MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) – The City of Manitowoc and Manitowoc Police are recognizing a local crossing guard for her service, as she’s now spent 30 years on the job.
Rebecca Woodman started as a crossing guard with the city in late April of 1992. Her first intersection was the corner of Meadow Lane and South 33rd Street, near Bethany Evangelical Lutheran School and Franklin Elementary. That’s where we found her at promptly 7:30 a.m.
“This is my first corner ever started at. I replaced the guy because he was out on knee surgery,” Woodman told WTAQ News.
After that, she became something of a utility player – filling any role that needed a replacement. “So I’ve been to all different [corners]. Wherever they needed somebody, that’s where I’d go. I’d say maybe about 20 years ago is where I went full time again…I was at Jefferson School, downtown, for quite a few years. This one came available, so I’m back here and hopefully this is the last corner I’m at!”
So how, exactly, did Woodman become the friendly neighborhood crossing guard? It’s not her first, or only job.
“I lived in Rhode Island, actually. It was just expensive out there, and I’m from Manitowoc, so my husband and I decided to move back home,” Woodman said. “I worked at the healthcare center for a while and they were outsourcing departments. I just happened to see the crossing guard thing and thought it’d be neat to do, and then I lost my job at the healthcare center…I do a hot lunch at Bethany [Evangelical Lutheran School] and I also clean there in the afternoon. Of course, we do the deep cleaning in the summers. And I’ve been doing that for many years.”
She also serves as a crossing guard in the afternoons along Jackson Street.
The rest, it appears, is history. Woodman may even be more familiar with the intersection of Meadow Lane and South 33rd Street than some of the residents on the block.
“You see different vehicles that come through, it’s like ‘Okay, they’re going through again today. They must be on their way to work’ or you happen to see people dropping their kids off. You get to know the vehicles and go ‘They’re going to be late today!’” Woodman laughed.’
Manitowoc crossing guard Rebecca Woodman helps an elementary school student cross the street. (Photo: Casey Nelson, WTAQ News)
She even shared a bit of wisdom for people who may opt to cross in areas without a guard during the busy morning commute.
“You need to watch the traffic. Sometimes they’ll be decent people that’ll stop and let you go through. But a lot of people are in more of a hurry than you are, so just take your time and be careful,” Woodman said. “There’s many times where somebody will be stopped and another will come and try to go around them and all of a sudden they’ll see me standing there. But sometimes, I don’t even know if they see the stop sign that I hold up.”
But there’s something that’s kept her patrolling the corner, through frigid Wisconsin winters, bad drivers, and everything else nature throws her way.
“The kids. I enjoy being around the kids and just getting to know all of the kids, they’re just really cool,” Woodman said. “It depends, sometimes they’ll just carry on a conversation with you or tell you how their day is going. If they’re a little later, they’ll explain why they’re later. It’s usually ‘good morning’ or ‘thank you.’”
It’s that relationship she’s cultivated with the community that keeps her going, and plasters a smile on her face.
“I think they feel safe. They know it’s going to be safe to get across the street. And just the fact that you’ll see them in the store and they’ll be like ‘That’s the crossing guard!’ and they’re really excited to see me,” Woodman said. “I think I’ll continue this until I can’t anymore, because I enjoy it!”
Even the ones who might be running just a few minutes late, the parents, and nearby neighbors walking their dogs, always seem to have time to stop and say thanks.
“Well, congratulations! We’re lucky to have you,” one neighbor said in passing.
Manitowoc crossing guard Rebecca Woodman waits for students to approach the crosswalk near Meadow Lane and South 33rd Street. (Photo: Casey Nelson, WTAQ News)
After about 30 minutes on the job, the last student had safely crossed Meadow Lane. Bells rung for classes to begin at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran School at 8:00 a.m., and ten minutes later for Franklin Elementary.
So at 8:11 a.m., Woodman packed things into her car – ready to help again at promptly 7:30 a.m. the next school morning.
Listen to the story here:
A short video recap of the morning will be added late Sunday.
