For many students, the school day begins and ends when they pass the crossing guards who direct traffic at almost every school entrance. Whether students wait to cross the street on foot or in a car, they find themselves in interactions with these yellow-vested, sign-wielding essential workers daily.
Reynaldo Lingad is a crossing guard positioned at the crosswalk which adjoins the MHS student parking lot and Marshall Pomeroy Elementary School.
“In 2007, I retired from my government job,” Lingad said. “And I said, ‘I want to do this; I want to be a crossing guard.’ So next thing you know, I started loving it because I love people.”
Lingad is an ordained pastor at the Spring Valley Bible Church, and sometimes the church members go on mission trips, he said. While on a trip to the Philippines, he met with indigenous mountain people called “Aetas,” he said.
“We proclaim the gospel to them, but in the meantime, we give them help – for example, rice, or something to supply them with,” Lingad said.
Lingad has come to look forward to the many students and parents who show respect and appreciation for his work as a crossing guard, he said.
“Every December, Christmas time, or every February for Valentine’s Day, I get so many gifts,” Lingad said. “So I know that they love me here.”
Having been on the job for 12 years, Lingad said that his experience has made most of his tasks automatic. For example, he learned to memorize the routes each student has to take 0r which of their greeting gestures he should reciprocate, he noted.
Junior Therese Sanchez said she passes by Lingad on her way to school and exchanges peace signs with him. Ever since the first time she gave the gesture, Lingad always has given her a peace sign back, Sanchez said.
“It’s a little part of my day that’s consistent, but a good thing,” Sanchez said. “They’re always there, rain or shine. They’re always helping students, and you can tell they actually care about us,” she said
Ismael Gutierrez works as crossing guard at the intersection of Escuela Parkway and Russell Lane. While Gutierrez had happy experiences to share, he also disclosed the tough moments crossing guards face while out on the road.
“This one lady just started screaming at my co-worker, calling her names,” Gutierrez said. “And (the co-worker) got really upset. She just told me ‘You know what, I’m done. I’m not going to come out here anymore.’ … I went and got her flowers the next day and she never came back.”
Lingad said that he chooses to disregard those giving him a hard time, and instead begins each day praying that they simply stay out of harm’s way.
“I always tell myself, ‘Let not these people steal my joy,’” Lingad said. “When bad things happen, I just smile and say, ‘Have a nice day.’”
By coaching a little league for his son and grandson, both MHS graduates, Gutierrez has familiarized himself with the community, he said.
“The kids — I got used to them. The little ones saying ‘good morning,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘see you tomorrow’ — they even tell me ‘stay safe,’” Gutierrez said. “The kids are the ones that keep me going.”
Gutierrez spent 3o years working at a Fremont glass company as a certified welder, and waking up every morning to help students cross the street has continued to keep him active after retirement, he said.
“I know this spot already,” Gutierrez said. “I know who all the people are and all the kids. If I don’t go back, I don’t know who’s going to take my spot,” he said. “I got attached to the kids.”
The crossing guard’s effort to personalize every interaction with students is what Sanchez appreciates most about them, on top of keeping everyone safe, she said. Students should thank the crossing guards for what they do everyday, she added.
“I know the G building crossing guard uses the same beanie every single day. What if we get him a new one or something — stuff they’d appreciate?” Sanchez said.
Gutierrez said that no matter the struggles of being a crossing guard, the students he meets and the small affirmations he receives tends to balance out the struggles — which he said owes to his time in the role over the years.
“I’m having a good time doing this,” Lingad said. “I mean out of 1,000, probably 0.01% bad (experiences) … 90% of the parents and the students know me here; they know me as a smiley person,” Lingad said.