Sub Vision - Returning to work - Chapter 2

 

My previous post described my journey to returning to school after one year of retirement, a journey that started May 2021, and was still going on a year later. In January 2022, I was invited to what I thought was a final interview, to find out that my long one hour trip, each way, was just to submit forms to a lady behind a thick glass, but I was promised that it is just a matter of days now.

So I waited a week, then a second week, and when the third week ended with no signs of communication, I touched base with my latest contact person. It was already mid-February, and I was scheduled to start a jury duty in few days. When, at last, I heard back from them I was well into my jury duty time, followed by few weeks of medical appointments. However, I didn’t waste time, and attempted to complete the next necessary step - some pre-requisite training.

Now, a new adventure started. For some reason the system would not let me log in to the training site. Thus a new, long, correspondence and phone calls, with an extended list of officials, had begun. I was bounced back and forth between the different departments:  IT, HR, Health Office (theorizing that I didn’t upload my vaccination card), Community Health, and supervisors of all the above, alongside with intensive text conversations with a well-intentioned HR employee.

The whole ordeal lasted until May, but with a special permission to postpone my training until the issue is resolved, I was allowed to start working in April. I am still not sure what was the source of the problem, or how it was eventually resolved, but apparently one powerful nurse was able to unblock my access to the training. How and why? I am not sure.

By the time I was able, at last, to start working I was as nervous as if I had never worked before, or been to any of those schools. However, the welcome I received compensated for all the frustration. I found my friends; was delighted to discover that almost every person I care for was still there, including those who told me two years earlier that they would retire. At another school I had a nice lunch reunion with collogues, and here and there reconnected with acquaintances. Best of all –the cafeterias were still the same, run by the same kind ladies, with a c55 coffee and $2.50 lunch, a generous 20 minutes nutrition break and 30-35 lunch break. What else do I need?

Well, I still needed to be paid, of course. Not surprisingly, a new issue surfaced there too. I first assumed that it was related to the previous issue, but when it was not resolved I was wondering what next. This time, however, it was an easy fix. My phone call was answered by an actual person, who was patient enough to listen to my story and knew exactly what to do. It so happened that my previous employee number that worked well for all other functions, was not good for the payroll, and schools needed to use a new assigned number to pay me. Strange, but an easy fix.

Now I was completely ready! Almost a whole year later… And only two short months before summer vacation...

Sub Vision: Returning to Work as a Substitute Teacher

 

In mid March, 2020, schools abruptly closed their doors, together with most social, cultural and business activities. A whole nation came to a halt due to a pandemic.

Arguably, the most effected people were students, and history will tell us how the two years disruption to their young life will be manifested.

As a substitute teacher, my situation was considerably better than most people’s. I was paid to the end of the school year while happily settled at home.

When the next school year started and it was clear that life is still far from back to normal, I decided to retire, with a plan to be back when better times return.

It felt like a good a long break from hard work, and I dedicated the time to build a new program to teach algebra, as well as engaging in other projects.

Another whole school year passed by, and at last, when things looked better for the following school year I decided to feel my way back. It was the end of May 2021.

In an email conversation with a nice district recruiter I checked what documents do I have to submit and which documents I may assume are still in the system.

The first communication from the recruiter invited me to go on line and enter an application with updated details. A second communication was “I am out of office” with a promise to get back to me at the beginning of June. The third, replying to my inquiry, came in July. It did let me know that the district prioritizes filling full time vacancies, and won’t review substitutes until an unknown date in the Fall.

Now, that I realized I am not a priority I relaxed and waited for better times. In September, however, when phone calls from schools that know me started to come, requesting my service, I wrote another letter to ask to move the process faster.

Few days later I received a phone call, and a follow-up email, from a new recruiter. After back and forth emails regarding forms and documents I was invited to a Zoom interview. The interview consisted of questions that would prove my competency as an educator. That was held toward the end of September.

Following the remote meeting I received an email with a long list of steps I need to complete before the next stage, thus the better parts of October and November were dedicated to filling more forms, adding clarifications, more questions and answers, finger printing (why again?) and doctors’ signatures. At the beginning of December I announced to the recruiter, by email, that I completed all the steps.

By the beginning of January, I realized that there was no visible progress in the process so I wrote to the recruiter again, reminding him that I have not heard from him in a while. My email, he replied, confused him as he thought he had already sent me the list of the steps, but would send it again. I told him I do have the list, I followed and completed it, and that I told him so a month ago. And I could not resist adding that in the current personnel shortage they should be moving faster.

It so happened, that at the end of the long steps list there was a comment in small letters telling applicants to report, when done, to the sub unit head. I missed it.

So, few days into January, I started a new correspondence, this time with the sub unit supervisor. After more clarifications he announced, ceremonially, that I was added to the processing list. He also warned me that my fingerprints are valid for only 60 days so I should hasten my steps (to which I had to ask him which of these, exactly, depend on me). The new correspondence detailed further steps I need to take before “The interview”. When those were done I received a new email, this time scheduling The Interview, and instructions what to bring. Surprisingly, a new form, needing a doctor signature, was added. The interview had to be postponed.

Two weeks later the big day arrived. I had all the forms ready, made sure my passport is with me, the tax forms that we worked on the night before were carefully arranged. I woke up early, dressed up, drove almost an hour and a half and got there on time.

When I finally found the (closed-door) office, I earnestly announced to the window my name and the purpose of my visit, The Interview. The lady behind the thick glass was somewhat puzzled, but when realized it is for substitute processing asked for the forms, made me sign the pages I missed, took photocopies, added few more details, and then told me it will take few more days, but promised to update me.

I waited, then, patiently, to be invited into the office for the highly anticipated interview. When it did not come I timidly asked about it. “Interview?” she asked, “There is no interview!” she stated. “You came here just for the forms…”

Sub Vision: It has been a while...

 

It had been a while. A school year had dissolved away, a new one had come and gone, and now another starts, with fresh plans and hopes to be a comeback to old times schooling, where kids are in an actual building. However, it may not happen after all...

In a shoe store, a young woman looked at me trying to figure out behind her mask, and mine, if I am the substitute teacher she remembers. I realized she was a student at my favorite school, a graduate of the class of 2020, the class that did not have graduation, at least not a conventional one. I worked with these students since their 9^th grade. Most know me, and I know many by name and face.

It was a bittersweet reminder of other times; times when I tried hard to handle crowded classrooms, every so often just thankful for being able to keep them safe within the classroom walls. On fortunate occasions, though, I enjoyed being able to bring clarity to a confusing subject, or, better, discuss topics of the day, politics, character, future plans, thus watching these students mature from freshmen to seniors.

It also reminded me to check on the status of my application to return back to work.

When I checked on my application, I was told they are still busy filling full time teachers’ positions, and would not get to substitute teachers until the fall. It prompted me to ask the unthinkable question: “Do you need me as a full time math teacher?”

Did I mean it? Truthfully, I don’t know. I still feel I missed my calling, being the good teacher I meant to be; clearing misunderstandings associated with math, making it easy. There were too few occasions in which I was able to be that teacher, so many obstacles on the way: huge class size, unacceptable discipline criteria, unclear learning material, lack of a uniform standard defining a goal.

So… in the hypothetical occasion in which a school calls and asks me, I mean – pleads with me, to go back to teaching, here is my answer: I will do it! I will teach any student of any level, but on two conditions: First – I do not deal with discipline problems. Students who don’t want to learn cannot disrupt others. Second – I teach my way, using basic, clear, easy material of my own choosing, reserving complicated, challenging problems for the capable and or motivated students only.

If you are a school that agrees to these conditions – I am in!

Sub Vision: Mathematics Again

After many months of staying home, enjoying a flexible time and trying to fill this period with different activities, I find myself drawn toward math again. My first project, creating a program for learning and teaching algebra, is done, waiting for me to decide if I want to advertise or publish it, and now I am debating what will be my next project. Remarkably, mathematics still appeals to me...                      

I am looking at my college ‘intermediate algebra’ book, the equivalent of high school algebra II, and thinking I should keep on developing algebra, continue to trigonometry and maybe even get to calculus. Crazy… I know…

Maybe it is just that I am a frustrated math teacher, who was never able to use her full potential as a teacher. I am not as good with math as I am good in explaining math; maybe because I understand what other people don’t understand.

My, relatively, short teaching career is a sequence of unsuccessful experiences with unmotivated, unwilling and undisciplined students. The whole literature of how to become a good teacher, acquired during my teaching credentials program, proved to be completely useless, and rather aggravating. The philosophy that throws all responsibility on teachers, and the system that allows students not to do their work, or pay attention or even just be quiet, system that does not require students to be responsible for their materials, or even bear the consequences of having no skills by 12^th grade, make it impossible for teachers to do their job.

My only satisfying school job was teaching a Pre-Calculus class. It was my hardest assignment, as I was not familiar with the material, challenged to the top of my knowledge, but it was also my finest. Students did want to learn. They knew they needed to put an effort to get where they wanted to be; they did their work, came up with good questions, and kept asking until they understood. And when they did, there was a sparkle in their eyes, and they did appreciate it.

Looking back, perhaps I should have invested more effort in becoming an advanced level math teacher, working with motivated students, bringing the light to their eyes. As it is now, I can expand my knowledge and understanding, taking advantage of the time I have, and hope to be able to use it sometime in the future...

                                          

Sub Vision: Graduation 2020

 

It had been a rough year of pandemic and political turmoil... a year that I would have liked to be in a classroom, serving as the educator I wanted to be…

Through the first semester of the 2019-20 school year, before the pandemic had started, I knew that soon I will have to choose my approach to work. It was good to have preferred schools, and be their preferred substitute, yet I wished to be able to select only assignments that I desire and not compromise with schools’ terms.

I realized that while deciding on a new path, retirement seem a reasonable option; quitting and waiting out the cooling period of six months, and then returning to jobs that I prefer to do. But the routine kept me going…

It all came to a halt when we were hit by the pandemic, and with almost no warning schools have closed their doors. As we thought it was temporary and will be over soon, we waited for few weeks, then few months, but as graduation came closer we realized that this is the way 2019-20 school year will be manifested.

It was exciting, yet heart breaking, to see graduation turn into a parade of cars, and diplomas handed through a window. I can imagine seniors’ disappointment staying home instead of becoming kings and queens of the campus, enjoying special activities, festivities, recognition. Exceptional and memorable graduation as it was, never has been like that, never (hopefully) will be, it was an agonizing letdown.  

As summer was drawing to an end and virtual learning seemed to be the only way, I decided the time is right to quit and wait for a better time to be a teacher, or a sub.

I still love teaching math, and still wish one day to be able to show the light to those confused math learners, who say they’ll never understand the subject.

During the long months of staying home I developed a plan for teaching algebra in a logical, commonsense method, with the expectation of using it one day through the right channel, private of established.

I do hope to get back to a school, even only as a volunteer, to do just that …

  

Sub Vision: History in The Making

                                                 

     

At this unusual time I wish we were at school, especially high school, where we could discuss the events of these days.

Unfortunately, very few high schools, and even middle schools, leave any time for a discussion of the day. Where I grew up we had a designated teacher, referred as the ‘educator’, with whom we would discuss issues other than the subjects learned at school, during a designated time.

The closest we get here are those 5-10 minutes extension to one of the period, to facilitate special announcements and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Our district used to assign twenty minutes a day for these routines and for a ‘Silent Reading’.

Regrettably, very few schools still keep that routine. Out of the schools that I usually visit, I know of only one school that still does it. And worse, even there, very few teachers still follow it. This valuable time is usually just a wasted time...

Whenever I can, during those twenty minutes, or as an occasion arises for a ‘teaching moment’, I talk to the students, discuss current events, many times starting with informing them, as most are completely ignorant of the events surrounding them.

I wish at those moments that I was a history teacher, with the perspective knowledge, and understanding. History teachers can do so much to expand students’ awareness and horizons. It is, in my mind, the most important subject learned at school, and a good chunk of it should be dedicated to ‘Citizenship’.

If we were at school now, it would have been the perfect time to talk about inequality, injustice, racism, discrimination, bullying, along with standing up for what is right, being strong in sticking to your convictions, empathy, good citizenship, differentiating between right and wrong, good and evil. And most of all – the obligation to vote to make a change!

These events will be part of history and will be learned, hopefully, as a turning point in our justice system. Won’t it be nice to be now alongside our students, witnessing, and participating with them the making of history, enlighten them on the unprecedented events that are unfolding in front of their, and our, eyes…

Sub Vision: School Closure 4: The Graduating Class

The graduating class, that I will probably not see before they graduate and before they leave school, includes a variety of students that I came to be attached to over the years at my favorite school, and I will miss them…

There is a whole group of students from the special education program, smart, nice, polite and friendly. I have known most of them since they were in 9^th grade and noticed how they grew up over the years… Eduardo, Randy, Samantha, Emmanuel, Nicole, Luis are only some of the faces I am going to miss.

There is a girl in that group that I can’t think of her name but can clearly see her face. She was quiet and reserved, and during her first few years was often absent from class, but projected a strong character. She became teachers’ favorite in her senior year; teachers bestowed responsibilities on her and granted her privileges.

Then there is a student who was in a science class that I taught, an artist, who kept drawing in every class, regardless of the subject. I saw him at a computer art class few weeks before closure, still drawing on paper, not using computer art tools…

Another bunch is a troop of mid-eastern students who are both annoying and charming at the same time, doing the most irritating things. When they are in my class they walk around and talk to each other, shake hands with friends, and find an excuse to leave the class. When I am in a different classroom they pop in their heads and disrupt the order... They call my name during break and pretend it didn’t happen. They recently discovered my phone number and call me with a fake ID… And yet they are charming, cool, and funny enough, they think that I am cool…

There is this student that I remembered from his middle school, and not for a good reason. He had long blond hair and was rude and disruptive. When I tried to show familiarity, he sarcastically rejected my friendliness. Then he started 11^th grade and he changed, working at a nearby supermarket, he became a mature, serious student. His manners became polite, and even his haircut turned short and civilized.

And then, there is this cute boy who was in a 9^th grade math class where I helped a new teacher. He kept appearing at my side as I walked the school holes, checking if I still remember his name, always carrying a big book, dreaming of a big career.

I hope to see some of them in the community college, where I, sometimes, take a class. I would probably not recognize them, but hopefully they would recognize me…