Staff Spotlight: Larrin Weidenaar Is Looking for a Smile

This post is part of the Lynden Schools Staff Spotlight series

For 35 years Larrin Weidenaar has had a role within Lynden Schools. But no matter the task or location, he’s had a clear focus: making students smile. Now on the maintenance and custodial staff at Lynden Middle School, Weidenaar relishes his opportunities to interact with the students. 

The Role

Weidenaar’s first job in Lynden Schools was at Lynden High School. Then he shifted to the middle school, spent 18 years at Isom Elementary and is now back at the middle school. He’s responsible for everything from cleaning floors to cleaning bathrooms and classrooms and from changing filters in air systems and replacing belts on machinery to resealing the gym floor. As he says, “The list goes on.” 

For roughly the past five years, Weidenaar is also outside each morning as a crossing guard, managing the bustle of morning drop-off at LMS. 

“I enjoy working and seeing everyone,” he says. “I enjoy interacting with the kids and do my part to make them feel important and wish them a great day. It’s a plus to get a smile out of them.” 

The school community has proven a boost for Weidenaar, who recently battled blood clots on his brain and a broken neck. “I appreciate everyone who supported me during my time off while I was recovering,” he says. 

Getting to Know Larrin

When not managing daily life at Lynden Middle School, Weidenaar takes a different kind of stage. He’s acted in 38 productions at The Claire Theatre in downtown Lynden and hopes his recovery goes well enough he can get back to it soon. He also loves watching football—“go Seahawks”—drinking coffee and checking in on his friends as a nearly 10-year member of Overflow Taps. As he says, “Cheers, everyone.”