What is your name, your position, and what are your pronouns? My name is Lenny Sposato, and I am a safety officer for District 219, “mister.”
What does your job entail? How long have you worked at Niles North? I’ve been here seven years, and it entails, pretty much, making sure kids that are in the lunchroom belong in the lunchroom at their proper lunch hour. And also, I work for the safety of the students. I’ve been doing this ever since I retired in 2018.
What is your favorite part of your job? Meeting all the different kids from different backgrounds, one hundred percent.
Did you always expect to have this job? I did not. After I graduated from high school, I wanted to get into heating and cooling but ended up becoming a Chicago firefighter. I retired as a captain [after working for] 31 years. [For] 19 years I was on a ladder company—ventilation and rescue—and then my last years, I was a lieutenant on an engine company and a captain on an engine company.
What are some inner workings of the fire department? On the fire department, there are two different jobs for firefighters. If you’re on an engine company, you work with a hose and you extinguish the fire. If you’re on a ladder company, you’re ventilation and rescue. People don’t know that. One is a fire engine, one is a fire truck; the engine has the hose. The one with the hose just goes in and extinguishes while the other guys are searching for people and venting.
How do you make friendships in your current job? Just being polite to people, trying to get to know them, being a little outspoken.
When do you have to work with others? All day long. My job involved the constant flow of students in and out of the lunchroom and in and out of the school, so you’re constantly in contact with people.
What is the most interesting thing you have experienced at Niles North? Probably, at this school in general, I’ve gotten to experience many different cultures.
Where is your favorite place to go during the day? The golf course. I go with people: childhood friends, family members. I like to play golf a lot and fish, in the warm weather, of course. Those are my two hobbies.
What do you like to do when you get home? I work out at home, I like relaxing, and I like to get a lot of [Christian] prayer time at home.
What is your favorite board game or video game? Probably Rummikub. It’s like playing rummy but with numbered chips; in rummy, you play with cards.
What is your favorite type of food and dessert? I really like all foods, but I’d have to say probably Italian and Mexican. Favorite dessert, I’d have to go with cannoli.
