Jun 17, 2009 7:55 pm US/Pacific
School Janitor Mentors El Cerrito Kids
Jefferson Award Winner: Darell Valentine
El Cerrito (CBS 5) ―
Who's the most popular adult at Harding Elementary School in El Cerrito?
There's no question it's Darell Valentine. He's the school janitor, known as "Mr. V." He's been a custodian at Harding for the last ten years, but the school community says he does a whole lot more.
"He's our hero," says teacher Barbara McIntyre. "He's really the heart and soul of our school."
Sixth-grader Peter Leone says every morning, Mr. V greets each child by name.
"He just says, 'Hey, how you doing?' Not many teachers do that, to go out of their way to say that to every last kid!" Peter says.
Mr. V says he wants each child to feel special.
"Life is beautiful," he says with a smile. "It's what you make of it. You're at the right place at the right time. Mr. V's here with you. I'm gonna help you."
Mr. V has bought Harding school T-shirts for more than a hundred students who couldn't afford them. He raises the money from a can and bottle recycling program he started. He gives students school supplies and helps them with homework.
"He's often double-checking have they studied their spelling. Kids come up and practice their math facts with him," McIntyre adds.
Mother Erika Jones-Perkins says Mr. V inspired her son.
"He made sure he stayed on top of his studies. My son, to this day, is in middle school, a year-round honor roll student. He never forgets what Mr. V taught him."
Student Jordan Davis says Mr. V's advice helps him reject bad choices.
"You can go talk to him about it and he'll tell you why not to do it," says Jordan.
"I've seen him put his broom down and really sit down and talk and I really appreciate him for that," adds Jordan's grandmother, Bobbie Dennis.
Mr. V, a retired truck driver, never went to college. But he learned life lessons from his truck driver father, growing up in Louisiana.
"I didn't know we were poor because my Dad and I played jokes, laughed a lot. But we're serious on education. That's what I'm doing with the kids here," he says. "This is where my life really is, is in this school."
For going above and beyond the call of duty to make Harding School students feel special, this week's Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to Darell Valentine.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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