Crossing Guard Keeps School Children Safe

They have one of the most important jobs in our schools when it comes to keeping kids safe — crossing guards. No matter what the weather, these people are out there helping school children cross the streets.
Vicki Curran has been a crossing guard for 25 years. At the busy corner of 17th and Boulevard she has just 17 seconds to get the children across the street safely.

The students have come to love their crossing guard, sometimes pausing to give her a quick hug as she helps get them safely across the street.

“It’s a great job and I love the kids.” Curran said. “Now it’s getting to the point where some of the kids are bringing their own kids for me to meet which is always a joy to do.”

School administrators are grateful there is someone like Curran keeping the kids at Hawthorne Elementary safe, and they say she also goes the extra mile.

“She also gets to know all those children, so if kids are not here she’s concerned about them if she doesn’t see them – she gets to know them,” Hawthorne principal Mike Marshall said.

Seeing Curran is a bright spot in many student’s day.

“She always keeps me entertained in the morning,”Tavia Pickett said.
“She’s really nice and sweet and kind,” Kristen Keller said.

Every year Curran knits about 150 hats for these students to keep them warm in the winter.
For Curran many of these kids are like family and often that’s how they see her too.

“There are a few kids that have adopted me either as an aunt or grandmother, and that’s fine with me, that’s perfect for me,” Curran said.