THE OTHER TEACHERS’ AIDES

 

When a new teacher walks into the classroom, it is apparent that when the previous teacher left, so did the decorations and supplies. Those outside the education field may not be aware that all those things are purchased by the educator. While all help is appreciated, the IRS tax credit for teachers does not even cover the bulletin board cutouts.

There is a little-known teacher support group called ESP, not to be confused with PTA. Educational Support Persons are parents of teachers and are responsible for anticipating and fulfilling classroom needs. OK, ESP as an organization doesn’t really exist, but it should. Supporters need support, too.

When Stephanie began her first year in the classroom, her ESP members helped clean out filing cabinets, shelves and closets; made curtains for the windows and bookshelves; stuffed and fluffed pillows for the reading center; and created bumble bee stickers, bumble bee note pads, bumble bee pointers and bumble bee posters. (Yes, elementary classrooms have themes.)

When Jennifer got a job teaching down the hall from her sister, the process was repeated, but with smiley face calendars, smiley face globes and smiley face door decorations. (See previous paragraph about classroom themes.)

Jennifer now works as Assistant Director of Facilities Communications and Engagement at the University of Houston and Stephanie is Digital Media Coordinator for Fort Bend ISD. This means making candy for special events or serving as a greeter for Film Festivals.

Then, Benjamin followed his sisters into education. After years of church employment, he moved his youth work into classrooms. Themes aren’t as prevalent in high school and technology has eliminated the need for copies of worksheets and extensive filing systems. Our ESP chapter focused on classroom furniture, organization and trips to Office Depot.

If there was an ESP handbook it might include notes on duties.

·       Assistant Visual Art Designer: Bulletin boards aren’t limited to welcome posters in August and snowmen at Christmas. They are artistic expressions of learning.

·       Substitute Chaperone: Field trips mean living your life on stand-by. If other parents sign up, you are off the hook, but you have to be ready for that last-minute phone call. “Mom, Mrs. Johnson isn’t going to make it. Can you pack yourself a lunch and be here in 20 minutes?” Get out the peanut butter.

·       Computer Programmer: I created forms for lesson plans and even a discipline plan that printed out a weekly report to be signed by parents. (Santa, if you are reading this and would like some help, I think we could do a Naughty and Nice List in Microsoft Excel that would save you hours each year.)

·       After-Hours Support Groups: I spend a good deal of my time listening to stories of problem students and difficult parents and laughing at the stories about students like Kenny, who told the first-grade girls there was a ghost in the restroom.

Jennette and Geordan now attend MacArthur Elementary. Their 2^nd and 4^th grade teachers have been wonderful educators and generous classroom providers. There have been special reward lunches, prizes for good behavior and even embroidered blankets for each student at Christmas.

When Jennette came home with a large stuffed bunny for Valentine’s Day, Jennifer asked the teacher how she managed to provide all those bunnies. The answer was, “My mother bought them.”

ESP lives on.