Sometimes when substitute teaching; one does not necessarily draw the job one expects. Today was a perfect example. I was assigned to a Para-professional (teacher's aide) position that was listed as special Ed. When I accepted the assignment, I was very pleased, for I have taken assignments at this school before, and the principal, the secretary and most the teachers are very positive and are a delight to work with.
This morning, I checked in with the secretary, and was told where to go. When I got there, the teacher was not in the room, so I checked around with other teachers in the area, and was told the Para for whom I was substituting is an aide for one student. However, the student wasn't there so I had to fill the day finding things to do that would help the teachers.
I am good at asserting myself and finding things to do to help. As the day went through, I helped with three different first grade classes, helped the secretary count out and deliver welcome packages to kindergarten classes, help in the lunch room, and work with a boy who was working on his school work in the principal’s office for disciplinary purposes.
This is one reason I have gained a good reputation with teachers, principals and school staff. I am not afraid to jump in and help when I see it needed.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
My Job -- My Niche Part 2
Since that auspicious day, my life has completely changed course. After all the preliminaries were accomplished, I began working as a substitute teacher. As I took assignments, I began realizing that I especially enjoyed working with special needs children. Since my first assignment, I have worked with visually impaired, hearing impaired, autistic, severely physically disabled (non-verbal in communication), behaviorally challenged and other special needs. I have taken assignments with students who generally didn’t have special needs (with the exception of the students who are integrated with the other students, yet have cross-categorical special education teachers work with them periodically) and have enjoyed those classes and those students. However, I have gained a reputation for accepting the “harder” assignments (ironically, I find the SPED challenging, but less difficult than the “normal” assignments).
Within a few weeks of accepting assignments as a substitute teacher, I realized I was doing the right thing at the right time. I also realized I needed to pursue the career I have been thinking about for a few years – counseling. I realized this after accepting an assignment at a facility that is set aside to intervene for at-risk children (pre-school to senior) and children with behavioral issues. I accepted an assignment one day, and was asked to return the next day. This was with a group of senior-high aged boys who have been faced with many obstacles (family, drugs, gangs – one young man stated that all his family but one aunt is in prison or dead, so he will probably eventually end up in prison). On the second day, I became the soundboard for a couple of boys who, during the break, voluntarily shared with me their life stories (one was the young man who expects to be in prison). After such an encounter, I went home and told my wife, “I need to be a counselor. I was able to listen to these boys, but I was only there two days, and I wasn’t qualified to counsel them anyway.”
At that point, I began looking for programs that would work with my schedule. I have found such a program, and will begin classes in the winter. This program is designed to meet the needs of students who work full-time. Therefore, I will be able to continue to substitute while I work on my Masters and PhD in Counseling Psychology.
Substitute teaching has proven to be so very satisfying to me. It has also helped me identify what my niche really is.
Within a few weeks of accepting assignments as a substitute teacher, I realized I was doing the right thing at the right time. I also realized I needed to pursue the career I have been thinking about for a few years – counseling. I realized this after accepting an assignment at a facility that is set aside to intervene for at-risk children (pre-school to senior) and children with behavioral issues. I accepted an assignment one day, and was asked to return the next day. This was with a group of senior-high aged boys who have been faced with many obstacles (family, drugs, gangs – one young man stated that all his family but one aunt is in prison or dead, so he will probably eventually end up in prison). On the second day, I became the soundboard for a couple of boys who, during the break, voluntarily shared with me their life stories (one was the young man who expects to be in prison). After such an encounter, I went home and told my wife, “I need to be a counselor. I was able to listen to these boys, but I was only there two days, and I wasn’t qualified to counsel them anyway.”
At that point, I began looking for programs that would work with my schedule. I have found such a program, and will begin classes in the winter. This program is designed to meet the needs of students who work full-time. Therefore, I will be able to continue to substitute while I work on my Masters and PhD in Counseling Psychology.
Substitute teaching has proven to be so very satisfying to me. It has also helped me identify what my niche really is.
My Job -- My niche Part 1
In April of 2008, I embarked on a new adventure – substitute teaching.
I was laid off my second job in two years and needed to pay the bills.
Stepping back a few months -- My wife, an educator herself, kept telling me I would be a great substitute teacher. I didn't disagree, but I was, admittedly, quite trepidatious about substitute teaching children I hadn't taught without any preparation (long-term or short-term). I have had a lot of experience with children and adults -- teaching classes, leading seminars, etc. -- but had that prepared me for substitute teaching?
So, full of apprehension, I applied after the beginning of the school year. I was told there were no openings for substitute teachers at that time. Whew -- that was close.
Back to the second lay-off in two years – eventually, I found a job as a telemarketer (a job I really did not like because I did not excel). I started work in October, and in December all the workers in the building (including the night crew) were called into a special meeting with the president of the company to relate how much he appreciated us, but we were all going to be laid off as of February 14 (Merry Christmas and Happy Valentine’s Day).
Between the time of the announcement and my final day with the company, I frantically searched for another job – mostly sales jobs (sales jobs tend to be drawn to me – especially insurance sales, for some reason). I did receive offers to work for two different insurance companies (imagine that) and a pre-paid legal company. After weighing the offers out, I chose to answer one offer, and went through the process of signing up for training for the state test. After about three weeks, I seemed to be getting nowhere with studying (I graduated with a 4.0 at Greenville College in Illinois – after having a very rocky college career prior to actually asserting myself to my studies – and I have an IQ of over 130, so I can’t claim a learning disability). I finally realized that my instinct was trying to tell me something. Therefore, I went back to the drawing board.
In the meantime, my wife began drawing unemployment for she was no longer employed as a visiting assistant professor – I guess there was nowhere else to visit. For this reason, she began her own job search. In the process of that job search, she applied to Kelly Educational Services to work as a substitute teacher (she had done this in Ft. Worth, Texas with great success). As timing would have it, they were in great need of substitutes. They were coming to the end of the school year, and were going to need more substitutes to cover for unused personal days as well as other teacher absences. When the representative contacted my wife and told her this, my wife said, “Well, you know, my husband applied last year, and was told there were no vacancies at that time, but he would be contacted when there were. He would be a great substitute teacher, would you like for me to have him reapply?” The representative told her to have me call her ASAP.
I was laid off my second job in two years and needed to pay the bills.
Stepping back a few months -- My wife, an educator herself, kept telling me I would be a great substitute teacher. I didn't disagree, but I was, admittedly, quite trepidatious about substitute teaching children I hadn't taught without any preparation (long-term or short-term). I have had a lot of experience with children and adults -- teaching classes, leading seminars, etc. -- but had that prepared me for substitute teaching?
So, full of apprehension, I applied after the beginning of the school year. I was told there were no openings for substitute teachers at that time. Whew -- that was close.
Back to the second lay-off in two years – eventually, I found a job as a telemarketer (a job I really did not like because I did not excel). I started work in October, and in December all the workers in the building (including the night crew) were called into a special meeting with the president of the company to relate how much he appreciated us, but we were all going to be laid off as of February 14 (Merry Christmas and Happy Valentine’s Day).
Between the time of the announcement and my final day with the company, I frantically searched for another job – mostly sales jobs (sales jobs tend to be drawn to me – especially insurance sales, for some reason). I did receive offers to work for two different insurance companies (imagine that) and a pre-paid legal company. After weighing the offers out, I chose to answer one offer, and went through the process of signing up for training for the state test. After about three weeks, I seemed to be getting nowhere with studying (I graduated with a 4.0 at Greenville College in Illinois – after having a very rocky college career prior to actually asserting myself to my studies – and I have an IQ of over 130, so I can’t claim a learning disability). I finally realized that my instinct was trying to tell me something. Therefore, I went back to the drawing board.
In the meantime, my wife began drawing unemployment for she was no longer employed as a visiting assistant professor – I guess there was nowhere else to visit. For this reason, she began her own job search. In the process of that job search, she applied to Kelly Educational Services to work as a substitute teacher (she had done this in Ft. Worth, Texas with great success). As timing would have it, they were in great need of substitutes. They were coming to the end of the school year, and were going to need more substitutes to cover for unused personal days as well as other teacher absences. When the representative contacted my wife and told her this, my wife said, “Well, you know, my husband applied last year, and was told there were no vacancies at that time, but he would be contacted when there were. He would be a great substitute teacher, would you like for me to have him reapply?” The representative told her to have me call her ASAP.
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