Garry Van De Weert honored for excellence

GOSHEN – Garry Van De Weert, head custodian at Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School, was recently honored by the Mid-Hudson School Study Council for Excellence in Support Staff Services in the Mid-Hudson Region.

Van De Weert was nominated by numerous Goshen personnel, including Daniel Connor, superintendent of schools; James Riley, director of Buildings and Grounds; Amy Peluso, principal of Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School; and Mary Kay Jankowski, social worker at Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School. He was recently honored at an awards dinner at Anthony’s Pier Nine in New Windsor, surrounded by colleagues, family and friends.

Van De Weert was selected from a pool of nominees spanning seven counties. When he learned of his nominations, Van De Weert said he felt touched and overwhelmed.

“To have that honor and privilege is quite a gift,” he said. “Goshen is an outstanding district and community where I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful people.”

Van De Weert began working for Goshen Schools in 1975 as a school bus driver when he was only 21 years old. At the time, he was the youngest school bus driver in the entire state of New York. He attributes being hired for the position at such a young age to his extensive experience driving farm tractors and trucks – for the past 50 years, Van De Weert has worked his 200-acre farm between Goshen and Chester.

After 26 years with the Transportation Department, Van De Weert began working in Buildings and Grounds as a maintenance/grounds worker and quickly transitioned to Head Custodian at Scotchtown Avenue, a position he’s held – and cherished – since 2004.

Van De Weert makes it no secret that he loves his job, especially the people he interacts with on a daily basis.

“My favorite part is working with the teachers and staff, my coworkers and an outstanding principal,” he said.

“I love seeing the children every day,” he added. “Scotchtown Avenue is a very special school.”

After all, it was here where Van De Weert began his own education. He attended and graduated from Goshen Schools and still remembers his first grade teacher, Viola Fields.

“I’ll never forget her and the kindness she showed,” he said. After all these years, Van De Weert still has the “diploma” that Mrs. Fields gave to him and his classmates at the end of the school year.

“Not too many people can say they’ll retire from where they started,” he said. “After 38 years, I wouldn’t change a thing.”