Two Types of School Employees

Monday my boss at East High School said something which I will remember for a long time and hopefully will influence me every day of this school year. The statement was simple, yet profound.

“There are two types of school employees: Teachers and people who support teachers.”

Wow!

Let's just unpack this a little bit. The first thing to note is just the fact that teachers are rockstars. Every day students come to our building from every conceivable circumstance. Many of our young people do not get enough to eat or get enough restful sleep at night, have not been lovingly nurtured through childhood, are still learning English and acclimating to a new country, have a parent who is not participating in their upbringing, or have spent too much of the previous evening working at a job. Even the students who are raised in idyllic households are still dealing with the ambivalence and overwhelming stressors of young adulthood. 

The teachers who greet each day them each day are underpaid, overworked, and lack the support of the community they serve. Yet despite it all, the magical process of education takes place in the midst of the pressure-filled and chaotic conditions of our school.

Did I mention I think teachers are rockstars?

The other half of my principal's quote involves the thousands of other school employees who support the work of frontline educators. After 32 years in the classroom, I find myself about ready to begin my third in the“support staff” category. These people include…

Transportation workers who keep the buses maintained and the drivers who navigate traffic, contend with dangerous weather conditions, and manage to keep their eyes on the road while unruly students vie for their attention.

The custodial staff who arrive early and stay late to keep the learning environment clean and safe for everyone.

Campus security who make order out of chaos with their hands figuratively tied behind their backs as a result of significant legal and policy constraints.

Food service workers who feed thousands of frequently unappreciative students and staff with limited financial resources and who all too frequently are forced to clean up other peoples’ messes.

Front office staff who answer the phones, respond to emails, greet visitors, answer the same questions over and over again while still managing to smile and offer good cheer to those they encounter (honestly don’t know how they do it!).

Administrators do make the most money of all, but they also sacrifice the nights, weekends, and frequent vacations days the rest of us enjoy. I would not have lasted over three decades in the classroom without the superintendent who hired me and my first principal who was a constant source of support and mentorship. There was also the superintendent at my second job who was without a doubt the greatest cheerleader that district ever had. A highly compassionate assistant principal demonstrated empathy and unconditional positive reinforcement as my first marriage fell apart and I was adjusting to the new role of single father. A beloved athletic director taught me with humor how to be a better coach. A principal understood the demands inherent in leading a premier basketball program while at the same time teaching six classes every day. Because of them and others those 32 years flew by with just a few bumps in the road.

So to paraphrase my principal just a bit, I’m now dedicated to being one of those who support the rockstars who work tirelessly in our classrooms!