"Before Annabelle was born in 2004, Corrao took a job as a janitor in the Worcester Public Schools. At the time, he saw it as solid, predictable work, nothing more, nothing meaningful. But to his surprise, he found a sense of purpose. Kids shouted "Mr. James!" in the hallways, eager to talk to him in a way they didn't always with teachers, boosting his confidence that he could matter to someone, that he could show up, day after day, and make a difference."
"He grew to like the small rituals, unlocking the building at 6 a.m., making sure the classrooms smelled fresh, tightening a wobbly desk before anyone noticed. "I started to wear my job as a badge of honor," he says. "I was proud." A few years later, a position opened at the school where Corrao's daughter, Annabelle, was then in 4th grade. He jumped at it. The idea of seeing her throughout the day, felt like a gift."
James Corrao became sober at 19 after his father overdosed when he was nine and his girlfriend told him she was pregnant. He took a janitor job in the Worcester Public Schools before his daughter Annabelle was born in 2004 and found unexpected purpose in the routines and student interactions. Students greeted him warmly and his confidence grew as he helped maintain classrooms. He later took a position at his daughter's school and left her notes in her desk. Annabelle, now 21, returned to that same school as a budding florist to lead floral-arranging lessons for students.
Read at TODAY.com
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