Just so we are clear. This is an account of my career in education. Just because I had a bad experience didn’t mean it’s a bad place. It’s still one of the most highly ranked districts in the state and maybe the country. The kids always had a great time, and one time I was even nominated for an award because the parents and the kids liked what I did for them. So just cuz I had a rough time, doesn’t mean it was that way for everyone. Just about 50-60% of the staff would agree with me. That’s why most of them left too.
Back to it. I spent my first 2 years in the EARLY kiddos program. Going from one site to another. Cuz that’s what they do. They move people around a lot. Not because they were bad, but because they want to see what they can accomplish some place else. Even if they were happy there, they moved you anyways.
Finally into my 3rd year a lot of changes started to happen. We got all new managers ( that came from another district) and a new program emerged. A middle school program, that would be way different than anything else we had. It wasn’t certified by DHS ( department of health) like our other programs, and it was cheaper. So we could do a lot more with these kids. So I took it. Had to interview like everyone else, and got one of the 6 jobs. Only six middle schools, so only six people were needed. We were so new, that we were going to be it’s only staff. So we were alone. One person at each site, running it all alone. Mainly cuz the enrollment wasn’t great. Less than 20 at some sites and less than 10 at others. I had about 10 when I began and grew to 14 by the end of the year.
I began my career at the school I was assigned. Let’s call it C. My official position was ‘specialist.’ Not Coordinator. Specialist. technically the position of an assistant coordinator , but since the program was brand new and they didn’t make any money from it yet, we were given that position. So by now I was making 12.00 an hour and had more interesting hours. Had a morning program, can’t remember the hours, except I was opened one and a half hours before school opened and then I had to begin my afternoon shift one hour before the bell rang, getting everything ready.
Oh and did I mention that on Wednesday’s ( early release for the elementary schools, I had to go over and help out another coordinators school as her ( whatever) until I could leave and open my school. We weren’t taken very seriously yet and so the coordinator always gave me crap for leaving. She once said “ it’s not that important.” Lovely.
I loved working with the middle school kids. They could talk ( more words than a 3-4 year old) and do more activities than them as well. Big leap. 3/4 to 12/13. Lol. A decade difference in ages.
I loved it there. Even though that first year since we weren’t noticed yet as a program, we could only use the multi purpose room and the stage. I had storage space in the janitor closet, and on stage. But not a whole lot of supplies. Our budget was slim to none.
It was only until the winter that a new friend of mine, one of the teachers (science) offered up his classroom for us to use because we were told we had to vacate the stage for drama class.
He was a good teacher, most of them were. I became close to everyone, so much in fact that I helped out at the school during my off time as a volunteer for school activities. Dances, games, student performances, even the student bully retreat. I supported all of my students things. If they had a drama performance, I went, if they had a game, I went. I did my best. And the teachers and even the principal appreciated that. So I earned their trust after that. We used his classroom for the rest of the year, and we had a great time.
He even insisted we use some of his cabinets for our stuff and even bought extra derby cars for them to make when it came time in the spring for his annual race against the math class. We didn’t get to race our cars with them, but had our own tournament.
The one thing I do miss is the pictures. I took pictures for everything. But everything is in my files on my hard drive. When I left, they wiped my hard drive. I hope. I really hope they aren’t using my stuff when I’m not there.
The summer program for our middle schoolers was filled with a lot more cool field trips. We went to slide rock, fishing, and water parks.
The second year, the new principal, who was an old teacher of mine, and the previous years vice principal gave me the old, what use to be called Shop Class.
It was perfect. Our own space. The kids and I even got ahold of an old couch out of one of the teachers rooms that was about to get rid of, and even a old pool table.
Now I should explain that the middle school program was progressive. Knowing that the kids were older and probably didn’t want to do kid crafts or board games. The gave us permission to get ( since it was in the budget) a video game system of choice for our sites ( which was a Wii) and we could do more age appropriate stuff. Advanced sewing, making candles, cooking, etc. Gosh I miss those kids. If your reading this guys, I know your probably in your 20’s now, but just know, you were awesome kids.
It was around just before spring break of that year that I was called into my bosses office. She had a favor to ask. She wanted me to go spend a couple of days at this elementary school that was loosing its touch and she wanted to know why. I was also to fill in for the coordinator that was in recovery.
My site would be watched by my assistant. Yes I got help my second year. For only a couple of days of the week. But he would watch it full time while I was gone.
So I went, and looked around. Observed. I hadn’t been in a certified program in a while, but I remembered all of the rules. I studied them on my own time, cuz I was interested in becoming a coordinator still. It’s what I was trying to be when I first applied in 2008.
Back ah the site I realized I really liked the Environment, the kids, and the staff. Except the layout and the set up were so wrong. The place looked horrible and completely boring.
So I took my notes to her after my two days, and gave her the pitch of what needed to change. Didn’t have to say my much, cuz she gave me the site then and there. I would start after spring break. Finish the year as a “fill in,” but would get it starting in the fall.
I went back to my site and spent my last few days with my kids and got to say goodbye. It was hard to leave, but i left them in good hands.
That’s right, my assistant was not the boss. I was proud of him, still am.
I couldn’t wait!!!!! Until the next blog!
The TAWL Mom 