Yonkers Schools Name Groundskeeper Employee Of Month

YONKERS, N.Y. – Delivering lunches to students, cutting grass, plowing snow and making sure that all Yonkers schools are operational, the Yonkers public schools Employee of the Month for November does it all.

Geremias "Gerry" Minier, a motor equipment operator for the Yonkers City School District, accepted the Employee of the Month award alongside his family.
Photo Credit: *Paul Bufano*

by Paul Bufano

11/16/2012 4:00 p.m.

Geremias "Gerry" Minier, 45, received the award from Yonkers Schools Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio at Wednesday's Board of Education meeting.

The Yonkers City School District hired Minier as a custodian in 2000. He was then promoted to motor equipment operator, a type of groundskeeper, in 2007 because of his tireless work ethic, Pierorazio said.

Minier immigrated to Yonkers from the Dominican Republic in 1997. He started a family and has now been married for 21 years. His son Jeremias graduated from Yonkers High School in 2012, and his daughter Sarim is currently a senior.

Working for the Yonkers school district is a great job to have, Minier said.

"I really appreciate being recognized for all the hard work I put in," he said. "Some of my work is hard, and I'm always driving around, but it feels good. I enjoy my work because I know it's making a difference for the children going to school."

Minier's supervisor, Eddie Maher, said the Employee of the Month honor went to the right person.

"He just works so hard, and always has a smile on his face," Maher said. "He's the number one guy I depend on, from coming in at 3 in the morning to plow snow or cleaning up broke tree branches from Sandy. He deserves all the credit he's received, and is a real asset to all Yonkers schools."

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