When students arrive at Cairo Elementary School each morning, many are greeted with a warm "Good morning!" from Shenunith Ellis—or as everyone calls her, "Miss Nena." As the school's daytime custodian for the past eight years, Ellis is much more than someone who keeps the building clean. She's a beloved figure whose presence brightens the school day for students and staff alike.

"The best thing about working in this school? The kids," Ellis says without hesitation. "I love them—good, better, and different. I love them. Just hearing them say, 'Good morning, Miss Nina!' or 'Hey, Miss Nena!'—that brightens my day."

Ellis arrives by 6:30 each morning to unlock the building and prepare for the day ahead. While many might think a custodian's job is limited to mopping hallways and emptying trash cans, Ellis's responsibilities are far more extensive and critical to school operations.

One of her biggest challenges is managing the cafeteria, which doubles as the gymnasium. After breakfast, she must fold up the tables so the space can be used for P.E., then set them up again for lunch, and repeat the process afterward—all while thoroughly cleaning between uses.

"It's a lot of tedious work," Ellis explains. "Whatever the teachers need, I do that. I run errands, do maintenance—whatever needs to be done. They can count on me."

Throughout the day, unexpected messes inevitably arise—from spills in hallways to clogged toilets and occasional stomach bugs. Ellis handles it all with professionalism and patience, even taking time to educate the youngest students about proper bathroom etiquette when needed.

Her dedication extends beyond cleaning. Ellis has created "Freeze Pop Friday," a program where she rewards classes that maintain the cleanest areas throughout the week with frozen treats she purchases herself. She's also built relationships with students who sometimes volunteer to help with tasks like cleaning tables or dust-mopping.

"Some of the older kids, if they see I'm in there by myself, they'll ask, 'Hey, Miss Neina, can I help?'" she says. "And I'll give them a treat for helping me out."

What many in the community may not realize is that custodians like Ellis work year-round. Summer brings an entirely different set of responsibilities—stripping and waxing floors, painting, building shelves and cabinets, and even maintaining the school grounds.

"We do all of that," Ellis explains. "We maintain everything. We keep it up the best that we can. If we don't do our part, the building won't run."

Originally from California, Ellis moved to Cairo 16 years ago to be near her grandparents. The mother of four children—all of whom attended Cairo schools—and grandmother to three, Ellis has deep connections to the community.

When speaking about her role, Ellis acknowledges that custodians often go unappreciated. "We go unappreciated a lot of the times because they don't understand that we have a lot to do, and it doesn't magically get done," she says.

Despite this, her love for the students keeps her motivated. "They're my babies," she says warmly. "I call them my babies."

Nicholas Davis, the district's custodial supervisor, checks in regularly to ensure operations run smoothly. Ellis appreciates his hands-on approach: "He's not one of those bosses who says 'Just get it done.' He'll come down and try to help and figure out what needs to be done."

As Cairo Elementary students and staff go about their day in clean, well-maintained spaces, Miss Nena continues her constant movement throughout the building, tending to all the details that make school life possible—a behind-the-scenes hero whose work touches everyone who passes through the school's doors.