If you’ve ever driven down Club Drive on a busy school morning, you’ve seen him.
Edward Henken, a local crossing guard, works the intersection of San Carlos Avenue and Club Drive five days a week, before and after school, in order to ensure that all students who cross will be kept safe.
Finding retirement too boring, Henken became a crossing guard when he discovered an ad in the paper for All City Management Services, with open positions for crossing guards.
“I retired from my full-time job in 2011, and I was getting a little bored from just sitting around. Then in 2014, I happened to see an ad in the Daily Journal for cross guards, and I decided to give it a try. I found that I really liked it, and I’ve been here for three years now,” said Henken.
Through his three years of service, Henken has gotten to know a majority of the students well, often greeting them by name and with a friendly joke to start off their mornings.
Isabel Mayoss, a junior, said, “On my morning walk to school, I always pass him, and I’ve noticed that he tries to learn everyone’s name and cheer all the students up in the morning. I think it’s really sweet, and he appears to be very passionate about his job. He makes sure absolutely no one crosses at the wrong time, and he’s never let a car make that right turn when the light is green.”
According to Administrative Vice Principal and District Traffic Task Force board member Grant Steunenberg, Henken’s job is to escort students safely back and forth through the crosswalks.
Henken said, “I really enjoy what I do every day. The kids have no buffer zone, there are their bodies, and then there are these 3,000 pieces of flying metal. I have to advocate for them, and that’s why I’m passionate about this job. I don’t take any guff from drivers and their lackadaisical manners behind the wheel.”
According to All City Management Services, the main priority of all crossing guards within the company is to keep children safe while crossing the street.
“People need to be aware that distracted driving can have catastrophic consequences. You have to keep your eyes on the road and your mind on your driving. You’re operating a lethal weapon,” said Henken.
