The Backbone of Kingsview: Our Building Services Staff

At Kingsview Middle School, the values of relationships, relevance and rigor extend beyond the classroom. They are also embodied daily by the school’s nine-member building services team, who arrive as early as 5:30 a.m. and often stay until nearly midnight to ensure that every detail of the 870-student building is cared for.

The team is known not only for their hard work, but also for the pride they take in the school community and in one another. Led by Building Service Manager Abu Kamara, who has served MCPS for 24 years and Kingsview for nine, the group includes both veteran staff and newer members who share the same deep commitment to the school.

The work is structured across a day and night shift, with communication and teamwork at the center. “We communicate with each other what needs to be done, what’s happening at the school, different events,” Kamara said. “This is done daily and throughout the day.”

For the staff, pride comes from both the relationships they’ve built and the impact they make:

• Kamara: “I’m proud to be part of Kingsview because of the great administrators. They support us in all kinds of ways. I’m also grateful for my friendly, hardworking team.”
  
• Josephine Payne, Building Service Worker (5 years): “Every morning when I come to work, I feel confident and happy to do my job because of the people around me — our principal, assistant principal, my boss Abu and all my co-workers.”
  
• Luz Jimenez, Building Service Worker (4 years): “I’m happy working here. My friends are kind and I try to do a very good job.”
  
• Terry Terrell, Building Service Worker (15+ years): “I’m proud to be here because I see a lot of good workers. I love the principal, I like my boss, and I don’t mind coming to work — even though they call me the warden.”
  
• Harshadkumar Patel, Building Services Assistant Manager (9 years with Kingsview, 16 with MCPS): “I’m proud of the Kingsview team and all staff because I like them and I enjoy working in the school.”
  
• Jose Castello, Building Service Worker (7 months): “The school is a happy place. I work hard for the school, and I’m grateful for my co-workers, my manager Abu and the principal.”
  
• Henry Aristondo Gonzalez, Building Service Worker (2 years): “I’m proud to be part of MCPS and Kingsview. My manager, assistant manager and principal are very nice to us, and I’m happy to work here.”

For Principal Dyan Harrison, the team is indispensable. “Our supporting services is the spine of the school. While our teachers are on the front lines, our building services team makes it possible for instruction to happen. They go above and beyond, taking initiative without being asked. Their pride in this building inspires our students to respect and care for it as well.”

Harrison notes that the team’s presence is so essential, it’s immediately noticeable when someone is out. “All of them are required to make the building look the way it does, and it’s evident when one person is missing,” she said. “Their excellence sets the tone for our students and staff.”

As MCPS celebrates National Custodian Appreciation Day, the spotlight shines on Kingsview Middle School’s hardworking and humble team. Their daily commitment, whether clearing snow in the winter, preparing the building for special events or simply making sure classrooms are clean and ready, ensures that Kingsview is more than just a school building. It’s a place where students and staff feel proud to belong.