Lincoln Crossing Guard: Tom Sears has spent the last three years serving Lincoln Elementary School as a crossing guard — a retired dairy farmer, Sears believes its his way of serving the community.

Serving the community has always been a priority for Tom Sears.

“My whole family has always been community-minded,” he said. “My dad was a town justice, and I served on the town council.”

Retired from his first career as a dairy farmer, Sears is now in his third year as a crossing guard at Lincoln Elementary School.

“It’s important to give back, and this is my way of doing that,” he said.

Dutifully, Sears mans the crosswalk on the corner of Porter and Front streets located steps away from the building’s main entrance. Crossing guards, coordinated in partnership with the Jamestown Police Department, help keep students across Jamestown safe on a daily basis — at the beginning of the school day and at the end of the school day.

“Mr. Sears is an incredible asset to our Lincoln community,” said Principal Katie Russo. “His dedication to keeping our students safe, his kindness, and the positive relationships he builds with families make a real difference every day. We are so grateful for his commitment and the warmth he brings to this important role.”

Sears said he took the role to stay active and give back to the community after retiring from his family’s five-generation dairy farm on Sprague Hill in Falconer. For 10 years, he worked with the Chautauqua Lake Association as a boat steward and even moved to Texas for a year and a half to be closer to family before returning to the area.

Upon returning, Sears wanted something to keep him active, and becoming a crossing guard felt like the perfect fit.

Seeing the kids each morning is his favorite part of the job.

“I just love the kids and hope to keep them safe,” he said. “It’s part of my job, and I don’t want to see them get hurt.”

He takes safety seriously, even when it means dealing with challenges like drivers who ignore traffic signs.

“Some people don’t understand why the signs are there. I try to be nice about it in reminding them,” Sears said.

Sears has a deep appreciation for the Lincoln Elementary staff and the community. “This school is great. Jamestown is lucky to have such a dedicated staff. When I first started, the staff would come out and thank me for what I’m doing, which really meant a lot.”

Sears finds the work incredibly rewarding.

“The parents and the kids are wonderful,” said Sears. “The kids are super — I get a kick out of them. They’ll tell me stories as they’re walking in. Some of them need a little extra encouragement, and I try to be there for them. There’s one little girl who came in grumpy every morning, but by the end of the year, we had her smiling.”

Most of all, he’s grateful for the friends and community he’s become a part of at Lincoln.

“I just really appreciate the kids and the staff here,” Sears said. “They do a great job.”