A Jewel of a Janitor

Jose Moreno is a single dad. A lunchtime quarterback. A father figure and street-wise counselor.

In between, he cleans the toilets, hauls the trash, wipes the tables and scrubs the floors at Lincoln Elementary School.

Next week he’ll take a break to pick up a national education award at a conference in New Orleans.

On behalf of the school, the 14-year janitor and Principal Valerie Chrisman will accept the Title I Distinguished Schools Award from the U.S. Education Department. Only four schools in California this year will get the honor, which goes to schools in low-income areas where test scores rose three straight years.

Lincoln’s 12 full-time teachers wanted to go, but costs and class scheduling prevented that. Instead, to show their appreciation for his hard work, the teachers asked that Moreno be sent.

“He does so much for the kids,” Chrisman said. “And this is such a wonderful opportunity for him.”

Moreno, 41, who grew up in Oxnard’s La Colonia neighborhood, has never traveled outside California. The school’s gesture touched and surprised him, he said.

“It’s just beginning to set in,” he said, flashing a shy grin.

Moreno’s impact is evident in the schoolyard, where a simple mention of his name brought forth a seemingly endless stream of eager, high-pitched accolades.

“I’ve known Jose a really long time, and he’s always been there for me,” said 10-year-old Amber Castillo. “He’s someone you can talk to, and he understands.”

Nichole Smith, 10, agreed. “He’s very good with all the kids,” she said.

Moreno has solidified his bond with the students at lunchtime recess, when he leads them in games--something that’s outside his job description.

With a ring of keys dangling from a belt loop, Moreno tossed a football to pint-sized wide receivers on a recent school day. The adult presence makes such friendly touch-football matches more fun and prevents spats, the students said.

Moreno also does some time on the basketball court.

“I think he’s a great guy and a good sports player,” said 10-year-old William Tipton. “He made me better at basketball and taught me a lot of lessons.”

Lincoln teachers said Moreno’s influence also helps students inside the classroom, which is why they wanted him to go to New Orleans.

Moreno, who is bilingual, often translates for parents. He stands in for teachers who have to leave their rooms for a few minutes and constantly gives educators a heads-up about problems students are having.

Moreno, who has two daughters, also acts as a father figure to many of the pupils--particularly boys--who don’t have fathers at home, teachers said. And he rarely stops working, even coming in on a day off to prepare the school for a visit from the team that was judging campuses for the award program.

Moreno’s trip will be funded by the Title I program, said Beth Fruchey, a special services director in the Ventura Unified School District. Sending Moreno with Chrisman, whose trip is being paid for by the PTA, is testament to the importance of support staff in education, she said.