Name: Patricia Dillard.

Hometown: Aurora.

Workplace: Jefferson Elementary (and in the deli at Wal-Mart).

Age: 47.

Family: Two sons: Daniel, 19, and David, 18, plus two dogs, two cats, two bunnies and one bearded dragon.

Occupation: Crossing guard.

Q. Can you describe your job?

A. Crossing kids across the road to and from school.

Q. How long have you been doing this?

A. Nine years, I think.

Q. How many hours a week do you work?

A. Ten hours a week, two hours a day.

Q. What is the best part of your job?

A. The best part is probably the kids and getting to wear crazy things, like costumes, masks, head bobbers, etc.

Q. What is the toughest part?

A. The toughest part would be the drivers. For the most part they are great. They wave and say hello and smile and laugh with me. But there are a few that are — let's just say — upset they have to stop or wait. They tend to get testy and very verbal.

Q. What surprised you about this job when you started?

A. How much fun I can have at it. I can wear all my stuff and some of the parents and the kids laugh with me. Even in full sumo costumes everyone laughs and I love stuff like that. But the challenge is to get the kids all to smile, to start their day with a bit of fun.

Q. Can you describe your personal "mission statement" for your job?

A. Well, it's to make sure no kids get hit as I have been hit several times. It's not fun, but we had an incident last year that was very troubling and I now want to make sure the public is aware that kids are around, and they don't always do what you think they are going to do. They stop, look around, drop stuff, run out and not pay attention, and this is a concern 'cause we have people who drive as fast as they can to get to where they are going and they need to slow down in the school zone and pay attention. It only takes a few minutes out of your day to stop, slow down and wait. If this is a problem, then there are several routes around the school. I would like to say thank you to all the people who do stop and are very patient and understanding.

Q. Looking back, what are you most proud of?

A. Well, I will always be proud of my sons. They are awesome. But on this job, I'm most proud that I work at Jefferson, which is a great school, and that I have lasted almost 10 years.

Q. What advice would you give someone training for this job?

A. Pay attention. Grow eyes in the back of your head and get your hearing checked. And wear a bright safety vest and get a flashing stop sign. That way people can see you. And never take it for granted that the person in the car coming toward you sees you or that they will stop. They don't pay attention, but you must, and learn to get out of the way fast!

Q. What does the public not understand about your job?

A. That the crossing guards are not trying to make you late, nor are we trying to make you mad. We are doing our job, which is to cross kids across the street safely. We do not stop you on purpose. It's only for a few seconds, not a lot of time out of your schedule. And please pay attention. Kids do the darndest things.

Q. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?

A. Besides owning my own restaurant and being the best mom ever (just kidding), it would be a job like this. This job allows my wacky side to come out. I get to wear costumes, masks, funny glasses, head bobbers, different hats — and that's the coolest thing ever.