Gabe Sonnier - Janitor-turned-Principal of Port Barr Elementary School, LA. Before becoming principal of Port Barr Elementary School in Louisiana, Joseph “Gabe” Sonnier was a longtime janitor at the school. He spent twenty seven years as a janitor there, but always continued adding to his education, earning a bachelor and masters degree along the way. Sonnier had dropped out of Southern University in 1979. His mother, a housekeeper, was struggling to support his four siblings and pay for his education, so Sonnier began working to help. But at the age of 39, while still working as a janitor at Port Barre, he decided to go back to school. He earned his bachelor's degree, and in 2008, went from janitor to teacher at Port Barre Elementary. He later earned a master's degree in education through Arkansas State University.

 

View the videos below to see Gabe Sonnier in action.