The First Three Smiles
In May 2022, I published a brief article called Making a difference with the First Three Smiles in ACSA's EdCal publication. This is really a story about Leadership-Everyday. Employees choose to lead out and make a difference with the simplest courtesies and acts of kindness. Enjoy! Mike Gutierrez and Frank Martinez, campus security guards at South West High School, are the Second Smile of the day for many students. It’s dark out when the buses pull out of the yard. Bea Mora, a 16-year veteran school bus driver, pulls her long yellow bus out onto the highway headed to the small town of Seely, Calif., to begin her run. “I love my job,” she said. “These kids need us and school makes the difference.” Bus drivers across the country are often the First Smile of the day, with a friendly “Good morning” and a smile to welcome them on the bus. Transportation Supervisor Martin Barajas tells his drivers, “You have to like these kids, they are our customers, them and their parents.” Ba...