When people think about the staff at their local schools, it’s usually teachers, coaches and principals that immediately spring to mind.

But there are plenty of folks working hard behind the scenes to make sure everything is always exactly where it needs to be, functioning correctly and looking its best.

One of those people is Kristin Squires, the first shift lead custodian at Oxford Middle School. She’s employed by ABM, a private company that provides custodial services to the district.

Squires’ contributions have not gone unnoticed as last week it was announced that she had won the 2019 Support Person of the Year Award for the northeast quadrant of Oakland County.

“It’s kind of surreal,” said the 44-year-old Orion Township resident. “I’m not one that’s normally used to the spotlight. It’s an honor, that’s for sure.”

Established in 1990 and formerly known as the Betty Campion Distinguished Support Service Award, Oakland Schools annually presents this honor to school district support staff “who go above and beyond the call of duty in creating a supportive learning environment.”

Squires has been working at OMS for nine years. She’s well-respected, valued and relied upon by staff and students alike.

Principal Dacia Beazley said Squires “does whatever it takes to help us be successful” and is considered the school’s go-to person.

“There isn’t an hour that goes by that somebody doesn’t need something from her,” she said.

To Beazley, “things just run smoothly” at OMS because Squires constantly thinks about the “big picture,” always gets the job done and never lets anyone down.

“I can hand things to her . . . and just let it go,” she said.

Squires views working at OMS as a pleasure, not just a job.

“I enjoy the people I work with. I enjoy seeing the kids,” she said. “It’s easy to come to work and enjoy it.”

Forming friendships with students is one of her favorite things. She loves joking around with them, letting them bend her ear when they’re having a bad day and giving them hugs when they need it.

“It’s just little things like that,” Squires said.

“She really does take care of our kids,” Beazley said.

Based on his experiences with Squires as an OMS student, Josh Francis, now a freshman at the high school, wrote a letter praising her. It was included as part of the Support Person of the Year nomination packet.

Francis recalled how Squires would “check in” with students to find out “how (they’re) doing” and “make sure they were okay.” He noted how Squires could always be found doing things such as “helping students with their lockers” and “helping people (who) were lost . . . get to the right room.”

“She became an adult figure (that) I could look up to,” he wrote.

Being a custodian is much more than simply sweeping floors, according to Squires. She said it’s about making sure everything inside the building and on school grounds is “taken care of” and “runs smoothly.”

“We’re on call all day,” Squires said.

Back in 2010 when the district decided to privatize custodial services, some opponents claimed custodians employed by for-profit companies would never be as invested in the schools as custodians who were district employees.

Squires doesn’t believe that’s true. She said she and her co-workers all care deeply about the facilities they maintain, the people they work with and the students they serve.

“I wouldn’t still be here if I didn’t,” she said.