BRANDON, Fla. — With the first day of school just weeks away, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is making one final push to hire school crossing guards.
HCSO manages over 350 school crossing locations and says it’s important to have every position filled.
While the sidewalks are quieter during the final days of summer school, Kenneth Alonzo still mans his post in Brandon.
“Today, we’re working summer school. Actually, it’s the last week of summer school, and we make sure we cross the kids safely across Jersey and Parsons (avenues) so the kids make it to school at Mann Middle School,” he said.
He has been a crossing guard for the last two years after spending 20 years as a sheriff’s deputy in Monroe County. Alonzo says being a crossing guard is the perfect job for retirement, and one that still allows him to serve his community.
“We make sure the kids get to school safely and home safely in the afternoon. People drive recklessly, and making sure they get across the street, and home and school safely,” said Alonzo.
All school crossing guards are trained to Florida Department of Transportation guidelines. You can contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for more information if you’re interested in applying. (Spectrum News/Fallon Silcox)
Right now, HCSO is looking to hire more than 20 crossing guards for the upcoming school year. Melissa Kincheloe manages the crossing guard unit. She says pay starts at around $21 per hour, and the schedule is flexible.
“We have crossing guards that run from the age of 19 to 95. It’s a great part-time job for college students, seniors, stay-at-home moms,” she said.
But she says the most important perk is the lasting impact crossing guards make on their communities, like Mr. Willie in Riverview.
“We have a crossing guard who has been with the agency over 19 years. He’s made such a positive impact in his community, he was recently honored with a crosswalk that was named after him,” she said.
Alonzo may not have a crosswalk named after him, but he says the families he interacts with each day make this job not even feel like work, and he encourages anyone who may be interested to apply and join him.
All school crossing guards are trained to Florida Department of Transportation guidelines. You can contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for more information if you’re interested in applying.