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…”