So, I am considering taking a job within the school district that we live in. At this point, I am in an applicant pool and have heard that the school that my daughter will go to will likely have my position opening up. I live very close, walking distance, to this school but am at least 10-15 minutes away from other likely locations.
Anyway, I am not opposed to commuting but also would rather not. I would likely still be able to pick her up from school and my husband could drop her off, so care wouldn't be impacted. My real question is whether it is better for a child to have their own space at school and not be impacted by their mom being around all the time. I am an SLP and work with a big chunk of the teacher within the school I am at now so it would likely be the same. I like the idea of getting to know the teachers that she would have but also am worried about having difficulty if I need to advocate for her and I am dealing with work collegues.
Anyone have experience good or bad with this? I am very unsure about it and will likely have to make the decision shortly.
Thank you for all your feedback. It makes me more excited and I will definitely go for the position. A lot of you asked about the advocating for my child part. I don't foresee the need, but I think this comes from always being involved in children who need extra support and services. Even with good teachers and caring administration, parents often have to advocate for their kids. Even though I hope this is never going to be an issue for my daughter, you really never know.
I worked in my kids' elementary school. It was awesome. But then there was no need to "advocate" for them. Great school, great kids, great staff (though not perfect). I didn't agree with every little teeny thing that happened, things I might not have known about if I hadn't worked there, but then I also think my kids are flexible enough to thrive under an authority that differs from mine. And so they did.
:)
I think it will be fine. You are unlikely to work directly with her and you can work with the other staff to ensure that she gets her own space when she needs it. There is a student in my DD's school who is in another K classroom than his mother, though he comes in with her in the mornings and presumably leaves with her in the evenings. I would not assume you'd have problems. You might actually have fewer problems because you'd know the staff well. Especially at the ES level, she may think it's supercool that you work there. My DD is fascinated that her teacher has a kid at the same school.
My mom worked at my school and I loved it.
A friend of mine teaches 3rd grade at a public school in her district. Because our district is on the "track" system, even though there are at least 5 classes per grade at her school, she is the only 3rd grade teacher on her particular "track." Anyway, because her kids are on the same track as she teaches on, she has been the 3rd grade teacher for all 3 of her own children! It has worked out really well, even though at first she was a little worried about it. She treats them like any other student while they are in the classroom (they call her Mrs. Lastname, just like all the other kids, not "Mom").
Anyhow, it doesn't sound like you would even be directly interacting with your child while at school, so my guess is that there would be no problem with you working at her school. I would think that if the need arises where you'd be advocating for your child, it would likely be a smoother interaction because you'd be taken more seriously than most parents?
I work at my kids' school. Elementary.
I have no problems with it, nor have I had any problems with it as a Mom or as school staff.
Both my kids, LOVE that I work at their school.
And their friends too.
And there has never been a problem with it, nor have I made a problem with it.
I know everyone on campus.
It has never been a problem.
Lots of Moms work at the school.
And if/when I need to speak to my child's Teacher for any reason, I do so.
It is as a Mom. Not as school staff, at that point.
I don't use my position as a school staff, to get any better treatment or 'favoritism' of myself or of my kids. And the Teachers or school staff, don't think that way anyway.
It is all about how you go about it.
And even if/when I am on campus, I don't intrude or hover in my kids' class. I don't interfere in my kids' class or with the Teacher.
I am there for my job.
At a school, that my kids attend as well.
And my kids, do not act any different just because their Mom works there. They do not expect any different treatment, from anyone or the teacher of other kids, just because I work there.
I was the best counselor in my career the years that I was counselor at my son's school. I advocated for more programs, chaperoned every trip, and had sleepover twice a year.
Do it. Great memories for both of you will be made.
I have both good and not so good experiences that fall into this category.
Although my mom didn't "work" at my school, she did volunteer in the library and could be found there almost as much as the librarian. I loved it. There were no problems whatsoever.
My own grandmother was my Kindergarten teacher. That was actually pretty difficult for me. I was 4, she was super strict and held me to even higher standards than the other kids (I had to be perfect as a representative of our family). On the first day of school, she told me "You must call me either "Teacher" or "Mrs. _____, NOT EVER Grandma while in school." I adored my grandmother, but having her as a teacher was really difficult. She also drove me to and from school. "Bye, Grandma!", hops out of car, "Good morning, Mrs. _____!" A hard and weird transition for a 4yr old.
Anyway, since you won't be her actual teacher, it'll be fine. I had other friends whose parents were teachers at our school (at an international school in a foreign country, this happens pretty often) and they all loved having their parents at the school.
I honestly see no downside. Growing up, I went to a small Catholic school where about half of the teachers had kids in the school. Currently where my kids go to school, a significant percentage of the teachers, office staff and para professionals have kids in the school district. To my knowledge, no one thinks is odd or has an issue with it and the kids love seeing mom (or dad!) at work each day. I like that the teachers and other staff are parents and are an integral part of the school community. It's nice to know that my kids are being taught and cared for by people I consider friends who have the same goals for the community that parents have. It really gives credence to the "it takes a village" idea...some parents are teachers or work in the schools, some parents volunteer on the PTA, some teach Sunday school, some coach teams or teach music or art, some are scout leaders, etc. It doesn't seem to be a big deal to the kids at all that mom or dad is there.
If you want this job go to work. It shouldn't have any negative impact on anyone, especially your child.
I think that usually works out quite well. However, if you get a position at another school in your child's district, you may be asked if you would like to change her to your school. That situation is less clear, as there is an advantage to going to school with your neighborhood friends. Hope you get a lovely position.
I work part time at my kids school. I am a substitute teacher.
My kids will ask their teacher if they know they are going to be out if they can have me for the day. So, I have subbed my own kids pretty often.
They love it. If they stop loving it, I will continue to work there just not in their rooms.
You should be fine.
My mom worked at our elementary school when my younger brother was still there. She was never in his class as she worked as an aid for a younger grade and he was older. There were never any issues.
When I was in 6th grade (it was at the elementary in my district at that time) there was a boy in our class whose mom was the aid in our room. We thought nothing of it. She was VERY cool about it. Once he got in trouble in music class - nothing major - and when we got back to the room I remember another boy said " Hey Paul! Did you tell your mom you got in trouble in music?" She didn't miss a beat. She said to the boy "Would you tell YOUR mom?" And that was the end of that !
Do you anticipate a need to advocate for her? I am not sure what you mean by that. I am a teacher and I always knew my son's teachers when he attended in my district and while I never had any issues I am sure that it would have been handled professionally.
My son's class has 7 kids with parents working in the district (including myself)...one kid's mom is the teacher right next door. I also have had several children of my coworkers in my class. It has never been a problem.
My mom also worked as a second grade teacher in my small Catholic school while I was in 7th grade. No Problems there either.
I loved subbing at my kids' school. I got to know the teachers that way and there were no negatives regarding that.
Plenty of people who work for the school system work in different schools from their children.
One thing which I'm sure you know, but I'll still bring up, is that you have to be SUPER CAREFUL about not saying anything to anyone regarding students you work with. It's against the rules and very unprofessional. I knew a woman who was a guidance counselor at a different school in the area. Her son was in my son's grade. She actually talked about kids at her school. We knew who the kid was - it wasn't hard to guess. I would have been LIVID if I had been that kid's mom.
Good luck deciding!
