Volunteering

If you have been reading my posts, you have gathered that I am finding it difficult to get enough calls to substitute in Clay County right now. One reason is that the county has been flooded with people wanting to substitute. They have even stopped accepting applications from anyone not certified to teach. However, I discovered another reason recently. With the budget cuts planned for next year, everyone is trying to focus on saving money. One thing teachers have been asked to do to save the county money is to limit the number of days they are out of the classroom as much as they can (to save the cost of substitutes). Schools are also trying to cover classes with assistants and other teachers when they can.

I am substituting for two reasons. First is that I need an income. Second is that I want to teach Elementary. With very few teaching jobs out there, substituting is the second best way for me to gain experience at this level.

Now with so few sub jobs to go around, I have started my third best way to get experience...volunteering. Schools tend to get most of their volunteers from parents and grandparents with a pointed interest in the school's success. However, they are open to non-related volunteers, as there is always much work to do.

I offered to volunteer at Tynes Elementary for several reasons. It is close to my son's preschool, so I can minimize travel time, in turn maximizing time on site volunteering. Also, every time I have walked into the front office or spoken with any of the staff (from teachers to front office to cafeteria), I have gotten a friendly, open, cheerful, helpful reaction. One of the things I noticed and liked was their demeanor interacting with children. When students walk into the front office, they are not treated like they do not belong there. Immediately someone's attention is turned to the student; they are greeted with a smile and then assisted with whatever they need. That is how it should be. It was pleasant to watch. I imagine students at Tynes must feel happy, wanted, safe and like everyone wants them to succeed. It is a community, and I want to be a part of it.

You may think that you do not have the time to volunteer. I only offered 2 hours once a week while my son is in preschool, and they are grateful for it. There is someone in the front office talking to teachers about what they need done, offering my time, so that we can make the best use of it. In lean times such as this, your local schools can use as much help as you can offer - whether it is one hour here and there or several days a week. If you are only available in the evenings, consider contacting the parent teacher associations to see if they need help with any projects.