At Woodside Elementary School, custodian Mike Langley is known for far more than maintaining the building. Through outdoor learning, extracurricular programs, and strong connections with students, “Mr. Mike” leaves a lasting impact that extends well beyond elementary school.
Every morning at 6:30 a.m., before most students arrive, Mike Langley unlocks the doors at Woodside Elementary School. As the school’s daytime custodian, he prepares the building for another day of learning.
A graduate of the Mt. Ararat school system and the parent of children who attend the district, Langley has worked for the school system for 17 years. As the daytime custodian, Langley keeps the building running by cleaning, fixing, restocking, and supporting the busy school day.
But ask students, staff, or families about “Mr. Mike,” and they are likely to tell a different story, one that goes far beyond cleaning classrooms and maintaining hallways. For many students, he is a mentor, outdoor educator, coach, and trusted adult who finds every opportunity to help children learn and grow.
Bringing Outdoor Learning to Woodside
Over the years, he has built outdoor learning spaces, cleared the walking trail known as the Langley Loop, and helped transform Woodside’s grounds into places where science, reading, art, and exploration come alive.
“When I see classes outside reading, making art, or learning in those outdoor classrooms, that’s what makes it all worth it. The trail gives students a chance to explore, ask questions, and learn from nature firsthand.”
– Mike Langley, 2026 MEA ESP of the Year
One afternoon in September, Langley led a group of pre-kindergarten students on their first walk through the Langley Loop, teaching them how to follow the blue trail markers while introducing them to plants and trees along the way.
Seeing students use the outdoor spaces he has built is the reward for the countless hours of work. “When I see classes outside reading, making art, or learning in those outdoor classrooms, that’s what makes it all worth it,” he reflects. “The trail gives students a chance to explore, ask questions, and learn about nature firsthand.”
Growing the Program, One Project at a Time
For Langley, the work doesn’t stop once a project is built. He is always looking for ways to expand outdoor learning opportunities and enhance the trail and outdoor classrooms for future students. To support those efforts, he works with the Woodside Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), uses funds raised through the school’s maple syrup project, and is currently pursuing a Home Depot grant to cover the cost of repairs to the trails and outdoor classroom.
With support from the PTO, Langley recently added wildlife cameras along the trail, creating new opportunities for students to connect with the natural world just beyond their classroom doors.
The cameras capture images of animals that call the school grounds home, which Langley shares with students during “Wildlife Wednesdays.”
“We show students the animals living right here on school property,” Langley explains. “A lot of the time you can see the school buses in the background. It helps them realize nature is all around them.”
From apple cider pressing and ice fishing days to the Woodside Maple Syrup Project, he gives students hands-on opportunities to connect with Maine’s agricultural and outdoor traditions.
“I have to take a vacation day so I can come in and get everything ready,” Langley says with a smile. “But the volunteers show up every year. Parents, families, community members, and everybody wants to be involved.”
Woodside One Wheelers
Outdoor learning is just one of the many ways Langley connects with students. Langley also coaches at Mt. Ararat High School and teaches students to ride unicycles with the Woodside One Wheelers (WOW).
Founded by principal Rick Dedek, the program now serves nearly 100 students, including Woodside alumni who regularly return to ride alongside current students.
“One of my favorite things about WOW is that it brings students back,” Langley says. “Current students ride alongside kids who are now in junior high and high school. Those connections don’t end when students leave Woodside.”
The club has performed at national events and continues to thrive thanks to dedicated coaches, family fundraising efforts, and community support.
Future Growth. Endless Possibility
While Langley has already transformed much of the school grounds, he still has big plans ahead. His long-term vision is a larger outdoor learning center that can be used year-round.
“I’d love to create a space where classes could come outside and learn in any season,” Langley shares. “It could be used by teachers, community partners, and students throughout the year.”
Langley’s success creating outdoor learning experiences at Woodside has also drawn interest from other schools in the district, with educators expressing interest in bringing similar programs to their students.
For Langley, the challenge is finding ways to make those opportunities accessible to as many students as possible while balancing the demands of his role at Woodside and the needs of other schools in the district.
“My job always comes first,” he said. “But whenever I can spend time helping kids get outside and learn about nature, that’s what I love doing.”
While he occasionally offers programs on weekends, such as ice fishing events that attract dozens of families, Langley says school-day experiences remain his preferred approach because they ensure all students can participate, including those who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
“My philosophy is that I want every student to have the chance to participate,” he says. “When we do these activities during the school day, every child gets to be part of it.”
Langley also dreams of an opportunity to work with high school students in an outdoor education setting. “I love working with younger students and seeing their excitement,” he says. “But older students can take on different kinds of challenges and learning opportunities.”
Lasting Impact
While Langley’s impact is certainly felt by the Woodside school community, he is quick to point out that education support professionals often play an important role in the lives of students.
“Bus drivers, custodians, and educational support professionals build strong relationships with students,” he says. “Sometimes families don’t realize how much of an impact those connections can have.”
He often runs into students and families in the community. “I’ll be at Hannaford or something and the kids will say, ‘It’s Mr. Mike.’ And the parent will instantly make the connection, ‘Oh, you’re the one they talk about every single night at dinner.’”
The relationships he has built with students and families have not gone unnoticed. In 2025, the Portland Press Herald named Langley one of its Educators to Be Thankful For. More recently, he was nominated by colleagues for the Joan McGovern ESP of the Year Award.
While those honors are meaningful, some of the most memorable recognition comes directly from students. For Langley, one of those moments came last year when graduating seniors returned to Woodside Elementary in their caps and gowns.
During one of those visits, a student shared his favorite memory of elementary school.
“He said his favorite part was getting to do things with Mr. Mike,” Langley recalls. “Then he came over and gave me a hug. For an 18-year-old to say that in front of all his classmates, that meant a lot.”
For Langley, the moment was a powerful reminder that the experiences students have outside the classroom can leave a lasting impression long after they leave elementary school.
Learn More
MEA Awards
As the 2026 Joan McGovern Education Support Professional of the Year, Langley will represent Maine for the national NEA Education Support Professional of the Year honor, presented at the NEA Annual ESP Conference next spring.
Nominate someone from your school to be our 2027 Joan McGovern ESP of the Year here: maineea.org/awards
