u/MentionNew5761

My partner teacher (who is the case manager for all of the EE/SPED kids who I work with, I’m with her mornings and afternoons), has been out roughly more than 12 times this year so far not including half days/being late. And I am being generous with those numbers, that is just what I have found recorded in my texts/emails, I know there is more. I work with 22 kids in this grade and it’s gened inclusion.

I’m feeling frustrated because IF I get a sub for her, they are not trained with EE kids or know how to talk to them. They normally stay in the back and watch me do everything. Sometimes I don’t even get a sub which I’m well aware that is not allowed.

Today was ultra frustrating because her absence was without any notice to anyone. This has happened before. She has gotten sick, her kid is sick, appointment, or something of the sorts. It’s normally one of these. I feel empathy towards her situation and personal life, but these kids are not getting the consistency that they need. They need extra support that I cannot always give as one person. They also need extra reading/lessons that I do not have time to give because I am doing 2 jobs at once. I am mad on the behalf of the kids that they aren’t getting the learning that they need, and I KNOW they need it. All I can think about is how certain kids cannot progress because she [the teacher] is not here.

Other teachers are starting to notice her large amount of absences and I have no doubt that admin is too. They can’t NOT notice. I just feel bad saying too much about it because when she is here, most of the time, she is a good teacher. But I feel like it’s too much and it’s getting out of hand.

This is mainly just a vent, but if anyone has any advice or has been in a similar situation let me know.

First two weeks as a Para in a middle school, and I love it.
My eventual goal is to be a school counselor, specifically for middle school.
So I decided to take a couple years after undergrad to explore the school system because I never went to public school.
Like I mentioned, I love my job- I love the kids, being there for them, and forming connections and actually seeing progress within their learning. I’ve stayed after to talk with my EE (Exceptional Education (SPED)) teacher who I’m with in the mornings/evenings about plans for students and how to truly assist them. I take notes on behavior, learning, and progress.
Of course there are rough days when I do have to sub in classes I wasn’t expected to, or trained to do, and it’s been a lot of learning along the way. I was completely shoved into this position without training, but I go out of my way to learn what else I can do through other Paras online. It’s tough, but again, I love it.

I don’t want to make myself seem better, but all the other paraprofessionals are always on their phone, or don’t want to assist the kids. They almost act inconvenienced when they have to. In one of the self-contained rooms, I heard one of the paras yelling at one of the kids angrily. I feel like I’m the only one who cares about the kids genuinely.

I’ve been told that the kids love me, and staff does, but it stinks when I don’t feel like I have a team to work with. I know being a paraprofessional is a solo job, but I wish I had others who loved the job as much as I do.