Always on the Move

If you have been at Walton-Verona High School longer than a day, chances are you have heard about Mr. Rodney. He’s the man who picks up after you in the halls, helps you take care of your trash at lunch, and is always there to manage stressful situations. He begins completing the daily list early: “I roll in here at 4:30 a.m., so it gives me roughly two and a half hours to get everything running and make sure everything is cleaned and ready to rock and roll.” Most of us find difficulty in waking up for class, so working before the sun rises is not a chore many of us would volunteer for. When discussing the various tasks he must complete before the beginning of the school day, he comments on the difference between our schedule and his: “It’s amazing, most of the time you guys are in bed and have no clue that somebody’s here trying to get this place going.” Mr. Rodney contextualizes how special our time in school is, but how did the legend of The Great Mr. Rodney transpire? 

Mr. Rodney is an alumni of Walton-Verona High School and needed a job after graduation. Dr. Storer invited him to work for WVHS thirty-four years ago and Mr. Rodney has been here ever since. From the day he accepted the request to take care of Walton-Verona High School, he has not stopped moving. 

Ready for his next adventure, whether it be a spill or worse, our hero has always been willing. How does he handle the goo-that-shall-not-be-named? “You get used to that,” Mr. Rodney notes assuredly, a statement he has exemplified in his relaxed demeanor. Some days, however, our warrior must test his skills against vicious beasts. Mr. Nash recalls a tragic event in which a squirrel was trapped in the Agriculture Room. Bravely, Mr. Rodney went downstairs to face the unhinged creature. During the moment of chaos, Mr. Rodney found and freed it, refusing to wound the squirrel. Although, when dealing with bats, Mr. Rodney chooses to let Mr. Jimmy practice his animal-handling skills. Adding to the event, Jimmy must capture the bat with a worthy weapon: a pink mermaid net. “He’s deathly afraid of bats,” Mr. Nash reveals one of our hero’s phobias, but every champion has fears! Perhaps in an attempt to convey the fright Mr. Rodney feels for the flying mammals, he welcomes a mechanical witch to haunt students and staff. Mrs. Hester is sure the witch will make an appearance yet again this year. Besides tales of squirrels and witches, anecdotes of Superhero Rodney stack sky-high. 

Laughter and smiles trail Mr. Rodney down the halls as he always manages to hold comical conversations, even in a rush. He could be doing ten things at once, but cracking a dad-joke is never too much to ask. The knight in shining armor of Walton-Verona High School fights valiantly for his students, classroom to classroom. From 4:30 a.m. to the afternoon, he pours himself into his work without expecting one ounce of gratitude. Even though Mr. Rodney does not hold a position of education at WVHS, he teaches those willing to observe the value in helping others succeed. Thank you, Mr. Rodney, for your eagerness to defend the Bearcats loyally. Hopefully, we can return the favor!