Taulbee Takes Pride in Caring for GCHS

Submitted by Greshen Willis

Les Taulbee helps GCHS in a variety of ways, but he enjoys the time he is able to work with students. He recently met with students on the Energy Team to discuss some ideas about how energy and waste could be reduced at school.

Autumn Baldwin, Staff Reporter
November 15, 2019

It’s 5am on a Monday morning.  The sun has not risen; birds are scarcely chirping. Leslie Taulbee, head custodian for the newly opened Great Crossing High School, walks outside, gets into his truck, and heads to work. It’s time to start his day, and most students/staff attending GCHS have not even woken up. 

Taulbee, like many in the community, was excited to see the opening of the new school, and he is excited to play a role in it’s day to day activities.  Taulbee stated, “I was ecstatic when I was asked to come to this school. I knew it would be a huge responsibility, but I was determined.”  Taulbee also wanted to help make history in a positive way as the school opened. “The idea of a brand new school is to create a positive, safe environment, where the staff/students can succeed,” he said. 

Taulbee has spent much of his adult life working with schools in some manner.  He spent 25 years designing and creating various schools as a construction worker. Though he loved the creativity of this job, he knew where he would be happiest inside school, helping to provide a safe atmosphere.  That is when he became part of the janitorial staff at Stamping Ground Elementary.

 Students notice and appreciate Taulbee, or Mr. Les, as they call him.  When walking through the Great Hall, students often can be seen high-fiving and chatting with Mr. Les, who always has a smile on his face. “I look at Mr. Les and see a friend, not an unknown staff member,” said senior Arianna McCurry. 

Joy Lusby, principal at Great Crossing, said that “his welcoming and happy spirit’’ was a huge factor in getting him on the GCHS team.  Lusby wanted the best staff possible at the new school. 

Mr. Les hopes that students and staff understand that he is willing to help them in more ways than what his custodial position requires.  “I want people to know that they can talk to me. Yes, I’m an adult and that might be scary for some students to open up to me because of that. But, I’m a person like everyone else, and I want to help,” claimed Taulbee. 

Taulbee is focused on preserving the beauty of the new school, though, and he understands that it can be a challenge with the day to day activities.  “One of the best parts of opening a new school is how clean it is,” said Taulbee. “But, we need to maintain that. I think the students and staff would benefit and be happier if we all pitched in a little. Just picking up a piece of trash could really make a difference.”