Beloved Avon Schools Custodian Phil White Retires with Gala Send-Off

Avon Local Schools’ beloved custodian, Phil White, 65, is retiring at the end of this year (Dec. 30).

White began working for the Avon Local Schools as a substitute custodian in April 2004. He was hired on as a night custodian at Avon High School at the start of the 2004-2005 school year. He transferred to Heritage South Elementary as a night custodian at the end of that school year.

He later went back to a day position at Avon High School in 2009. After a few years at the high school, he moved to a day position at Avon Heritage South Elementary School in 2015. A short time later, he ended up at the Avon Early Learning Center (AELC) in 2017 and has worked there ever since. The AELC houses the district’s kindergartners and Soaring Little Eagles Preschool through the Educational Service Center of Lorain County.

Prior to his employment with the school district, White, an Elyria resident, was working in the maintenance department at the formerly known EMH Center for Health & Fitness (now known as the Fitness Center at UH Avon Health Center). It was there that he met Jim Rietenbach, Avon Local Schools superintendent at that time. Rietenbach told White about an opening for substitute custodians in the schools and the rest is history.

When you meet White, you can’t help but smile. His kind, caring friendly demeanor is loved by all students and staff in the district.

“I love what I do,” said White. ‘I love seeing the kids and the staff. I take pride in my work. Seeing the kids and making them smile, makes me smile.”

White is well-known for his “magic tricks,” (what the students call them) although he refers to them as “balance tricks.”

“The kids think I can do magic, but that’s okay,” he said. “The kids love it when I do things for them. I am going to miss that. The kids are all so polite and when they say ‘hi’ to me, well that just makes my day. You never know what someone might be going through and even something as simple as someone saying ‘hi’ can really make a person’s day.”

White plans to stay around the area for at least the next five years while his wife continues working as a file clerk manager with the Giant Eagle grocery store chain. The couple have family in Alabama and the ultimate goal is to move to Alabama in a few years. The Whites have three daughters and seven grandchildren.

As for what he’d like to be remembered for after he leaves the Avon Local Schools, White replied, “A smiling face, kindness and caring.”

Congratulations Mr. White!

Mr. White Day

It was Mr. White Day in the school district and students and staff in all buildings were encouraged to wear Avon purple and gold. At the Avon Early Learning Center, where he works, the staff wore ‘We heart Mr. White” T-shirts.

The kindergartners and preschool students lined up outside as Mr. White left the building. A Tesla SUV was waiting for him courtesy of the Balmert Family. Chris Balmert drove Mr. White around the parking lot to cheers and applause from the students/staff, a cruise around Avon also followed. Mr. White loves when the car comes to the school to drop-off or pick-up the Balmert children.