Staff members of Northview High School discuss the roles and responsibilities of their jobs

Photos by Shayan Ahmed, Staff Writer

Katelyn Wu, News Editor & Shayan Ahmed, Staff Writer

In the bustling halls of Northview High School, it is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of student life. The teachers instruct, the students excel, and the administrators ensure everything runs smoothly. But behind the scenes, there is a group of heroes that truly keep the school together - the custodians, the media staff, and the cafeteria staff who make Northview the remarkable place it is.

Kenneth Ashby, head custodian, has been working at Northview since it opened in 2002. He manages and works alongside a team of custodians tirelessly, often during the night, early morning hours, and during the school day, to ensure that Northview’s classrooms and hallways are clean and safe.

“We repair things, [clean] spills, [and] set up for events,” Ashby said. “[We have] a lot of different jobs.”

Ashby emphasizes the importance of keeping the environment clean, whether in or outside of school. From removing graffiti from restroom stalls to meticulously cleaning the cafeteria between lunches, the custodians make Northview a pleasant and healthy environment.

Not only do the custodians work behind the scenes, but so does Darryl Paul, Northview media specialist. At first, Paul graduated college as a social studies teacher. However, he wanted another position in education that would allow him to still help students as well as cater to his varied interests.

“The library is a perfect place for that because I get to have my hand in lots of different parts,” Paul said.

One resource that Paul thinks students could use more in school life is Sora, the app that has over 15,000 e-books and is accessible through Launchpad. However, the job of media specialist does not only entail the roles and responsibilities of a librarian but also includes tech support for all of Northview. Paul also works with English and seminar classes to teach students how to use research databases.

“I do a little bit of everything,” Paul said. “I choose the books you read [and] the books that are popular. I do tech support for students and staff, for student devices, personal devices, staff devices, staff software, [and] projectors.”

On top of these tasks, Paul is the assistant marching band director and the school webmaster. He has been in the marching band since he was 13 years old and plays tenor saxophone, mellophone, and bass drums. Despite the busy life his job demands, Paul finds it very rewarding.

“My favorite part is working with students. I really enjoy working with [students], getting to know [them], and helping [them] with whatever you need,” Paul said. “We can get through anything with the people at Northview.”

Another behind-the-scenes job is the nutrition and cafeteria manager, Pamela Patterson. Patterson and the rest of the cafeteria team have many responsibilities aside from just preparing the food. They must count calories for students who may be on a restricted diet, plan the daily menu, and order the food for the week, including produce, milk, and other categories.

Additionally, Patterson is in charge of the finances for the cafeteria; she must balance out the budget each month. She also works with the Health Department to ensure that the food is safe for everyone to eat.

“It’s a lot besides just cooking,” Patterson said. “We have to follow strict guidelines.”

Patterson has experienced a few difficulties as the nutrition and cafeteria manager. Staff shortages are a major issue that she faces, however, she considers the unexpected and daily changes to be the main difficulty in her job.

“For instance, I can plan a whole menu, but all of a sudden [it’s] out of stock. So, I have to go back and change the menu,” Patterson said.

Regardless, Patterson loves her job and even chooses to stay with her nutrition career full-time over retirement. Her favorite part of this job is meeting new students and she appreciates every interaction in the cafeteria, whether it's students coming in to eat breakfast in the morning or students taking a tour of the kitchens in the back.

“It’s rewarding to know that I am a part of serving our students nutritious meals every day,” Patterson said.

Zoe Jones is a senior at Northview who often interacts with the staff members. Jones has a very positive impression of the staff, who have helped her in numerous ways. For example, the media staff has found books that she needed, and the custodians have helped her find her Airpods. Jones believes the support staff are underappreciated and wants to tell them how much she values their work.

“They’re just really helpful, really nice, and really dedicated to their jobs,” Jones said. “They’re really dependable because you can always walk into an area and they have taken care of it.”

Northview would not be the same without the custodians who keep the surroundings pristine, the media staff who guide students in quests for knowledge, and the cafeteria staff who nourish students’ stomachs and hearts. Their dedication, often behind the scenes, deserves an immeasurable amount of recognition and appreciation. The support staff are the unsung heroes who make Northview a better place every day, and their contributions are invaluable.