How she shines: Sandra Morency, Lead Custodian at Valley Collaborative, exemplifies the leadership, integrity, communication, mentorship, and collaboration that define an exceptional professional in the cleaning industry.
In her role, Sandra leads the custodial efforts across a special education school district, where maintaining clean, healthy, and welcoming environments is essential to the well-being of students, staff, families, and visitors. She understands that her work is about much more than maintaining buildings—it is about creating safe and supportive spaces where students can learn, grow, and thrive.
Sandra leads with integrity and takes tremendous pride in doing things the right way. She sets high standards for cleanliness and consistency while continuously looking for ways to improve custodial routines and practices. Her communication with the Operations and Facilities team is clear, respectful, and solution-focused.
Just as importantly, Sandra understands the dignity of the people she serves. When a student has an accident or creates a difficult mess, Sandra responds with compassion and discretion. Rather than drawing attention to the situation or making the student feel embarrassed, she quietly takes care of what needs to be done while treating the student with patience and respect. Her actions demonstrate that exceptional custodial leadership is not only about cleaning a space—it is about caring for the people in it.
One of Sandra’s greatest strengths is her ability to bring people together. She is not simply a supervisor; she is a mentor and teammate. She shares her knowledge, supports her colleagues, and helps others develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Her collaborative approach creates a strong sense of teamwork within the department and demonstrates that effective leadership is built through respect, trust, and example.
Working in a special education environment requires flexibility, compassion, and an understanding that every detail matters. Sandra consistently recognizes the importance of her role in supporting the entire school community.
Sandra Morency represents the very best qualities of a woman in the cleaning profession: she leads with integrity, communicates with purpose, mentors others, and strengthens her team through collaboration. Her dedication, compassion, and positive influence make her an outstanding candidate for the inaugural Women of Clean.
Years in the industry: 15 years
Job responsibilities: Sandra supervises all custodial efforts in the Operations and Facilities Department. She organizes, administers, and leads a comprehensive program of custodial initiatives in a manner that the department can provide each staff, student, and stakeholder an attractive, clean, and healthy experience. Her job functions and responsibilities include: providing leadership to the entire Operations and Facilities team regarding the overall cleanliness of all facilities; establishing and maintaining custodial routines that most efficiently maintain all programs; researching best practices and brainstorming different routines; communicating with the Operations and Facilities Manager regarding necessary changes needed to maintain proper cleanliness; assisting in all maintenance projects as assigned by the Operations and Facilities Manager; assisting in all snow/ice management activities; and assiting in all projects relative to the Operations of School Buildings.
Career path: Sandra’s path to becoming Lead Custodian is a testament to her work ethic, resilience, and commitment to doing the job the right way. She began her custodial career with another school district as a Junior Custodian, where she consistently took on responsibilities well beyond her title and compensation. Despite being significantly underpaid for the level of responsibility she carried and the effort she brought to her work, Sandra continued to demonstrate an exceptional work ethic and pride in what she did. When she joined Valley Collaborative as a Custodian, she brought that same determination, reliability, and commitment to serving a school community with her.
Sandra’s character and dedication became especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when many custodians were leaving their positions because of the unprecedented challenges and risks, Sandra remained committed to Valley Collaborative and its mission. She showed up every day and took on the difficult work of keeping the school environment clean and safe. She quickly learned and implemented new protocols and procedures, including proper protective personal equipment (PPE) use, enhanced disinfecting practices, and evolving safety requirements. Rather than simply meeting the new expectations, Sandra embraced the opportunity to learn. Since that time, she has continued to pursue professional development to stay current on cleaning procedures, industry best practices, products, and technologies. Her commitment to continuous learning has allowed her to bring current knowledge back to her team and help elevate the custodial program at Valley Collaborative.
Sandra’s willingness to take on leadership roles, learn new skills, support her colleagues, and consistently do the right thing has made a lasting difference in the culture and workplace environment. Her journey from Junior Custodian to Lead Custodian reflects more than career advancement—it reflects the trust she has earned through years of dedication, adaptability, and leading by example.