Thomas Diamanti has worked for Burlington Township Schools for six years
Thomas Diamanti is a Renaissance man of sorts, and no one knows this better than the students and staff at B. Bernice Young Elementary School.
Diamanti, who joined the custodial staff at Burlington Township schools six years ago, was recognized with the Shining Star Award at November’s Burlington County Principals and Supervisors Association meeting. Nominated by B. Bernice Young Principal Denise King, the popular custodian was given the honor for his dedication to Burlington Township Schools and for going beyond the call of duty.
In 2012, Diamanti found himself back on the job market after his housekeeping position at the Masonic Home of New Jersey was eliminated as part of a series of cutbacks. What would be a source of anxiety under most circumstances was what led Diamanti to find the best job he ever had.
“Someone indicated to me that the district needed custodians, so I submitted my application. I’ve loved it here ever since,” Diamanti said.
His work at the school, particularly at B. Bernice Young, is more than cleaning up spilled milk, according to those who nominated him. Noticing the elementary school students were interested in his behind-the-scenes efforts to keep the school up and running, Diamanti has become a crowd favorite for his lessons on subjects from sea life to proper flag etiquette.
“There was one instance where I was able to tell them about the lifecycle of a jellyfish, and they asked me, ‘How do you know all that?’ I tell them because I paid attention to my teacher and did my work,” Diamanti said. “It’s great to be able to encourage them in that way.”
Mr. Tom, as the students affectionately call Diamanti, and his duties are a source of fascination at B. Bernice Young. He realized he was more than just a custodian when a second grader, after watching him perform the daily lowering and raising of the American flag, drew a picture of Diamanti with a kind message. Her artwork was featured in the school yearbook that year, cementing Diamanti’s place as part of the Burlington Township schools family.
“In the past jobs I have had, no one really pays attention to the people who clean the floor. We’re a sight unseen,” Diamanti said. “These kids, when they actively engage in asking me, ‘How does that work?’ or ‘What does that do?’ and tell me I’m doing a good job, it really does make me feel good.”
There’s a little bit more to a public school than just the teachers and the principals, Diamanti added. Be it the people who work in the cafeteria, who work in the kitchen, there’s more that goes into keeping a school running. It’s a good education for the students to see the whole process, he said, and it makes him feel appreciated when they notice what he does for them.
“Dr. King always reminds me that I’m part of the B. Bernice Young family, and she nominated me for the BCPSA Shining Star. That gives me a real sense of belonging and makes me feel incredibly good,” Diamanti said, thanking the students and staff for supporting him.
