Time to stop holding things in!
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I was working as a Para-Professional Tutor (PPT) at Niu Valley Middle School (NVMS) from April 2010 to May 2011.
Actually, my job interview was on February 2010 but my employment started on April 2010. Typical DOE red tape!
Anyways, I was a one-on-one tutor for a few students who need special services.
I can't tell you too much detail about the individual students I was working with, nor how I was supposed to help them. Part of it is because of confidentiality rules, plus I don't want to embarrass the individual students I was working with.
However, it's some of the staff members who ought to be embarrassed of themselves.
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First off, SPED teacher Randi (Sagawa) Passantino who I'll just refered to as "Miss RSP" in the rest of this blog post.
Good news: good spirit, good enthusiasm.
Bad news: very disorganized, poor leader.
She doesn't tell new PPTs what they're supposed to be doing or how they're supposed to be doing things until it is too late! And she only does it after the fact and loud enough for everyone to hear!
Good leaders tell you and prep you ahead of time! "Miss RSP" doesn't!
Good leaders try to correct you in a way on an individual level in at least a semi-private setting (ie. correct you softly at the teacher's desk). "Miss RSP" does the exact opposite. She'll embarrass staff members in a loud tone in front of everyone.
I mean, it's one thing to yell at some fool playing around in class! It's one thing to yell when the students won't be quiet when I start the class! But minor mistakes are to be corrected in a softer tone of voice. "Miss RSP" doesn't believe in a softer tone of voice, ever! Therefore, "Miss Blank" is all noise, no sense!
It is also impossible to talk with "Miss RSP" in a low-key environment. She walks away when I tell her "I won't know if you don't tell me". Real leaders don't walk away when being told that! "Miss RSP" isn't a real leader, is all ego, no humility!
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Math teacher Stephen Duncan allows chaos to occur in his homeroom. And he has the nerve to tell me "what happens in this class stays in this class". WRONG MOVE MISTER!
I reported that statement to the vice-principal who thought that statement was "so stupid". The vice-principal agreed with me when I said "anything that happens in class is fair game".
Stephen Duncan, instead of telling me "what happens in this class stays in this class", why not put more effort in controlling your class?
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And talking about class management, PPTs are supposed to be silent passive observers whenever the classroom teacher don't even put much effort in classroom management. This was the instruction by one of the former vice-principals (Kelly Bart) when I mentioned to him about the chaos occurring in a Japanese-language class.
The teacher was a temp hire (regular teacher was on maternity leave) and was excessively lenient. There was constant trash talking and running around among the students in the class
Yet the VP Bart's order to me was to be a silent passive observer and just help the student I was assigned to help.
(by the way, I was supposed to help that student, even in classes where I have no expertise, ie. Japanese language)
Anyways, I was so angry about the situation, I went to the other VP and the principal on this issue! I was then told I can call security if anything goes on, as long as I got the teacher's permission. Afterwards, the temp teacher finally put more effort in classroom management.
In the last quarter, that class finally had a different temp teacher. He was more of a disciplinarian without being overly harsh. He was one of the coolest people on campus! The bad kids didn't like him, but the good kids did!
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Because PPTs are supposed to silent observers when other kids are causing chaos, I no longer work as a PPT!
I'm tired of being silent when chaos occurs in class!
I'd rather be a substitute teacher than a PPT! Even if the students give subs a hard time, at least I'm allowed to put effort in classroom management instead of just being a silent passive observer! I'm done with being a silent passive observer!
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There was also this Student Service clerk Winnie Yuen. She asked the usual introduction question "where are you from?" I told her I was from this island. She then asked "where are you really from?" EXCUSE ME I just answered your question! Racial profiling from someone who acts as if only Asians and Polynesians can say they grow up in Hawaii. I like see her tell people in Idaho or Mississippi that she's a US citizen! Ha!
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Other that though, I like most of the people at NVMS!
The head secretary (officially called the SASA) Eric Ikawa is one of the coolest people on Earth.
Rick Nagata is a great social studies teacher!
Monica Boehm is no longer there, but she's an engaging English teacher with real passion in the subject!
Mr Doi is a real PE teacher. He actually teaches the students about the games, whereas my PE teachers were just like "here's the ball, make a team and go play"
Ms Lozis teaches the video-making, which is a class I wish I had when I was in school!
I also remember the fun conversations with EA Traci Smith!
Candice Kuo was the librarian, very nice sweet woman! Same with counselor Angie Inoue.
Shon was the after-school activity guy! A cool guy!
And if I forget the other staff members I got along with, I apologize!
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