This Iowa 'superhero' custodian could win a big national contest for him and his school
Before 6 a.m., custodian Tony Scharfenkamp is already hard at work around Collins-Maxwell Elementary School.
Scharfenkamp, or Mr. Tony, as he is known to students, arrives early to finish his initial round of chores before the doors open at 7:30 a.m. That gives him time to greet students, sometimes with a special handshake or hug.
"Before you can teach a child to learn, the kid needs to feel safe and welcomed in an environment," he said. "That's kind of my job."
Scharfenkamp, who has 12 years of experience working in public education, is one of 12 finalists for the Tennant Co.'s Custodians Are Key campaign. The Minnesota-based firm, which designs and sells industrial cleaning products and equipment, will award the winner a $5,000 prize and give another $10,000 to the custodian's school.
Scharfenkamp would not call his journey to become a custodian a "fairytale." He was doing well as a cook when around 2002 he was awarded primary custody of his young daughter Alexis.
He continued working in the restaurant business for the next year, but its hours weren't idea for raising a child.
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"You got to be there in the morning ... when they wake up," Scharfenkamp said. "You got to feed them dinner. You got to put the clothes on their back."
Shortly after he gained full custody, his now-wife, Shannon, convinced him to make some changes in his life.
Scharfenkamp and Alexis moved to Slater to live with Shannon and he began working for the Ballard Community School District. After seven years as a custodian, he became a special education associate, working a total of 10 years with the district.
When he departed Ballard, a friend encouraged him to apply for a custodian position at Collins-Maxwell Elementary in the southeast Story County community of Collins. More than two years later, he said, he is glad he took the job.
His work at the elementary school goes beyond cleaning and maintenance. Once a week, he works with special education students on life skills. If a student is having behavior issues, they can decompress by accompanying him as he sweeps, blows leaves and collects garbage. He will even take students to play dodgeball.
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Scharfenkamp creates opportunities for students to see him as part of the school community, said Collins-Maxwell Principal Chad Grandon.
“I think it also shows kids that a janitor is not someone that just cleans. They can be someone in the building that creates a bit of this bigger impact,” Grandon said.
When he first began receiving emails about the Custodians Are Key contest, Scharfenkamp, a self-proclaimed "humble guy," thought they were spam. Later, he found out Anna Baldwin, a library associate and friend, had nominated him.
“Superhero doesn't begin to describe how everyone here (staff and kids alike) see him! He has truly been a blessing to our district," a Tennant news release quotes Baldwin as saying.
Whether he wins or not, Scharfenkamp knows he is valued at the school.
"I'm flattered and I think I'm successful because I'm a product of the good environment I work in," he said.
The winner of the contest is to be announced next month.
Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @svhernandez or Facebook at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa elementary custodian finalist for the Tennant Company's content
