There’s a new smiling face at Simpson Elementary. She doesn’t work inside the school, but she greets and protects walkers as they arrive each morning and leave each afternoon.

 

After a search for a new school crossing guard, the City of Bridgeport has hired Shirla Atha, a Bridgeport resident who is retired from Ruskin Manufacturing and spent her own school days at Shinnston High School.

 

Atha can be found stationed at Worthington Drive, just in front of the school, during school start and dismissal time. There, she takes care of traffic flow and assists fifth grade school patrol members in crossing students and parents on Worthington Drive. She just started her new post on Monday.

 

Simpson Elementary PTA President Teresa Lunsford said for safety concerns, it’s important to the school and to the community to have a responsible adult crossing guard in place.

 

“The student patrols do a fantastic job, however, they are still children,” she said. “The adult is more aware of the safety guidelines and can help the patrols learn the ropes, so to speak. The presence of a crossing guard can alleviate the worries of the parents knowing that they are being ‘looked after’ when the students cross the street.”

 

And though safety is the primary reason the school utilizes an adult crossing guard, it's also good to have a familiar friendly constant face – someone who is concerned with the overall wellbeing of the students, Lunsford said.

 

“It’s nice to have someone that they can count on being there for whatever they may need,” she said. “We offer a huge thanks to Shirla.”

 

Atha said she is tickled about her new position. She said she read about the opening on Connect-Bridgeport and thought the hours would suit her perfectly.

 

“I’ve been retired for two years and worked over the winter at AC Moore, but quit there March,” she said. “I wanted to do something that would not take up a lot of time, give me a little extra money and get me out of the house.”

 

Atha works about one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon. As she had anticipated, the crossing guard job is working out very nicely.

 

Plus, she has already found a couple of other perks.

 

“The kids are great,” she said. “I can’t tell you how many have thanked me. They’re sweet. Oh, you have your ornery ones, but I haven’t had any problems yet. And the parents are pretty nice, too.”

 

Atha has also encountered some on-the-job training with members of Bridgeport Police Department, including Chief John Walker and Prevention Resource Officer Jamie Hamrick, who have personally stopped to check on her.

 

“I’m going to know the whole police department by the time I get settled in,” she said.