Paving the way for other women

Fourteen years ago Danette Jemal got a full-time job as a security guard in the Lawrence School District after she became a single mother and was left to support her two children, but what she didn’t know was that she was leading the way for women in her field.

On April 15, Jemal was one of seven women who were recognized for being, “Teamster Trailblazers,” women who initially ‘blazed the trail’ for others to follow. Jemal was the first woman security guard in the Union Local 237 and in the Lawrence School District.

Jemal moved to the district in 1988 and after earning her security license she began working as a part-time security guard at night along with working five other part time jobs including a before school program at the Five Towns Community Center and as the aquatic director at Brandeis and Hillel.

When a full-time position opened up in the security guard office, Jemal decided to trade in the five part-time jobs for a full-time night security guard position. Her children were 14 at the time she took the job so she felt they would be fine at home by themselves and she was close enough to get to them in case of an emergency.

Her son, Morris, and his twin sister, Charla, now 29, didn’t mind their mother working in the school they attended. “She was a cool mom, so it wasn’t that big of a deal,” Morris said.

It meant a lot to him to see his mom be recognized for her work. “It warms my heart to see all the hard work and years of working in the district that she has gotten recognized for doing her job well all these years,” he said.

There are now currently five women security guards in the Lawrence School District and Jemal said she never stopped to think she was the first woman to pave the way. “I haven’t thought about it prior to the award,” she said. “When I think about it, though, I’m a little in awe of myself. I guess I really did blaze the trail for women.”

Mary Ellen Mazzeo, a security guard, was trained by Jemal and has worked with her mentor for 11 years. “She’s a wonderful person,” Mazzeo said. “She’s very hard working and she’d give you the shirt off her back. I’m surprised they didn’t give the award to her sooner.”