Crossing Guard (Hourly)
Job Description
Help keep students safe on their way to and from school while enjoying meaningful work outdoors. If you're dependable, responsible, and enjoy working with kids, this may be the perfect opportunity! Crossing guards are beloved by their communities and make lasting positive impacts in the neighborhoods they serve.
We routinely hire for two types of positions:
- Permanent Crossing Guards are assigned to one specific location and report there each scheduled school day. Locations are listed below under “Current Openings.”
- On-Call/Substitute Guard are assigned as needed, but employees may request appointment to permanent posts as vacancies arise. Guards in this classification are not expected to cover the entire city, but are typically assigned to the West side (serving West schools) or East side (serving East, North, and South schools). There are several needed throughout the city.
This is routine outdoor work. Major responsibilities include caring for the safety of children at designated street crossings. Work is performed under the supervision of a Crossing Guard Supervisor under the administration of the Traffic Engineering Division. We are currently recruiting for the 2026-27 school year.
CURRENT OPENINGS:
• WEST: Any permanent corner location — 10 hours per week (West corners serve elementary schools: Anana, Chavez, Crestwood, Huegel, Midvale, Muir, Orchard Ridge, Randall, Stephens, Thoreau, Van Hise)
• EAST: Any permanent corner location — 10 hours per week (East corners serve elementary schools: Emerson, Hawthorne, Henderson, Kennedy, Lapham, Lowell, Marquette, Nuestro Mundo, Sandburg, Schenk)
• NORTH: Any permanent corner location — 10 hours per week (North corners serve elementary schools: Gompers, Lake View, Lindbergh, Mendota)
• SOUTH: Any permanent corner location — 10 hours per week ( South corners serve elementary schools: Franklin, Lincoln, Leopold, Lori Mann Carey)
• On-call/substitute positions — Several needed throughout the city. Work is assigned as needed, but employees may request appointment to permanent posts as vacancies arise. Guards in this classification are not expected to cover the entire city, but are typically assigned to the West side (serving West schools) or East side (serving East, North, and South schools).
HOURS: Approximately 10 hours per week. General shift times are one hour each between 7:00 AM - 8:40 AM, and 2:15 PM - 4:00 PM with an earlier afternoon shift on Mondays. All positions assigned to a permanent post location work a morning and afternoon shift, Monday through Friday during the school year with generous time off during school breaks. On-call/substitute guard positions work on an as-needed basis.
An eligible list will be created from this recruitment to fill any future vacancies that may occur in this classification in the next four (4) months. Please be sure to indicate your interest in future openings by clicking the appropriate selection of 'NORTH': any corner location’, 'SOUTH: any corner location’, ‘EAST: any corner location’, or WEST: any corner location’, in the question section of this application.
Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn’t match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.
- Identify and extend gaps in traffic with the use of a hand-held stop sign to allow children to cross safely.
- Relate in a positive way with children.
- Direct, control and guide children safely across the street; teach students about safety procedures at crossings.
- Set out orange safety cones in the street near controlled crossings multiple times per day as required to alert traffic to school zones.
- Provide relief if serving as an On-Call/Substitute guard to regularly assigned guards at busy crossings or work such crossings alone as needed.
- Report problems, hazards and mishaps to the immediate supervisor and to school officials.
- Fill out forms such as failure to yield, student count sheets, workers compensation-injury, and miscellaneous forms correctly and as needed.
- Identify oneself to the school related to the assigned crossing; work with the school and supervisor to resolve student issues.
- Participate in initial orientation and on-the-job training for new employees.
- Perform related work as required.
- Possess experience in guiding and supervising children, which may include roles in volunteer settings, non-professional environments such as coaching, tutoring, or teaching lessons, as well as paid positions or real-life parenting responsibilities.
Depending on the number of applications, random selection may be used to determine who will proceed to the interview process.
The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore, successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to work effectively with multicultural communities.
Ability to meet the transportation requirements of the position.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to work at busy intersections to stop traffic during morning and/or afternoon school hours.
- Ability to work outside in all weather conditions every day school is in session.
- Ability to control and stop traffic using traffic cones and a hand-held stop sign.
- Ability to repeatedly walk across intersections with a stop sign raised above the head.
- Ability to lift and place traffic cones weighing up to 7-10 pounds each and to lift and raise and hold the stop sign above the head (approximately 30 seconds – 2 minutes each crossing with numerous crossings per shift).
- Ability to be alert, and able to see and hear traffic in order to guide children safely across the street.