Most kids wave their parents goodbye on their way out the door in the morning on their way to school, if they even see them at all. For Jeremiah Chester, senior, he has the exact opposite experience. He gets to see his mother everyday at school. His mom, Deborah Stovall, is part of the custodial staff at KHS.

Stovall has worked at KHS for most of her son’s life. In fact, as a kid he used to go up to campus and walk around with his brother while his mom worked. He remembered the old science building in the current language building.

“There used to be reptiles in there and we’d go in to see all the fish,” Chester said. “It was so cool.”

Because he visited so often, he already knew his way around campus when it was finally his time to go to high school. According to Stovall, he always loved visiting. He would come whenever he wanted.

“I had a Kirkwood High School experience before I even came,” Chester said.

It was actually really convenient for Chester, especially now that he attends KHS. He said it is more efficient sometimes when he needs a paper signed for a teacher or he ever needs to ask her anything. It even comes in handy for his mother.

“Sometimes when his grades are falling or he’s not doing his work I’ll be able to go right to him then and there and tell him ‘that’s right, you better get to it,’” Stovall said.

Having his mom around all the time was never a big deal for Chester. He had always been close to his mom so it wasn’t anything new having her be a custodian at his school.

“He tells me some things, but he’s kind of private so he doesn’t tell me everything,” Chester said.

All of Chester’s friends have been really supportive, too. None of them ever thought anything of having his mom around. It was not awkward for them at all.

“It’s just like at home, [my friends] just go up and talk to her about anything,” Chester said.

While not embarrassed by his mother’s presence, he does believe she deserves a better job.

“I’m proud of her,” Chester said. “But I would prefer better for her.”

If not for her current job, Chester believes his mom probably would have gone into law. Stovall too, agrees from a young age, law always intrigued her.

“I ain’t no janitor,” Stovall said. “I don’t consider myself to be a janitor, it’s just something to do to pay the bills.”

Chester explained no one has said anything rude about his mom. Respecting his mother, he claims even if someone said something, he wouldn’t feel insulted.

“It’s not like what people think,” Chester said. “It’s just a job, I mean there are much worse jobs than being a janitor.”

Stovall confesses she did not plan on working at KHS for as long as she has. She didn’t even expect to still work there by the time her sons were old enough, but the job continues to be very convenient.

“We’re on the same schedule now,” Stovall said. “Great hours, same vacation schedule, I’m able to still watch them when I get off.”

Stovall works after school hours. Once the students go home she cleans the building. But at her own house, there is another routine.

“If I wash the walls at the school, they’ll wash the walls at home,” Stovall said.

Making her kids do the same cleaning she does for the school, Chester claims he does not mind the extra cleaning.

“We feel like if she can go to work and clean then we can at least have the house clean by the time she gets home,” Chester said.

Never for a second had Jeremiah worried about what other kids at school thought of his mom being around all the time. The concept never bothered him.

“It’s not really embarrassing,” Chester said. “I like having her around.”