Recognition

9/18
Last Thursday a colleague of mine called me to ask if I could fill in for him. As we were team-teachers during one of my long-term assignments, I could not refuse, plus it saved me from waking up at 5:30 to check available jobs online. I have a long history with the school, and while you might think there would be bitterness considering that I did not get a full-time job there, I feel that I've done a damn-good job of taking everything in stride.

Getting there in the morning was not an issue, as it's a relatively straight shot from my house, and I arrived about 15 minutes early (heeding the rule). After a few formalities at the front desk, I headed to the familiar English/Social Studies office to check for lesson plans.

The hallways made me laugh. The school, being under construction, was completely gutted over the summer: carpets, flooring, many walls and ceilings.... gone. It's - very literally - teaching in a half-constructed building. As a result, you hear EVERYTHING. The halls echo, the chairs scraping on the floor make my teeth rattle, and the lake of wall coverings make it so you can hear even the students whispering to one and other (maybe that's not such a bad thing).

My reintroduction to the staff was pleasant: old colleagues greeted me, and new employees introduced themselves. The most satisfying part of being back is hearing the students who recognize me in the halls, or as they walk into the classroom: "DUUUUUDEEEE!!!!"

One of the things that bothers me about substitute teaching is never really getting to know the students in the classes that I'm covering. It always helps to return to a place that I have worked and had an influence in the past, and be recognized, not only by my own peers, but by the students whose lives we influence on a daily basis. There is nothing better than being greeted by a big smile as my name is over-enunciated for all to hear, and a fist-bump never hurts either.

After all, it's not a bad thing to want a little bit of recognition for what you do.