In 1977, Linda and Steve Peterson moved to Mt. Lebanon shortly after getting married. In 2001, after retiring from their jobs at Bell Atlantic (now Verizon), they decided they wanted to find a job that wouldn’t take up their entire day. Both were caregivers for their mothers at the time.
They were hired as substitute guards, filling in when a regular guard was on vacation or out sick. In 2014, they became regular guards with permanent posts. There is only one crossing guard, Joan, who has served longer than Linda and Steve.
Both say they enjoy being outside and have never found the conditions to be a challenge. They note that the municipality equips them with excellent gear to keep them warm and dry. The Petersons say the job “definitely gave us another purpose and self-worth.”
While serving as substitute guards, they worked at all 41 posts around town and found it rewarding to get to know all the schools in Mt. Lebanon.
When asked what their favorite part of the job is, Linda replied, “It gets us up and out the door every day for a good purpose. The kids are our favorite part, though. Technology is such a big part of everyday living. It is refreshing to see kids are still kids … they really have not changed.”
The Petersons say the hardest part of the job is trying to stay one step ahead of drivers who are often on their phones, speeding or running red lights.
Steve recalled a time when a vehicle came speeding up Segar Road, ran the red light at Bower Hill Road, went up over the sidewalk at Steve’s post — opposite the St. Clair ER entrance — and ended up in the yard of the corner house where Greenhurst Road meets Bower Hill. Had children been present at the time, the situation could have been much worse.
Linda said she recently had three of “her kids” move away and found that difficult.
“When I started crossing these three, they were quite bashful, and I took baby steps speaking with them to get them to talk with me until they eventually initiated the conversation,” she said. “This made me feel really special and proud, as I hope it lifted their self-esteem.”
Both Steve and Linda train and evaluate new guards. Their best advice for trainees is to “own your post — the crosswalks are yours for those 2.5 or four hours a day. Stand tall with the sign up high, be seen, and let motorists and kids know your intentions.”
Asked what is needed to make the experience positive for both the guard and the students, Linda and Steve said punctuality, kindness, pride in the job, showing respect to everyone, common sense and assertiveness are keys to success.
Based on those standards, Linda and Steve have had a wonderfully successful career serving Mt. Lebanon in their roles as crossing guards.
Residents interested in learning more about becoming a crossing guard can contact Sharon Kroner, school guard supervisor, at 412-343-4540 or skroner@mtlebanon.org. Applications can also be downloaded at mtlebanon.org.
The starting pay rate for crossing guards is $17.60 per hour, plus $5 per day for travel. Hours of service vary depending on location, and some posts include a lunchtime shift.
