The National C.L.E.A.N. ^® Award recognizes the contributions that custodians make to public health in their schools, communities and profession. The award is presented to a school custodian who demonstrates outstanding leadership in school cleanliness, and reflects the contributions that education support professionals (ESP) can make to public health.

Applications are evaluated on originality, creatively, ability to sustain results, evidence of teamwork and program impact. Applicants are asked to provide information about their worksite and cleaning responsibilities. Applicants should provide evidence of collaboration and how their work has enhanced the image of the custodian. Award applications are due in December. Applicants should check application package for deadline.

2011 Top Recipient: Georgia’s Barry Crocker

The 2011 Top Award Recipient is Barry Crocker, a custodian at Nicholson Elementary School in Marietta, Ga. Crocker, who has been at the school for 20 years, is known as the school’s in-house safety expert. His cleaning practices are so effective that he’s been called on by the Cobb County School District to assist and retrain custodians in other schools. Read more about 2011 National Award recipients.

2010 Top Recipient: Patrick Lortie

Patrick Lortie, 2010 Top Recipient from Woodlan Junior-Senior High School in Indiana is making a big difference in his school cleanliness and said during the national awards ceremony, "As a school custodian, I feel that the C.L.E.A.N. Award is important because it enhances the images of custodians in communities all across the country and brings to the forefront the importance of cleaning for health. Cleaning for health has the power to impact how students learn and staff performs. Keeping students and staff safe and healthy can have a direct impact on student achievement and is a major step forward in the cleaning process."

Click here to read about the innovative efforts of Patrick and the other custodians across the nation who have been recognized as leaders in the National C.L.E.A.N.^® movement.

Learn more about the 2010 National Award Recipients.

2009 Top Recipient: Pat Nicholson

"The greatest challenge that I see for school custodians today is to make the paradigm shift from cleaning for appearance to cleaning for health," said Pat Nicholson, the top award recipient. "Custodians that effectively clean for health create and maintain clean schools, healthier students, and higher rates of student achievement. Custodians are vital partners in successful public schools."

Added NEA President Dennis Van Roekel: "Custodians are critical partners in creating healthy, clean and safe schools for our students. They take so much pride in their work and know that what they do every day fosters an environment where students can learn more effectively." Read more about the 2009 National Award recipients.