Working 12 years in any one particular place is a long time. You’re invested and you know the nuances of what makes the specific job work best for you.

That was the case for Claudia Flores, who served as a custodian at Houston Independent School District. She started at an elementary campus before settling in at a middle school.

That is until everything changed in 2023, when she was laid off.

Though the break was only a month, it was stressful for Flores and her family. She eventually connected with Harris County Department of Education (HCDE), marking a new beginning.

Now in her second year at Academic and Behavior School (ABS) West, Flores is regarded as a “superstar” on campus. She not only takes pride in keeping the building clean and orderly but also helps students as she can and serves children with unique learning needs beyond the classroom.

For her work ethic and dedication, Flores was selected as HCDE’s November Employee of the Month.

“She’s a part of the school community,” said ABS West Principal Jatata Hutton, who nominated Flores for the recognition. “One of the things for me is I don’t care what your role is here at ABS West. As principal, I recognize and I applaud everybody who has a position here on campus.

“Claudia does well with the kids. She’s able to re-direct students in the hallways. She’s built relationships with kids during lunch duty in the cafeteria. That goes a long way. She’s really embedded into the school community and not just with keeping it clean, but someone the kids are familiar with and can respond well to.”

Said Flores: “I like to talk with the students but before some didn’t like me. Right here, it’s different. You have to be more patient with the students and be understanding of their problems. It’s a big difference but I like it better here.”

A native of El Salvador, Flores was just a year old when her mother left to go to the United States. Flores eventually went through the legalization process and 14 years later, she also headed to America and was reunited with her family.

She started school but through a number of barriers, dropped out of high school and started working.

Flores settled in, working and raising three children with her husband, Hector. Education was always an important value in their family. The oldest daughter recently graduated from Bangor University in England, while their son is currently in college.

“That was very important for us,” Flores said. “They can have better jobs, make more money and have a better life.”

Getting laid off was a setback, especially after a dozen years in a district.

There was worry. Flores and her family still had expenses, which included a home to pay for and two children in college.

Potential employers were asking for a High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma – Flores didn’t have one but has since earned her HSE . Scheduling was also an imporant factor, as she hoped to avoid working at night.

“My husband told me, ‘Don’t worry. We can handle it,’” Flores said.

She applied with HCDE and stood out to Facilities Assistant Director Javier Lara, who lauded her experience in schools. He knew she’d be a fit at ABS West, where Hutton was making a change with his custodial team.

“Javier told me he had two superstars that he was going to bring on board and Claudia was one of them,” Hutton said. “My first impression was that she took care of business. This building is not easy to clean but she came in and really knew how to navigate the building. She makes sure we have a clean space every day.”

Flores takes pride in her cleaning at ABS West, but she is also intentional about investing in the students. HCDE’s special schools serve unique populations – ABS East and West supports students with intellectual, development and behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorder and other significant health impairments.

In addition to creating safe, clean learning spaces, Flores helps re–direct students by getting them to assist her. From pushing the trash can down the hall to collecting the small trash bins from a class, the students are able to refocus their energy in a positive way while building a rapport with Flores.

“We all value the same thing and that’s the kids,” Hutton said. “Ms. Flores loves what she does and she understands that at the front of that are students. She’s very multi-dimensional – she can re–direct students and they’re able to respond to her in a very good way.”

For Flores, it’s a welcomed change from large school buildings in Houston ISD and hundreds of students on a daily basis.

She’s settled into her role and thrives in it. She’s even paid it forward – Flores’ cousin came aboard and works at ABS West also.

“I know it was a big change,” Flores said. “Everything is different. Our kids are unique, so you have to be ready to deal with that. But as you can see, I’m still here.”