*Cleaner*
By: BHS Staff Profiles
April 7, 2023
Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Cindy Hennings. Mrs. Hennings started as a playground monitor at Roadoan (former 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade school). After, she started her cleaning job here in Brooklyn back in the early 2000s. She has been a cleaner in Brooklyn for 25 years. When she is not working, she can be found doing yard work or going camping. She also loves to host parties, especially graduation parties. A fun fact that you may not know about her is that she has a really good relationship with her grandchildren, Lexi and Mason, as well as her other grandkids who recently graduated. She also has a great relationship with her kids. Simply, she is family-oriented.
Q: What is the most rewarding part about working in the Brooklyn City School District?
A: “Meeting so many good people; I’ve watched kids from kindergarten grow up and graduate over the years. My last two grandkids are graduating this year, too.”
Q: What are some common problems you see within the school that you would change?
A: “Probably the respect from students and their overall behavior. I see a lot of it in the lunchroom. The respect has changed over the years. Also the way people dress.”
Q: What is your favorite work task?
A: “Just cleaning certain rooms. I’m friends with a lot of the teachers. So, I look forward to going into the room when the teachers are there, and I also love having conversations with them while I’m cleaning.”
Q: What is your daily routine?
A: “I start at 6:00 a.m. and I usually go right up to the board office. I clean all of the bathrooms up by the auditorium, and I clean the treasurer’s office. Then, I usually go into the auditorium. From there, I go into room 160 and clean that and then usually both of the locker rooms. Then, it’s just little things like delivering all of the supplies for the cleaners. It all depends on what is in the mix for that day. Basically from 10:30 to 2:15 is the lunch area which includes taking out the garbage, sweeping the floor, wiping the tables, etc. And then, my day ends at 2:30.”
Q: What three items would you bring to a deserted island?
A: “Food, water, and clothing.”
Q: What is your favorite season?
A: “Summer because I have a pool, and I’m an outdoors person. I don’t like being inside at all. If I didn’t work, I would probably be outside from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed. I just love the outdoors; Summer is definitely my time of the year. I don’t like the cold, and I don’t like all of the rain in the Spring.”
Q: What are you good at?
A: “I think I’m good at my job, and I’m great with plants. I have a really good greenthumb.”
Q: What are your long term goals?
A: “I hope to live a long, healthy life. I also hope to retire in the next two years. I would also like to go to different places, not necessarily travel to different countries but just do more in general.”
Q: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
A: “My weakness is exercising. Although I walk all day long, my doctor says that it’s not exercising. At the end of the day, I usually have about 25,000 steps. I also have a weakness for salty, junk food. I’m not strong enough to say no. My strengths are that I handle stress very well. When I have a lot of pressure on me, I feel like I handle that very well.”
Thank you Mrs. Hennings for allowing us to interview you. We greatly appreciate your hard work and dedication to the Brooklyn City School District. Summer is approaching, and we know that you will take advantage of it.
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 