A California elementary school's former janitor has taken on a new job role - as principal at the very same school.
On Wednesday (August 31), 55-year-old Mike Huss spoke with Good Morning America and revealed how took the reigns at Ione Elementary School as their new principal.
Huss attended the school as a child, and after graduating high school, he became the school's janitor because he could never see himself working a career in education.
"I'd fallen in love, I wanted to get a job and help my wife go through college," Huss said of the job, which he held for over a decade.
Watch his interview on GMA below:As a janitor, Huss made an effort to form a connection with students. He was later encouraged by the faculty to pursue a career in education, so decided to go back to school to earn his degree when his son Matthew was three years old.
"I wanted to show my young son, that if your dad can do this, if your dad can be the school janitor [while] coaching youth sports, maintain a good grade point average, and become a school teacher, you can accomplish anything in this life," he told KCRA-3.
Once Huss completed his degree, he immediately got hired to teach at the school. He said he worked a "double shift" meaning on Monday he was at the school from 6:00AM to 10:00PM, and then Tuesday he had his first teachers' meeting.
"The very next day, Tuesday, I was in my first teachers' meeting. Thursday of that same week, I had my first class," he said, adding that he juggled his full-time career with his family and school for four years so that he could accomplish what he set out to do.
After almost two decades of teaching, Huss was offered the opportunity "to lead this school" - a moment that initially shocked him.
"I really think that I can do this job…because I have the support of everyone," he said. "I have to try my best every day for them."
"And at the end of the year, I've told many people if the worst thing I say is, 'I tried my best and fell,' I'll try my best again next year and hopefully be even better. And I try to keep that perspective," he added.
Those who work with Huss said the students have a strong relationship with him and now have a chance to see his opportunity as an inspiration.
The elementary's office administrator Melanie Cortez spoke with KCRA-3 and said: "it's neat when people can stay in their community and there [are] opportunities like this".
"The kids aren’t used to seeing him in the office, so we have kids come in all day long asking, 'Is Mr. Huss busy?'" Cortez added.
For Huss, he is "blessed" to have had such a fulfilling career so far and is eager to start a new chapter. He hopes to be a motivation for his students to achieve their goals and aspirations.
"I am blessed," Huss told GMA. "I truly am and I don't do anything special. I just show up and work hard. I show up and try my best."
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