“If you’re going through something, or you have any questions, I am an open book. You can come and talk to me about anything. I work this job to be here for you and to be a voice.” Brendan Cullen’s words are simple, but they ring true with his role at Arvada West and his character. However, while many recognize Cullen as the friendly face greeting them as they walk into school every morning, just who is he?
Work life
While the A-West website lists Cullen as a campus supervisor, he immediately clarifies, “It (the job) is security guard, I think the school district wanted to say campus supervisor because it has a little more panache to it.”
Cullen usually arrives around 7:15, setting up the security desk and getting the computer ready before he starts greeting students. He physically leaves the building around 3:45-3:50, but mentally he often needs time to reset. Cullen shares, “Balance is tough, a lot of it’s mental, and you can’t just leave it at the door, you go home and you think about it. But I have my dog, and as soon as I get home I’ll take him for a long walk or a hike and just be out with nature and decompress.”
Focusing in on his day-to-day role, Cullen shares, “The main role obviously is to keep the kids safe. We’re going around checking doors, making sure all the doors are shut and locked, and then getting kids to class, that’s a big part of it as well.”
While safety is the primary concern, A-West security guards do behind-the-scenes work everyday making sure students are doing well emotionally. Cullen elaborates, “kids that are maybe having a bad day, if we sense that, we’re going to talk with them, ask them what’s going on, check in with them” adding, “we definitely have a big job description of what we do.”
Recently, A-West has hired multiple new security guards, coming at a surprise to some students. Cullen provides the reasoning, sharing “There’s more of a need. We have almost 2,100 kids, so our school just keeps getting bigger and bigger.” He adds, “Years past there were always four security guards and last year we got the fifth in. This year, Mr. Porter, the principal, wanted to have six of us here.”
While this is Cullen’s fourth year at A-West, it is his first ever security job. Reflecting on how he found himself at A-West (and Colorado), Cullen shares, “I was born and raised in California, really close to San Francisco. There I always had sales jobs or something out in the public.”
He then explains, “When I first moved to Colorado, I started working at UPS. My sister in law was an assistant principal at Arvada High School, and she really was forcing me to come do this job, she was like ‘you’d be perfect for it.’ ”
While at first Cullen was skeptical, he has grown to love his job and A-West as a whole, sharing “Now that I’m in the job I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.”
Personal interests
In terms of his life outside of school, Cullen shares, “I’m a huge hockey fan, a fan of sports in general, but I love hockey, love my San Jose Sharks.”
He also supports the Colorado Avalanche, a passion that came long before he lived in Colorado. Cullen explains, “I do like the Avalanche, and I liked them before they were the Avalanche when they were the Quebec Nordiques. Before San Jose had a hockey team, the Nordiques were a favorite team of mine, then they moved to Colorado so I’ll always be a Colorado fan.”
But how did Cullen come to like hockey in warm California? He explains, “I grew up playing soccer and hockey. Obviously in California there are not many ice rinks, it’s more like street hockey, roller blade hockey.” From these initial exposures to the make-shift side of the game, Cullen built a love that continues to this day.
Expanding on his other passions, Cullen adds, “I have a 98 Cobra Mustang I keep garaged, so I’ll take that out on Saturday’s, I like to drive that, cars and coffee, stuff like that.” “I’ll tinker with my car a little bit, but the big repairs I’ll send to a shop.” Additionally, Cullen loves hiking, being outdoors, and spending time with his dog.
Regarding future aspirations and plans, Cullen shares, “I miss California, but I definitely call Colorado home, I wouldn’t want to move back.” But what is he most looking forward to? “The San Jose Sharks winning a Stanley Cup Final” he shares with a smile before quickly adding, “On a more serious note, settling down with someone, maybe having a kid, that’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Struggles and Successes
Working in education often involves putting aside one’s own feelings to support students. Cullen shares, “When you aren’t having the best day, you have to check it at the door.” This isn’t always easy, he recounts: “I know one time there were kids out that kept throwing snowballs when it was snowing, and I asked them a couple times, ‘Hey, you guys gotta stop throwing snowballs,’ and that type of stuff will kind of get to me. It’s like, ‘Hey man, I already told you you can’t do this and you keep doing it.’ ”
Despite these frustrating incidents, Cullen explains, “I do realize you guys are students, you guys are kids, you guys are still growing up. I remember when I was your guy’s age, I wasn’t always acting the best, so I take that into consideration.”
What gets at Cullen the most is often situations out of his control. “I feel for all the kids here, if I didn’t I wouldn’t be here. Especially the kids going through something, maybe it’s troubles in their life, I’ve been there with troubles in my life, especially at that age.”
He shares, “When you don’t know what kids are going through, we had a kid earlier this year pass away, so stuff like that gets to me.” This year, the student that we lost, I didn’t talk to them that much, I didn’t have a connection with them, so those types of things definitely eat at me” he adds.
Thankfully, low moments are usually offset by positives, with Cullen sharing, “I love coming in and saying hi to all the kids, giving them fist bumps as they come in, that is definitely the best part of my job.”
Additionally, Cullen takes great pride in how he treats people. “My upbringing wasn’t the greatest, and I wasn’t treated the greatest, so I have tried to turn that around and I do try to treat people how I want to be treated. I give everyone respect straight off the bat, so that’s definitely something I’m most proud of” he explains.
Cullen’s kindness and compassion has not gone unnoticed by the A-West community; he won the staff royalty award in December for the security guard position. Reflecting on the award, he confesses, “Being honest with you, I’m just me, I try to be positive. I’m always amazed at that award, and I think personally I don’t realize the impact I do have on people, I’m just being me, I’m not doing anything special.”
Kate Sanders, who dressed as Cullen for ‘Dress like a staff member day,’ shares, “I chose Cullen because he is my favorite person at the school, he was there for all my rough times and when I didn’t have many people to talk to I would always go to him.”
She adds, “Cullen has had a very important impact on me as a person because he has changed how I think and feel about school in the best ways, he always has a positive attitude and makes everyone around him feel valued.”
Sanders has also noticed the transparency with which Cullen approaches everything, explaining, “I appreciate how honest he is, when I tell him something he doesn’t sugar coat it and just tells me directly.” She makes sure to clarify, however, that “he isn’t harsh about what he tells anyone.”
Advice going forward
Focusing back in on students, Cullen offers reassurance on high-school, sharing “It’s not that tough. I know for incoming freshmen, it’s a big school, there are a lot of kids here, but it’s not that tough. Catch your breath, be friendly with your teachers, be friendly with the admin, be friendly with the security guards, and you’ll definitely catch your footing.”
He also has advice for seniors: “Live your life with no regrets, you’re young, you’re going to make mistakes, make the mistakes early. You can always re-find yourself. I made so many mistakes in my life, and I’m still here and I’m happy. When you do make those mistakes, get back up.”
His final message? “If you’re going through anything or you need help with anything, you can come and find me or any other of the blue shirts.”
“We’re all here to help you.”
