A Month and a Day: My Return to High School

It's been a month and a day since I started my position at the high school, and boy, it's been a wild ride! Once again, I'm so glad I don't work at a bank...

My first week was kind of rough. Thankfully, most people are pretty darn nice at the school and were able to spot my "I'm lost" face from down a dark corridor, eager to guide me to my designated classroom.

The school is somewhat of a maze and hard to explain in words. Today was the first day ever I didn't step in the wrong direction. Learning my way around only took a month...

It's a two story school, but both the first and second levels remind me of those horrible mid-century split level homes. I call them 'Choose your own adventure' floor plans and the school layout is as such. Just last week I discovered a staircase I had never noticed before. The building is almost like Hogwarts, minus a bitchin' potions professor and European architectural flair.

Aside from my thighs being on fire from all of the stair climbing I do on a daily basis, I enjoy my new role, but it hasn't been 100% easy...

I seem to get along with the teachers (my technical hourly supervisors). Not a single one of them are mean, nor outright rude, but one in particular seems to not care for my being in the classroom. I think the person feels monitored in some way because I am there? Maybe this person just hates me? I am aware that I'm not everyone's cup of tea. While in this class hour, I stare at the clock's minute hand moving at the pace of a lethargic garden snail. Daily.

I have another class where I only have one student on my list in need of para support. The teacher is absolutely WONDERFUL and has a magical vibe about her that really engages all of the students in the room. It's truly fascinating to behold. There's something about this woman I find magnetic and have noticed from day one. Maybe in another life we could've been gal pals? 

I usually sit back, let her explain the assignment or task at hand, and then I slowly creep my way to the student I support. I'm still trying to balance helping versus hovering. I never want any student of mine to feel like I am singling them out, but then again, in a class where I have one student in need of support, it's kind of hard not to. He doesn't seem to mind my presence in the classroom. Actually, while passing him in the halls, he'll stop to chat with me sometimes. Maybe that means I'm doing something right?

As for the above teacher, I have only observed her room for a month, but I have a feeling I know who I'd nominate for the state 'Teacher of the Year' award...just sayin'...

In other classrooms, I am up and about, helping multiple kids to better understand the material. In some cases, I learn along with them (more like refresh my memory from all of my core college classes), and then I get to helping. I'm still learning how to insert myself into the classroom setting(s), though. For the most part, I let the teachers teach, and then I step in, making rounds around the room. I feel it's necessary to allow instruction from the teacher first, because frankly, I am not a certified teacher. 

I have observed other parapros straight up sit next to a student and talk (or explain the material) while the teacher is instructing, which I find to be distracting for others and especially hurtful to the student with the para. Now, I am not a child specialist, nor am I qualified to draft special education rules and procedures, but I am astute enough to understand that these particular students don't need a second teacher in their ear. I have noticed this often times confuses them more. It's not my role to be their teacher. There's already someone with that title in the room. Let teachers teach. 

I am also not a classroom babysitter, like some of the students expect as if previous paras have coddled them before (giving them answers or explaining material because the student wasn't paying attention when it was explained the first time). No one in college will do the listening, note taking, redirection, or even the hand holding for them. Certainly no one in the adult real world will, either.

I get it is my job to help them stay on track, to further explain in detail the material, to be an encouraging voice, to provide support and reason. In some degree these things are needed, but not at all times for all students. They are still accountable for their actions. I can only re-direct an off task kid so many times before I want to pull my hair out because a YouTube game tut is more interesting than biology class. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink, folks.

The best part of my job *HANDS DOWN* are the kids! They are all so interesting, and great people (some are a bit misunderstood, but I give them the benefit of the doubt). I often worry about my retirement future because of post-millennial people, but at least I know this particular generation isn't a population of uncaring, legitimate a-holes. They're just young people caught within their era, nose deep into the blue screen because WE made them this way. Simply put, they are the product of a previous generation's invention. You're welcome. 

 In a short amount of time, each student I have interacted with has brought a smile to my face in one way, shape or form. There was a hot minute when I was desperately seeking work in the area and I almost applied for the elementary paraprofessional position. I'm soooo glad I didn't. I wouldn't have been happy with a younger crowd. 

Aside from the weekly random snow day since I began, things have been pretty regular. The only hiccup in my life is that I'm unable to pick up my three daughters from the middle school (and they don't qualify to ride a bus). It's rough wondering at the end of my day if they made it home safe considering I've witnessed kids get hit by cars on the main street near the middle school.

My son travels with me to work since he attends high school, which I think he prefers over the bus ride. It's sort of strange walking into my job every morning with my eldest child at my side, but it comes in handy when I'm juggling coffee, a large tote, car keys, a gallon of iced tea, a semi-positive morning attitude and a lunch box. Also handy when I don't have cash for the vending machine and I know he always has spare change on hand. Perks.

We had our first pep assembly about two weeks ago. As a mother in the masses, I found myself scanning the gym for my son rather than watching the students perform. I wonder if this is normal for parent staff members at schools? Having him in my vicinity during the day is still bizarre. 

And finally, today was my first payday. I was sorely disappointed while looking at the meager amount deposited into my account, figuring payroll messed up my hours. But after asking a mentor para, she explained that the cutoff for pay falls around the first of every month, which explains why my check wasn't squat. I started on the 18th of January, and with snow days and weekends, the amount made a lot more sense. Oh, I should mention our pay is monthly, not bi-monthly. Guess it won't be until March 20th when I see a normal amount. It's whatever, really. I'd rather work somewhere I like and get paid once a month than work somewhere I hate and get paid weekly. I try to think of it as a semi-savings account. Can't spend it if you don't have it!

Well, that's it for now. I'm hoping by my second month, come March, that I'll feel a little less like the new lady that everyone still refers to as "Hey" or "Miss...what's your name?" One of my co-workers still calls me "Tessa", but I don't have the heart to correct her because she's quite older.

Will update later.

Oh, and this: