her positive interactions contribute significantly to the welcoming atmosphere of our building.”
Schaefer says the best part of her job is “sharing my day with the staff and students and hearing the kiddos laugh. “The students are always kind to me and they are enthusiastic to be here,” she remarked.
“Her genuine care for the elementary school students is evident in the way she actively engages with them, making each child feel valued and seen,” Zorc added. Perhaps that's why Schaefer is always ready to lend a helping hand. “I can handle almost anything that is thrown my way,” says Schaefer about what she has learned about herself over the years.
When she’s not keeping the school in pristine condition, Schaefer enjoys hiking, long rides, listening to live music, and camping. She also volunteers at her church and spends time with her family. “My family is everything to me,” says Schaefer, which includes her husband, Bob; her daughters , Amber, 31, and Beth 28; and grandsons –15-month-old Austin and 12-year-old Logan. “Without question they have grandma wrapped around their fingers,” Schaefer said. “And there is no better friend than my fur buddy Codey, who is always happy to see me!”