Every day we come to school and walk through the lunch line, paying no attention to what is going on around us. All we focus is on what we want to eat. However, the people that may go unnoticed in the commons have a special story to tell about how they got here.
Alvin Northcross, the man who is most likely serving you fries every day, is the jokester in the kitchen. He is the one who always seems to make people laugh. As well as brighten up their day.
Although Alvin has had several other jobs, one being working in construction, he took cooking as his occupation because he has always had a passion for this field.
“I’ve always loved to cook,” Northcross said. “Ever since I was a teeny tiny baby.”
The training to get to where he is today wasn’t so hard for Alvin. In fact, all it involved was a trip to an agency.
“I went to an agency to get this job, and they sent me here,” Northcross said.
Northcross is always one of the first ones to be at school. He works from 6:30 am to 2:00 pm not only serving food, but cooking it and preparing it as well.
Northcross enjoys his job, cooking bacon, sausage, eggs and biscuits every single morning. However, every so often Northcross cooks his favorite food at work, omelets.
But he doesn’t just cook at school. Northcross enjoys cooking at home as well, where his favorite thing to cook is lasagna.
Although cooking is one of his hobbies, Northcross has many others. Some of his favorite things to do when he isn’t in the kitchen are watching movies, playing video games and riding his bike.
Northcross also has a family that he enjoys spending time with. Even though he is separated, he has three children who he enjoys to bond with.
Northcross has been working in schools for five years now, but he has only been in the Clayton School District for two.
Northcross has only been here in Clayton for a short period of time. But it seems that he won’t want to leave for a long time.
He is always able to find ways to make the day interesting. One day, for example, Northcross brought in a piece of paper and asked all of the students “Can a chicken swim?” Everyone’s response to this was obviously no. When in fact the chicken can.
“We are supposed to be one of the smartest schools in the state, and you can’t even tell me if a chicken can swim?” Northcross would say in response.
Not only does Northcross just hand out fries, but he also finds ways to teach us random facts.
He is one of the most interesting staff members that we have at Clayton, and Northcross says he doesn’t plan on leaving us.
“I have fun every day, and I love cooking.”
Payton Sciarratta