Crossing guards play an essential role in today’s society
Every day, he sits at the corner of the gas station. Cars drive by, often missing the four way stop. Smiling, playing the guitar, he waits for the bell to ring at the local elementary school, because when the bell rings, it means that students will make their way down the street, and that is where his job comes into play.
The shift in his story dates back to 2012, when his entire life changed in the matter of a second. Today, Keith Williams sits in that chair playing the guitar because of that one second. Over a decade ago, Williams was stopped at a traffic light, and was rear-ended by a car going 60 miles an hour. After two failed four level neck fusions, Williams was no longer able to pursue his career as an actor, stuntman and puppeteer. Additionally, around this time, Williams’ father had his second bout of lung cancer. “I watched cancer pretty much slowly kill him over a year. And I got really depressed, didn’t do anything, couldn’t do anything, except sit at home and play guitar,” Williams said. So, he set on his search for a job of which he was physically capable.
Williams now works as a crossing guard near the Ladera Elementary School in Thousand Oaks. For only working two hours a day, Williams finds the job to be especially rewarding.
Started in 1964, the City Crossing Guard Program serves 20 school campuses around the city, with 24 crossing guards assigned to these schools. Each and every crossing guard has their own story about how they have been led to this unique job.
Christina Markolt has only been a crossing guard for about a month, but has already begun to experience the reward that comes from the opportunity. As a child, Markolt did not have crossing guards in the area of her school, so she is now able to give safety that she did not have. “When my kids were in the elementary school at CVUSD, I loved giving back, whether it was volunteering at the class, or being a girl scout troop leader,” Markolt said.
Many crossing guards have had a lasting influence on the lives of students. Quentin Wurz, junior, continues to relive memories from his elementary school crossing guard. “Every day in the morning he would give everyone a high five on their way to school,” Wurz said. “Many people don’t expect a crossing guard to have such a personal impact on you, but he always showed enthusiasm and made my day a bit better.”
Every day, crossing guards work hard to ensure safety for not only students, but pedestrians as well. Williams, along with many other crossing guards, continue to discover the rewards of their job. “I feel like I am contributing somehow, when I wasn’t able to before,” Williams said.
