This blog is going be a little off topic of homeschool because it’s something that is very close to my heart, and I believe in it.
I’ve been recently thinking about my old coworkers who are still in the field of after school and it occurred to me that even that is changing with Covid 19.
Let’s do a little background on me for a second before I get a head of myself.
When I graduated high school back in 2001 ( yes I’m that old) I was 18 and didn’t even have my first job yet. I was a spoiled child that didn’t need a job. Never had to.
So that summer before I entered college ( community college first) I ran into a family friend who happened to own her own charter school and offered me a job working for her in her After School Program.
So my first official job, besides working at a surf shop that summer , was a staff leader in the Kinder through 8th grade program. Not having any experience working with kids, yet it’s what I wanted to do. I had wanted since I was a kid, to be a teacher. I loved the idea of it and thought I would excel at it.
So I worked in her after school program for about 5 years, thought the extent of my college career. By the time I left her program I was entering into the College of Education at ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY. Go Sun Devils.
But I loved what I did with those kids after 5 years. They liked me and they loved being in the program.
Now most people think that After School is day care. Back when I first started at that private charter school, I believed it. Those kids were there because their parents were working and I was their every day babysitter until they got picked up. I made it fun for them, but I never thought it was more than that.
That was until I graduated in 2007 and went to work for the local school district in my area in 2008. I workin in retail for a while in between there until there was an opening teaching job.
However a little set back of mine is I don’t test well. I failed the States Teaching exam and after failing it the second time I realized I didn’t want to be a teacher anymore. I missed the after school program I had worked at before.
Course she couldn’t afford me after I graduated and so I applied at the Community Education department at the School district near me. I even went to that school district and did my College education through it too. ( now this school district will remain nameless for a while because I just don’t think it’s needed yet)
Now upon entering their program I was in awe at how big it was. Community Ed spanned the district in more than just After School. It was before school, infant day care, 2-3 all day daycare\ early learning center either 4-5 classrooms too. They had summer programs, and also the after school sports and activities through genders used the facilities.
I began my carrier with them in the 4/5 room. The early leaning center. It wasn’t actual preschool yet I was teaching. Didn’t need a license to do it. From 6:30am-630pm those kids sometimes were their all day. My shift as LEAD ( that was my title) started at 9-5. A full day.
I learned how to lesson plan better than I did prior at the other facility. I created the music and movement list with these kids. I was having a ball. Course I also , after that first year, learned what it meant to be a lackey. Sorry if anyone I know reads this, but it has to be said. Out loud.
Working for the district is a pain in the butt. Your aren’t treated the best. Your a lackey through and through. In my two years, I just didn’t do my job, but I went to other places around the district and did other people’s jobs for them.
However don’t let this discourage you from ever signing up your child in an after school program. The kids had so much fun, they didn’t notice how stressed out we all were.
I kind of feel I’m going off tangent. After school programs are amazing. It’s social interaction with friends, it’s now branded as enrichment and not day care. Kids request to go into it because it’s so much fun. Staff love the kids. I know I did. I did my job every day for those kids. It was always for them. I never did my job well because I was told to. I did it because I wanted to.
It was my dream. I loved it. Just working for the people I worked for , after 8 years of them took it’s toll. I even asked a coworker who was celebrating her 15 year anniversary, “why do you stay. Why stay and do this for so long, and take what they do to us and say to us” she replied, “ who else can do it, if not me, then who. I do it cuz the kids need me. “
I knew that was true, but my whole world changed when I had my first baby. She became everything to me and the stress of working full time with an infant, it just wasn’t the same anymore. So I left. Not on good terms I might add, but that’s a whole other story, that is for another time. Maybe when I get enough comments or requests to hear it. I will. Let’s say 50 comments. Throughout my blog.
The whole point of this post is about after school and how it looks right now with Covid. It really doesn’t seem fun to me to see people wearing masks and kids keeping a distance from their friends. I hope and pray it ends. Cuz after school is a great idea. For everyone. It’s a fun, safe environment for kids who want to be somewhere fun after school, instead of going home by themselves.
Something to think about. If 8 years of working for them had taught me anything. The sky is the limit when it comes to fun with my own kids. If I can handle 250 kids , my kids should be a piece of cake.
Until next time!!!!!
The TAWL Mom 