Beloved Pasadena ISD Crossing Guard Retires After 34 Years

PASADENA, TX — A woman who has devoted more than 30 years to serving the students and parents in Pasadena ISD retired May 30.

Teresa “Tere” Brodowski, who served as a as a crossing guard at Pomeroy Elementary for 34-years, is finally ready to hang up her yellow vest and put down her stop sign.

Stationed at the crosswalk on Jenkins Road in Pasadena, over 300 walkers presented her with flowers on her last day.

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“This is such a surprise,” she said, balancing the flowers in one hand and a stop sign in the other.
Brodowski helped control the flow of traffic for generations of students every morning.

She was in charge of making sure the school buses and cars ran in an orderly fashion, while keeping students out of harm’s way.

While it was hard for her to say goodbye to her post, she said the time felt right.

“It was with much thought and contemplation…that I knew it was time to throw in the stop sign,” Brodowski said. “…My knee said, ‘no more.’”

Life as a crossing guard was never dull for Brodowski. She experienced anything from torrential rain to dangerous drivers, some who treated the stop sign as a suggestion.

“They would sometimes speed by me and ignore the sign,” she said. “It is a dangerous job. It keeps you on your toes knowing their lives are in your hands.”

In 2014, a truck hit Brodowski while she was helping a student cross the road. Brodowski saved the student by pushing her out of the way.

“They think someone was watching over her because she did not have a scratch on her,” said Brodowski’s daughter, Jennifer Slaughter.

In all those years, no child was injured while she was on the clock.

Her commitment to the safety of community members has earned the longtime crossing guard the respect and admiration of many throughout the Pomeroy neighborhood.

“Her smile and cheerful attitude – rain or shine – brings joy to all the students, teachers and parents that go through her intersection on a regular basis,” said Stephen Harding, the school’s principal. “She has done a tremendous job keeping our kids safe without any complaints.”

Brodowski previously worked in a business office with her sister Irma at Bayshore Medical Center. She became a crossing guard to spend more time with her children.

In that time, Brodowski has seen numerous students grow into parents.

“She’s watched children grow into mothers who are now waiting at the same stop sign. As former students who knew Tere back then, it gives them such comfort knowing that their children are in good hands,” Harding said.
“When we go to stores, the children she helped cross the street come up to her and hug her. She’s everybody’s grandma,” Slaughter added.

As a fixture in that spot for three decades, Harding said it will be difficult to find a replacement.
“She was the first face kids would see in the morning. It will be a huge adjustment not seeing her in the morning,” he said.

Out of all the memories she gathered over the years, Brodowski said she will miss watching the sunrise, breathing in the fresh morning air, listening to the 104.1 Roula and Ryan and most importantly, “ I will miss seeing everybody’s faces” at the crosswalk.

Image: Pasadena ISD