Meet the 4th Annual Custodians are Key Winner

June 06, 2023 12:14 PM by Tennant Company

Posted in Staffing & Personnel, Industry News & Trends,

Tennant Company is excited to announce the winner of our fourth annual Custodians are Key contest: Fabian Emery of Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This eight-month-long recognition campaign rewards the great work custodians are doing in K-12 schools and their communities. Tennant honors the winning custodian and their school with a $15,000 prize package. This year’s finalists were chosen from a field of nearly 1,400 nominations from around the U.S. and Canada.

“We were so impressed with this year’s nominees,” said Dave Huml, Tennant Company CEO. “Nomination after nomination detailed the many ways these custodians are making a real difference in their schools and in their communities. It’s clear that school custodians are keeping their schools beautifully clean and are an integral part of their school community. Our congratulations to Fabian as one of the thousands of superheroes in our schools, and we at Tennant are honored to celebrate and reward that.”

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Emery has been a custodian at Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School for one year and he’s clearly made a huge impact. Emery was nominated by Michelle Thom, Assistant Principal of Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School. Thom shares that Emery has an “all-in” mentality, going above and beyond to help in any situation with a positive attitude and a smile on his face.

“At Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary School we are the Home of the Heroes, and our custodian, Fabian Emery, exemplifies this daily,” Thom said in her nomination. “He is one of the hardest working individuals that I know and often goes above and beyond to help in any situation. Mr. Fabian will find a way to get it done.”

Emery has been known to take extra time to assist with family events at the school, visit with students and their families, and come in during the weekend when there are additional projects that can’t be done during the school day.

Recently, Emery began an incentive program for students, handing out “Hero Grams” at lunch to students who help others, earn respect, remember safety, and own their behavior and education.

“All the students are lined up to be the custodian helper for the day,” Thom said.

Outside of the school, Emery volunteers his time with a flag football team, instilling in his fourth and fifth grade players the importance of respectful behavior and a good work ethic.

A surprise celebration with students, staff, treats, banners, and a giant $10,000 check was planned at Keith and Karen Hayes Elementary on May 17, where Emery learned he was the winner of the Custodians are Key contest. Emery was personally awarded a $5,000 prize and has chosen to go on a trip to Los Cabos, Mexico with his fiancé, Amanda, who also works at the school.

“I was totally surprised that I won the contest and by the celebration thrown for me today,” said Emery. "The kids and staff are why I love working at the school. I have a great support team here!”

Honoring this year’s Custodians are Key nominees

We would also like to congratulate the other 11 finalists, who were awarded a $500 gift card for the 2022-2023 Custodians are Key contest:

Judy Preete of Indus School in Indus, Alberta, Canada
Keith Venable of Shallowater ISD in Ransom Canyon, Texas
Cristhian Cardona of Abraham Mallinson Elementary School in Sugar Creek, Missouri
Angela Russell of The Benedictine School in Ridgely, Maryland
Matthew Tanel of St. Edmund Campion School in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Andrea Wallin of Northview Intermediate School in Kodak, Tennessee
Eric Cardinal of Pleasant Street School in Laconia, New Hampshire
Rich Kinstetter of Kewaunee High School in Kewaunee, Wisconsin
Doreen Merritt of Elms Elementary School in Jackson, New Jersey
Kenny Wilson of Avalon Middle School in Milton, Florida
Daniel Arredondo of Amistad High School in Indio, California

Emery joins three previous winners of the Custodians Are Key campaign: Kris Kantor of Hayes Elementary in Lakewood, Ohio; Alonzo Henley of Brownsville Middle School in Miami, Florida; and Gladys Hernandez of Blue Valley CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) in Overland Park, Kansas.

Get ready for the fifth annual Custodians are Key contest

Tennant Company is looking forward to continuing the tradition of honoring K-12 custodians who go above and beyond to make their schools better places in the coming year. Nominations will open in September and finalists will be announced throughout the year. Learn more about the program and why Tennant Company honors custodians who care.

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