New Maintenance Supervisor John Pax is our next spotlight on 8 GreAt Questions - focused on finding out what is going on at GA from the people behind the masks.

What has been the hardest part of your job since the school year began?

Snow and ice! The timing, frequency, and amount that we had to contend with — lots of early days, late days, and consecutive weekends of snow and ice control!

What has brought you joy?

Working with and getting to know the wonderful people in the Maintenance Department (and others at GA as well!).

What is your favorite smell?

The smell of coffee brewing and vegetarian baked beans prepared on a campfire. I also love Grandpa’s Pine Tar Soap – you either love it or hate it!

Which team do you cheer for?

I am often indifferent because I appreciate the enormous range of emotional experiences of competing teams, but I sometimes root for underdogs. I like when individual athletes exceed their personal bests. When I play volleyball though, I play to win!

Since you are new here, how has GA compared to your last job?

Because of COVID-19, there are considerably less interactions with people from other departments, parents, students, neighbors... At my last job, I knew and interacted with nearly everyone because those relationships were established before the pandemic. I know that in time, as we get through these challenges that will happen here as well. I look forward to that.

Best question asked to you by a GA employee?

Karl Little: (to me, with a tone of being impressed)  Did you cut your own hair?

Me: (proudly)  Yes, I did!

Karl: (suddenly serious)  Bring your clippers in tomorrow and I can try to fix it.

If you had to give up one meal a day forever, which would it be?

Second Breakfast or Elevenses.

Funniest movie you have ever seen?

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Honorable mention for the movie eliciting the most laughs from me last year in 2020: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga