If you’re wondering, that big guy you see standing in front of Burbank Elementary School on Junipero—you know, the one holding the Captain America shield—is not getting in his cosplay reps in anticipation of Comic Con—if it happens in July—actually, that’s Scott Fleming and he’s the school’s principal.
Fleming stands in front of his school every morning and afternoon to advertise the free breakfast (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.) and lunch (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.) available to any child at his or any Long Beach Unified School District school, whether they’re an LBUSD student or not.
In his second year at the school, Fleming’s Captain America connection started when he was at MacArthur Elementary, where the school colors were red, white and blue. Fleming said the superhero was a convenient way to “communicate character traits to kids.”
Now, the superhero’s shield—which was a gift—is a convenient and eye-catching way to grab the attention of passing motorists and pedestrians about the free meals inside the school. Oh, and the meals aren’t just free, Fleming is quick to point out, they’re actually pretty good.
“The kids love the food,” he said. “I eat the food here every day.”