Park Elementary School’s beloved custodian, Rodney “Mr. Peanuts” Esser, was highlighted in an article in The Washington Post, recapping his six-decade career and explaining everything from how he earned his nickname to how his family worked on the farm on the land where Park now sits.
Mr. Peanuts shared his favorite stories about students and staff during his storied career, including some of the many drawings and cards students have given him. He explained that his "favorites are ones written by kindergarten students because of the creative ways they misspell words."
One student’s note said: “You do a trific job of cleaning the school. You also do a fabelus job of fixing stuf. You are fantastic at moing the lon.”
In January, Mr. Peanuts announced that he will retire in July after 61 years of service to MCPASD. The article explained: “On Jan. 14, Esser told his colleagues in a staff meeting in the cafeteria that he would retire on July 6, prompting cheers. After his colleagues quieted down, Esser read a speech from a piece of paper, thanking his colleagues and discussing the fishing vacation he and his family plan to take in north Wisconsin in August.”
The article also featured milestones from Mr. Peanuts’ career, noting, “In 2023, Esser was the runner-up in a national contest for custodian of the year, as the Wisconsin State Journal reported at the time.”
Mr. Peanuts shared his post-retirement plans: “Esser said he’ll return to the school in October to volunteer. His colleagues, like physical education teacher Jarett Peterson, don’t plan to miss him for long. ‘He’s probably still going to be here every day,’ Peterson said.”
Read the full article (subscription required) and join MCPASD in congratulating Mr. Peanuts on his retirement and thanking him for decades of dedication to the District’s students, staff and community!
Top photo: Mr. Peanuts with fourth grader Marrok Maluc.