At Blue Star Elementary, the day doesn’t truly begin until Sarah Postmus arrives.
“Hi, how are you? Have a great morning—I’ll see you at lunchtime!” she says with a smile as students walk through the doors. It’s a simple moment, but for many children, it’s exactly what they need to start their day.
Sarah is the daytime custodian at Blue Star Elementary, but her role reaches far beyond her job title. For the past 13 years with Hamilton Community Schools—and the last three at Blue Star—she has become a familiar, trusted, and uplifting presence in the building.
“I just try to always be positive,” Sarah said. “Even if I’m outside with the weather not so nice and people say, ‘I’m so sorry,’ I tell them, ‘I don’t mind—it’s my job.’”
Her mornings begin early, making sure the building is ready to welcome students. Lights on, spaces prepared, and breakfast set up for the more than 100 students who start their day with a meal at school. Sarah stepped in to help support the busy breakfast routine, assisting students with finding their names and cards—something that quickly turned into an opportunity to build relationships.
“I know everybody’s name now,” she said with a smile.
That connection is what drives her each day.
Whether it’s greeting students at the door, helping them navigate their morning, or turning around a tough start with a song, a laugh, or a little silliness, Sarah takes pride in being a positive first interaction.
“Some of them come in sad,” she said. “I try to sing to them, make them laugh, be goofy—and then they’re usually happy.”
Inside Blue Star Elementary, that positivity reflects the culture of the entire building.
“It’s like a big family,” Sarah said. “All the teachers, paras, secretaries, counselors—everybody is one big happy team. Everybody helps everybody. It’s kind of awesome.”
And Sarah embodies that team-first mindset. From helping in food service to tackling snow removal in the winter, she does whatever is needed to support students and staff.
It’s not always glamorous work.
“A lot of times you’re cleaning up things most people would run away from,” she said. “But maybe it’s because I’m a mom—it doesn’t faze me. I love it.”
That love for her work—and for the Hamilton community—runs deep. As a parent and community member, Sarah has strong ties throughout the district.
“I like Hamilton. It’s small, and everybody knows everyone,” she said. “I can walk into the high school or another elementary building and know so many people. My kids go here. This is home.”
And at Blue Star Elementary, Sarah Postmus helps make that home feel a little brighter every single day.
“It’s a really nice, big, happy place to work,” she said. “And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
