Over the past eight years, when Debbie Tafoya’s out in the community running daily errands, she seems to run into students she watched grow up starting as kindergarteners. As an elementary school custodian, she’s seen children come into school shy and a little unsettled, who then blossomed into more confident and aware children as they moved up from her school.

Tafoya is an engaging person who people find easy to talk with because she immediately gives one a sense that she genuinely cares about them. Although no longer in elementary school, former students always stop to talk with her when she’s out and about town. In fact, Debbie’s grandson frequently asks her why she doesn’t have any older friends.

Tafoya came to the district after working at a nursing home in Brighton for 26 years. That work experience is where she really cultivated community relationships because she came in regular contact with so many residents and their families. She also became quite a savvy cleaning specialist as she disinfected residents’ rooms and learned how to keep common areas free of germs. She still uses her tips and tricks to keep her school healthy and clean especially with COVID-19 being a major health concern.

When the pandemic hit Colorado, Tafoya immediately saw the virus’ impact on education and the importance of her role as head custodian at North Elementary, where she had worked since coming to 27J Schools. North was one of the district’s older schools and in a neighborhood that saw dwindling numbers of school children as the community’s population grew older. The number of students shrank to the point where North could no longer support such a small enrollment. So the school closed in May 2021.

But the district wanted a renewal of the building and repurposed it as a family resource center called the Bob Sakata Education Resource Campus. There, students and families are connected to support services like a food bank, clothing donation center, mental health services, educational services, school meal programs and school bus transportation services.

But the transition was still difficult for Tafoya.

“I was very sad when I heard that North Elementary School would be repurposed. After it was repurposed, it was hard to drive by and not see kids there,” Tafoya said. “However, I am glad that it has been turned into a place that provides resources to our families and community. I actually know Mr. Sakata personally, so it was nice to see the school named after the long-time community farmer.”

During her last year at North, Kevin Purfurst, former principal, was selected to be the principal for 27J’s newest elementary school, Padilla Elementary. He asked Tafoya if she wanted to work at Padilla Elementary with him the upcoming school year (fall 2021).

“I was a little nervous when I first started at Padilla because it felt like such a big school and I questioned whether I would be able to do my job well here,” Tafoya recalled.

“It was a big change from North which felt so homey. I commonly got compliments for keeping it so clean and for making the school look so good — inside and out.” she said. “At Padilla, everything was brand new, but it soon felt like a second home.”

Tafoya maintains strong bonds with the former North Elementary community even as she fosters new relationships with Padilla students, staff and families.

“Padilla Elementary is a building filled with friendly people. The younger teachers are always asking me what I think about things and for advice. I share my experiences and give them my opinions. They never look down on me and always make me feel good,” she said. “We are a family here.”

Tafoy’s husband is also a 27J team member. He works at Brighton High School as assistant head custodian and she has family members who work as teachers in the district. She and her two sons graduated from Brighton High and even shared some of the same teachers.

“I believe in 27J Schools because it’s a place where we build strong connections with everyone in the school community. The district appreciates us and we know the people here won’t forget us.”