Strength in Team Staff Spotlight: Ryan White, Tremont Elementary School

In this biweekly staff spotlight, we will be highlighting the people who contribute to the strength of our team by making our schools and our district such a special place for students. 

Ryan White, head custodian, Tremont Elementary School

How do you contribute to your school/department and the school district as a whole? As a Head Custodian, I take my responsibilities with the utmost care to provide Tremont a safe, clean and welcoming environment. We have a phenomenal team at Tremont that communicates and executes effectively to make sure Tremont runs smoothly. My goal is to always be friendly, hospitable and respectful to anyone in our district/community and be a source of positivity for everyone I have the privilege to interact with.

What inspires you / motivates you in your role? I enjoy being of service to others and strive to go above and beyond in anything I take on. Working first shift, there’s almost never a dull moment, and that allows me to continually be on the move and help make Tremont a great place for us all.

What is a memorable moment, or your proudest moment, in the year you have been with UA Schools? To be honest, every day is memorable in one way or the other. Whether it be helping tie a kid’s shoe, or a good laugh with a staff member, or a facility issue that I can help with to keep the school day flowing. 

One moment that I’ll never forget was when I went back to Wickliffe to cover an area after moving to Tremont. The entire staff was meeting in the cafeteria, and I tried my best to quietly walk by unnoticed and caught someone waving to me. So I gave a quick smile and wave, and all of a sudden, the entire staff started clapping and waving as I walked by. I felt so bad that I interrupted the presentation but was overwhelmed by their support.  I am so appreciative of the staff at Wickliffe for always being so kind, welcoming and understanding of me taking the head custodian job at Tremont. It was a great move for me and allowed me to spend more time with my family. 

What brings you joy outside of work? Spending time with family, my wonderful wife, Sam Pelton, a Windermere intervention specialist; our amazing son, Kodah; and our flat-coated retriever Etta. I also enjoy all things guitar, music production and watching SuperMotocross.

Reflections from Tremont Elementary School Principal Jacki Prati on Ryan: Ryan White has been an incredible addition to the Tremont family. Even though he hasn’t been at Tremont for a full year, it feels like he has been part of our team for much longer. Ryan is incredibly reliable, hardworking, positive, and always willing to do whatever is needed to support our students and staff. He takes tremendous pride in our building and genuinely cares about the people in it. Just as importantly, Ryan is fun to be around — he brings a great attitude, a sense of humor, and an energy that makes our days better. We know we can count on him, and that kind of dependability is invaluable in a school. Ryan doesn’t simply take care of our building; he has become an important part of what makes Tremont such a special place.

Reflections from Tremont Elementary School Assistant Principal Emily Karst on Ryan White: Ryan is truly a rock star and an incredible asset to our team! He takes tremendous pride in our building and consistently goes above and beyond to make sure Tremont is a clean, safe and welcoming place for students, staff and families. Even more importantly, Ryan is someone we can always count on: He is hardworking, positive, responsive, and willing to jump in wherever he is needed. His care for our school and the people in it is evident every single day, and Tremont is a better place because of him!