Longmont’s Crossing Guards Are There to Keep Students Safe, But Many Families Know Them for Something More Personal
On a sunny afternoon in March at Central Elementary School, Bernadette Morrissey prepares for her crossing guard shift on Gay Street near Fourth Avenue. In the quiet moments before the 3 p.m. dismissal bell, ready with a reflective fluorescent red stop sign, she waits.
Then the school doors swing open, prompting a rush of chattering kids, barking dogs, and humming traffic that might seem chaotic to most people. For Morrissey, it is her favorite part of the day.
“It’s just so nice to have the morning and afternoon, standing outside no matter what the weather is, listening to the kids laugh passing by, [hearing] all the entertaining kid chat that they have and all the stories they tell me,” Morrissey says.
Parents and students appreciate her upbeat presence.
“She always just has a smile on her face and good attitude,” says Geordann Stormes, a parent meeting her second-grade daughter, her smiley 9-month-old son tucked on a hip. “When [Morrissey is] not here, people wonder where she’s been. She’s a special part of getting to pick up the kids.”
Morrissey is one of 15 guards stationed at 17 high-traffic locations near Longmont schools through the Safe Routes to School program, a partnership between the City of Longmont and St. Vrain Valley Schools.
Rather than direct traffic, crossing guards are trained to help pedestrians move safely through intersections, says Jess Taylor, transportation engineering assistant for the city. Their preparation includes three days of instruction on stop-paddle use, hand signals, and positioning, followed by four to six shadow shifts at busy crossings before they begin working independently.
Melissa Guinn
A former teacher who left the profession more than eight years ago to spend more time with her family, Melissa Guinn sought part-time work that kept her connected to the community. She works three daily shifts: mornings and afternoons at Altona Middle School, and afternoons at Longmont Estates Elementary School.
What are common misconceptions about your job?
I think I speak for most of the crossing guards when I say we really do love our jobs and what we’re doing. We’ve signed up for it, we’ve taken the training, and we all want to do it well and keep the kids safe.
What is your favorite part of the job?
I love working with these kids, providing safety for them. I love hearing about their days, about the tests, whether they’re skiing over the weekend. If I can give them a positive outlook just for a few minutes before they start school, I consider that a job well done.
What do you wish more people knew about crossing guards?
This is a life-and-death job. It’s 40 minutes of, “OK, if I make the wrong decision here, I could put kids in peril.” I try to take it very seriously, and I know the other guards do, as well.
Debbie Martinez
Even if you don’t have a school-aged child in the district, chances are you’ve received a friendly wave from the crossing guard at Third Avenue and Bowen Street. Debbie Martinez (known as Ms. Debbie) has been greeting passersby for 16 years (13 years at her current location). A Longmont resident for 44 years, she is a grandmother of six and great-grandmother of two.
What is your favorite part of the job?
I love being around people, and I’m just thankful I get this opportunity to communicate with the kids. As crossing guards, we can build trust with them so if they do need to share something with us, they feel comfortable doing that. The trust I have with those children means a lot to me.
What do you wish more people knew about crossing guards?
I wish everybody knew that we’re out there to protect the kiddos, and we just want drivers to slow down for safety.
What is the biggest challenge in your job?
I’ve had some of our smaller students forget to slow down as they get to the crosswalk. So if [cars] are not stopping in time, I will literally run out in front of the traffic. It’s important to get the message out to all the cars: Be ready and help our crossing guards keep our precious children safe.
Bernadette Morrissey
While pregnant with her first son 12 years ago, Bernadette Morrissey became a substitute crossing guard to get acquainted with the school community. When the job opened at Central Elementary School as her son was starting kindergarten, she jumped at it. In between shifts, she’s a mom of two boys, ages 8 and 11, and a real estate agent at the Colorado Real Estate Group.
What is your favorite part of the job?
It’s a great way to bookend your morning and your afternoon, with kids laughing. If all adults ran into work like kids went into school, the world would be a different place. I have never been thanked so much in my life. There are people driving by who will yell “thank you” out their windows. Occasionally, people will bring me coffee or hot chocolate. Sometimes a kid will pick a dandelion and hand it to me as he crosses over. And it’s just so sweet and so connecting.
What is the biggest challenge in your job?
It’s not common, but it’s the times that I have to yell to get a driver’s attention. They are just kind of caught up in the queue if they’re dropping off kids, and they’re doing their own thing.
What are common misconceptions about your job?
It’s more than just a job about safety. It’s about community and dependability. I think it’s just good for the kids to have consistency and people watching out for them.