LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Sandra Ramos was nominated by her principal, George Zickefoose.

"Sandra Ramos is a LifeChanger at Centennial Elementary School as our Head Daytime Custodian. From day one in her role this summer, she has gone above and beyond the call of duty. I learned that Sandra was coming to our school from a high school in town, where she had been their head custodian. Sandra asked for an elementary school, and I was thrilled she was chosen to come to Centennial. It was clear from the beginning that she was a leader and took her role seriously. To this day, Sandra continues to reach for and achieve excellence in all she does. When I asked her what she wanted to do this summer, Sandra replied, 'Wash the school.' At first, I didn't understand. Later, I learned that she requested a pressure washer to wash the bricks on the outside of the entire building to reduce the hard water stains. When the requested pressure washer took too long at another school, she brought her own pressure washer from home to school and completed the job in a matter of hours. As I worked to ensure the school was ready for teachers, Sandra was integral in getting some whiteboards mounted and moved to the requested classroom locations. She is highly able with power tools, is a leader in her field, and demonstrates by taking pride in her daily work. I have been impressed by Sandra from day one at Centennial," said Zickefoose.

"Daily, it is clear that a clean school and quality workmanship are at the top of her list of must-dos each day. The cafeteria is left spotless after each meal when she finishes her routine. She goes above and beyond when students are not at school to clean deep areas neglected by years of wear and tear. She is on-call and, without hesitation, responds to radio calls when a need arises for clean-up in a classroom, hallway, or bathroom. She is a leader, service-minded, humble, and a huge contributor to our Centennial team," said Zickefoose.

"One day, I was walking through the cafeteria, and Sandra was on her hands and knees scraping the walls where students had spilled food down the edge of the tables. She looks for areas that need a deep cleaning and does it. Sandra has taken pride in keeping the exterior of our school building nice, too," said Zickefoose. "She has sprayed for the weeds in our flower beds, regularly checks the outside trashcans that fill up with community use, and always has a smile to greet a student, staff member, or me when I check in with her each week."

"When our company is short-staffed, Sandra is willing to step in and work an additional shift in the evening after a full day and her regular shift during the day at school. She is a team player, and we appreciate her beyond words. I was looking for a custodian who took initiative, had a high bar for excellence in her role, and responded well to students and staff alike. In Sandra, I feel that our students, staff, and school building and grounds are in some of the most capable and service-oriented hands possible. I could not be happier that she is at Centennial Elementary School serving as our Head Daytime Custodian," said Zickefoose.