Nationwide — Tylan Bailey, who has been working as a school janitor for 23 years, has graduated from college with a Bachelor’s degree in education. He is now ready to change careers and become a teacher.“Just walking through these halls every day, you’re surrounded by education. Each corner of this building, education. So why not be a part of that,” Bailey told WSBTV.
For the past 23 years, Bailey has been working at Hightower Elementary School in DeKalb County, Georgia as its head custodian. He cleans the rooms and fixes anything that breaks.
“He’s the kind of person you want in your building, on your side,” said Principal Sheila Price. “It’s a bittersweet moment because we love him and we want to keep him here. But we know this is a huge step and we support him. We’re here for him for whatever he needs.”
In 2017, Bailey began to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher. He started attending Georgia State University while still working part-time from morning to afternoon. With great time management, he was able to hang in there for four years and graduate.
Now, he is looking forward to teaching soon, and has already completed multiple job interviews. He has already been invited back to Hightower as a guest speaker at the school’s upcoming fifth-grade graduation ceremony.