Students at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas, rallied to help their long-time custodian after he fell ill, organizing a swim-a-thon that raised significant funds and practical support while highlighting the often-overlooked role custodians play in school life.
School custodians quietly keep buildings running and students safe, yet their work rarely earns the spotlight it deserves. When the Pearce swim team learned their beloved custodian, Mr. Le, had been out for eight weeks with a health issue, they decided to act. The team’s response was swift, creative, and deeply personal.
In many districts custodians earn modest wages that don’t match the responsibility they shoulder; median pay for custodians hovers near $35,000 a year. That reality makes sudden medical bills or long illnesses especially threatening for those workers and their families. The students at J.J. Pearce clearly understood that vulnerability and wanted to do something meaningful.
In their own words: “In schools across the country, custodians do more than keep campuses clean. Earlier this year, for example, Andy Markus, a custodian in Utah, was named the National Education Support Professional of the Year by the National Education Association for his mentoring, which has improved students’ behavior and academic engagement.”
“And when custodians stay at a school for years, they develop expertise and institutional knowledge that can be invaluable, school leaders say. But often, schools face problems with keeping these employees, in part due to low pay.”
The swim team organized a swim-a-thon within a week, turning laps into donations and community energy into tangible help. Students swam nonstop for more than an hour on January 16, logging over 4,000 meters while dedicating each lap to Mr. Le and his recovery. That kind of sustained effort showed how much he mattered to that campus.
“J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, TX swimmers organize a swim-a-thon to benefit beloved custodian.”
“The power of community led to something good for a school custodian at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson ISD.”
The result was remarkable: the group raised more than $17,000, and they arranged for a new car and a bike so Mr. Le would no longer have to walk or bike an hour each way to work. Those practical gifts matter as much as the cash, because they restore mobility and dignity, letting him return to work with less stress. Coach Eric Ewing shared the news with obvious pride, reporting that the team’s efforts delivered both financial relief and transportation solutions.
“The swim team learned their custodian, Mr. Le, was sick. He’d been out for eight weeks with a healthcare issue. And, the teenagers wanted to help. In a week, they organized a swim-a-thon to raise money for him.”
Beyond the fundraising numbers, this story is about relationships. Custodians like Mr. Le often greet students at the door, offer a smile or a high-five, and become steady presences in the daily life of a school. That steady presence builds trust and affection over years, and students respond when someone they rely on faces hardship. The Pearce students didn’t wait for adults to fix the problem; they acted themselves.
“For more than an hour on January 16, students swam non-stop, logging more than 4,000 meters, with every lap dedicated to helping their beloved custodian, who was always there for them with a smile and a high-five.”
“At the end of the swim-a-thon, Mr. Le arrived at the natatorium for a huge surprise. They’d raised more than $17,000!”
“And there was more. Coach Eric Ewing shared the good news that they’d also gotten Mr. Le a new car and bike to help him get to work.”
“He’d been walking or biking an hour each way to get to work.”
The emotional payoff matched the practical help. When Mr. Le walked into the natatorium and saw what the students had done, the reaction made clear how much community and belonging mean. Acts like this remind schools and towns why investing in every staff member’s well-being matters—not just in money but in respect and recognition.
Stories like this land for a reason: they show young people stepping up, neighbors supporting neighbors, and a community turning concern into concrete action. That kind of civic muscle is worth watching and worth encouraging in every school that wants to turn compassion into results.
Add comment