*This article was written prior to Mr. George Beasley winning School- Related Employee of the Year for Seminole County. Beasley will be competing at the statewide competition.
There are many simple features on Seminole High School’s campus that quite often students never consider to be of vital importance on a typical school day. From the light bulbs in one’s third period classroom to the set up of the tables in the cafeteria, one man is responsible for it all. His average day begins at around 5:30 in the morning. On campus before everyone else, he disarms alarms and opens gates for the arrival of eager students, teachers, and faculty members. Throughout the day, he fixes various items at the requests of his supervisors. Sometimes he leaves campus on 2:30 pm, and other times he stays until 10 or 11 pm to manage the concessions stand during sporting events.
His name is Mr. George Edward Beasley. His position is Custodial Maintenance. And when asked during his interview, “if you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?”, an enthusiastic administrator, Mr. Jordan Rodriguez, answered the question for him, describing Beasley simply as “fantastic!”
For the 2011-2012 school year, Beasley was nominated again (the first time was in 2006) for School-Related Employee of the Year. A Seminole alumnus, Beasley has worked here for approximately 18 years. Before his employment at Seminole, Beasley was managing a gas station, at the time located at the corner of 1st Street and 17-92 in Sanford, for 20 years. Due to the lack of benefits for his family and himself, Beasley considered joining the military. “I went to a recruiter who told me he could get me in at age 33 if I had less than two kids. I had three.” After that, Beasley was motivated to join Seminole’s faculty as an outside custodian which he did for about 10 years. “The benefits of this job were the main objective when I first came aboard,” said Beasley. “I am still here because of the pleasant atmosphere that the students, teacher, and faculty create.”
Beasley worked his way up to the position he is in today, and feels beyond honored to be School-Related Employee of the Year again. “It was an incredible honor to receive it once, but to do it again, I was speechless. My head is still swollen. I cannot imagine working at any other school. Seminole is so family oriented, it’s incredible.”
He even recalls the days when he first attended Seminole, back in the 1970s when the integration movement started. “I attended Crooms Academy, which was an all-black school at the time. During my sophomore year of high school, I began attending Seminole along with hundreds of other African Americans during the integration process,” said Beasley. In high school Beasley was active in sports. He played as a right fielder for the baseball team, and was a defensive lineman for the football team. Graduating in 1973, Beasley, along with his family, has always been a part of the Seminole community. “Though three of my older siblings graduated from Crooms, myself and my two younger siblings graduated from Seminole.” Beasley’s three children attended Seminole, and even his grandchildren went here. Beasley’s daughter, Misty, is a math teacher here at Seminole.
With an outstanding family legacy here at Seminole, Beasley continues to make a special connection with the students here on campus. A few of his best moments on campus include when every two years, a student chooses his or her honor graduate faculty member. “Zachary Hinsley picked me last year, and I was thrilled and excited. It was such an honor.” For him, making a positive impact on someone’s life is what he strives for. “Whether man, woman, boy, or girl, I think we (faculty) are all here to do that.”
A man of God, Beasley never feels stressed out because he lives by Scripture, and quoted Ephesians 6:5-6 as the words that guide him through every day. In a nutshell, Beasley summarized the verses: “Work as though you are working for the Lord. Don’t be an eye pleaser onto Him.” In doing this, Beasley believes that “when you do your best, He will do the rest.”
“I was once told by one of my supervisors that I could become School-Related Employee of the Year every year… After that, I felt like I owed it to that individual to always do my best,” said Beasley. And to many students, Beasley goes above and beyond to help anyone out. Senior Camilo Batista said, “Mr. Beasley has always went [sic] out of his way to help the students and the staff with anything that we need. He’s always helping out in school events and if anything is broken… he would always fix it. He’s kind, a good person, understanding, polite, and always in a positive mood. I feel like he’s a great family member for SHS and we should feel very appreciative to have him.” Sophomore Jordan Sealey commented on Beasley and said, “Mr. Beasley helps out with almost every sports event. He is so friendly and approachable.” Also, senior Ashley Taylor said, “He’s really cool. He goes out of his way to get things for teachers.”
All in all, Beasley feels that “doing things for others is what it’s all about.” His motivated attitude, helpful ways, and encouraging ideals show why he is the School-Related Employee of the Year; he deserves it. So, consider that brightly glowing light bulb in third period, and the next hot dog bought from the concessions stand at a baseball game. And thank the man that is responsible for it all, Mr. George Beasley.