Gilmer County High School is proud to announce Mr. James “Frank” Postalwait as the 2025-2026 Service Personnel of the Year. Over the past five years, Mr. Postalwait has become an essential part of the school community, working behind the scenes to ensure a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for students and staff each day.
“I came from working on a production rig to working in a school the last five years ago, and I always had pride in what I do because it reflects on my work and I want it to look good. A clean school is a happy place to be,” said Mr. Postalwait.
Much of Mr. Postalwait’s work takes place well after the school day ends, but his impact is felt throughout every hallway and classroom on a daily basis. Indeed, Mr. Postalwait takes great pride in the role that custodians play in the overall success and well-being of a school. “I believe every day helps our school run smoothly. I remember, when working on the rig, if we didn’t do house cleaning then things just didn’t run smoothly. Keeping the school clean and clutter free helps it run smoothly,” he shared.
Preparing the building for each new day is an effort that requires both teamwork and a commitment to personal responsibility and accountability. When describing his daily duties, Mr. Postalwait emphasized the importance of safety and emergency preparedness. “Keeping [the school] safe and secure.., making sure doors are locked and nother is in front of exit doors in case of emergency. The steps that we take are really a team effort and an individual one – we all work together”.
Though the work of a custodian is not often seen, their work is never unnoticed. He compared his role to the production crew for a movie or stage play. “I feel my role, to keep school successful overall is like the behind the scenes of a movie. We are the ones in the back making sure everything runs smoothly throughout each and every day,” he said.
Mr. Postalwait is held in high esteem by his colleagues. Mr. J.T. Fox, GCHS Principal, said, “Frank Postalwait is a hardworking and committed custodian who takes great pride in his work. He consistently goes above and beyond to ensure Gilmer County High School is clean, safe, and welcoming for our students, staff, and visitors. Frank is dependable, pays close attention to detail, and always takes ownership of his responsibilities. In addition, he brings great humor to the job and is truly a pleasure to work with, making him an invaluable part of our school community.”
When asked about receiving the award for GCHS Service Person of the Year, Mr. Postalwait was both humbled and grateful. “I was very surprised when I was picked. This award means so much to me – especially knowing the high standards of service this team sets every day.”
Gilmer County Schools proudly congratulates Mr. James “Frank” Postalwait on this well-deserved honor and thanks him for his dedication, pride in his work, and commitment to keeping our school running smoothly. Postalwait will now compete on the county level for Gilmer County Schools Service Personnel of the Year.