Being a SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD maybe it’s for YOU!

When Pete Garzia took his daughter out to dinner on Third Street South for her birthday recently, the celebration took an unexpected turn. A server recognized him and asked for a selfie.

“She said her kids call me their guy because they don’t know my name,” Garzia said with a laugh. “They’ll say, ‘Hey, there’s my guy.’”

For Garzia, a Collier County Sheriff ’s Office school crossing guard, that kind of rock star treatment has become surprisingly common. Parents stop to thank him. Children excitedly wave when they spot him around town.

It’s one of the unexpected perks of spending almost 13 years helping students safely cross the intersection of Davis Boulevard and Lakewood Boulevard. But the recognition isn’t why Garzia, who turns 77 in November, keeps showing up every school day.

“I do it because I know I’m doing something important,” he said.

Now with the start of the new school year, Sheriff Kevin Rambosk is encouraging residents to consider a position with CCSO as a school crossing guard a job that, as Garzia has discovered, offers the reward of making a difference in children’s lives and the unexpected perk of becoming a familiar and trusted face in the community.

As more families move to Collier County, new neighborhoods and schools are bringing more students to busy roadways, increasing the need for school crossing guards who serve as a critical link in keeping children safe.

“Every safe school day begins with students arriving at school ready to learn and ends with them getting home safely to their families,” Sheriff Rambosk said. “Our school crossing guards play a vital role in making that happen. They do much more than direct traffic. They build relationships with children, earn the trust of parents and serve as positive role models in our community. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to give back, this is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of our children every single day.”

The Collier County Sheriff ’s Office is currently hiring school crossing guards for the current school year. The rewarding part-time position offers the opportunity to serve the community, interact with children and families every day and receive health insurance and other CCSO benefits. Experience is not required. CCSO provides all the training.

The CCSO Youth Relations Bureau oversees the school crossing guard program in Collier County. Every crossing guard receives training that meets Florida Department of Transportation standards, taught by CCSO instructors certified by FDOT.

The job involves far more than helping children cross the street. School crossing guards become familiar, trusted faces in their neighborhoods, building relationships with students and their families while providing a reassuring presence at the beginning and end of every school day.

The Sheriff ’s Office is looking for applicants who have a desire to serve their community and possess qualities such as kindness, empathy, dedication, and a strong work ethic. Crossing guards are provided with uniforms and all necessary safety equipment, including reflective traffic vests, gloves and handheld stop signs.

The position requires about a three-hour daily commitment, with crossing guards working before and after school to help ensure students arrive safely and return home safely each day. The flexible schedule makes the job an excellent fit for retirees, former educators and others looking for meaningful work that fits their day.

Garzia, who ran a large commercial construction business in Philadelphia before retiring to Naples in 2012, said becoming a school crossing guard is a great fit for his lifestyle. After helping the last student safely cross the road in the morning, he then heads to the to the gym, has lunch at home, sometimes takes a dip in his pool, and returns for afternoon dismissal. “I get 12,000 to 13,000 steps a day,” he said. “It’s perfect.”

Those interested in becoming a school crossing guard can learn more about the position, review job requirements and apply online at colliersheriff.org.