Every morning at Pembroke Pines Charter High School (PPCHS) begins with a familiar sight, Manny Alayon standing at the front gate, greeting students with a warm smile and cheerful energy. He is the first person many see as they arrive, a steady and welcoming presence whose friendliness has become part of the school’s routine.

Before becoming a security guard, Alayon built a career in sales and marketing. He began with a small startup company in New York, an opportunity that eventually brought him and his family to Florida. Over the years, his work allowed him to travel across the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. After more than three decades with the same company, Alayon retired once it became the largest in its industry.

Even in retirement, he never planned on slowing down. His wife, who worked in the school system, was the one who suggested he consider joining the Charter staff. The idea appealed to him immediately. It was a chance to stay active, remain involved in the community, and contribute to the place that had been so important to his family.

The connection between Alayon and Charter runs deep. Both of his children, Brett and Christine, attended the school and played sports during their time there. He and his wife spent years volunteering for school events, keeping score at games, and helping the athletic teams whenever needed. Alayon often says that being involved with his children’s activities was one of the most rewarding parts of raising them.

When the opportunity to work at the school opened, he reached out to staff members he had known for years and was quickly offered the position. Within a year, the job felt like home; he already knew every crevice of the school and the only things that were new to him were the faces of students to come.

Now, his days start before sunrise. He arrives at 6:20 in the morning to monitor the front gate, directing traffic and greeting students as they walk in. Later, he makes rounds across campus, ensuring the safety of everyone before the first bell rings. Among the moments that stand out to him are the small, personal interactions. “There’s a little girl, her name is Lexi, and I walk her over to the middle school,” he said, calling it one of the highlights of his morning.

The security role has also allowed him to maintain the same sense of connection he valued as a parent volunteer. “We did so much volunteer work with the baseball team, with the flag football team, and I spent about ten years doing the scorebook for the girls’ basketball team,” he recalled.

Even with decades of corporate experience behind him, Alayon approaches his current job with the same enthusiasm. “I’m not one to sit around at home, so this is a great opportunity,” he said. “It keeps me moving, and I love being part of this place.”

Alayon doesn’t see Charter as just a job, but as an opportunity to give back to his community. This campus gave his son and daughter a support system; he felt that it could not have been more fitting to give the students that same thing. Through decades of work, travel, and family, Manny Alayon has found a purpose right where it all began.