instructional assistant

teacher

elementary school teacher

office specialist

crossing guard

Salem Keizer Public School

Very long days starting as early as 5:45am, working split shifts, picking up field trips or kindergarten route's during the middle of the day, ending the day around 5:00pm, and still only averaging around 6.5 hours...maybe, if you're lucky, and that's WITH seniority, at least that was my experience.

I learned a lot about people, and a lot about myself.  
I gained a Class B CDL out of the experience, and it made me a better driver.

Management was always kind to me, always gave me really good reviews, but when it came down to needing assistance with an actual problem, they either couldn't or wouldn't help, and I'm not sure what the reasons were for that, but it made it difficult all the same.
I also learned later on that my manager was undermining my applications to other departments to keep me as a driver because transporation was always hurting for drivers.  When I took his name off of my referral list, I quit having that problem, and was able to move on.  That is a steep claim, I know, but I had it confirmed by other people who had the exact same thing happen to them.

My co-workers were fantastic.  I enjoyed them very much when I saw them, which was only between route's and while in line waiting at the the schools.  I am still friends with some of them today.

The hardest part of that job was the hours.  Long days for not enough money.  It just isn't long enough, sometimes, to only have 45-90 minutes in-between route's to get something done before needing to report back.  There are days that even though you have a set route, there are set-backs, and things come up that keep you out longer, which play havoc with a schedule.  The hours were tough on me.

The most enjoyable part of the job was the time off.  
When school was out, so were the buses, although, through the summer, we had to go find other employment, which seemed to work out for me, but sometimes was stressful on my co-workers.

I work in a fast paced, stressful environment.  I have learned a lot over the last 10 years, and have progressively climbed the ladder.  Management in my department is very bad, almost non-existent. I often wonder why the District drags their feet on terminating employment for supervisors that are not being productive.  They don't have a union contract.  One would think that after complaints from both internal and external personnel, that HR would not drag their feet in the termination of employment.  Instead they have several quality people resigning their position, due to poor management. There are many mangers/administrators however that are wonderful.  My department has great workplace culture.  Most everyone is friendly and outgoing and I feel our team works really good even through lack of leadership.  The hardest part of my job is that I am very busy from the moment I step in the door.  One needs great multi-tasking skills, and be able to handle high stress working environment.  I rarely have down time. The most enjoyable part of my job, is that I feel that I make a difference for employees and children.  I try to allow for smooth processes. I also am grateful for the opportunity for growth, paid vacation, great insurance and PERS.  I would recommend employment for sure!

I worked as a teachers aide. I would help set up class and test daily.
Help with maintaining a functioning class room setting. We would greet the kids and parent at times . Get the kids ready for calender time and what they were going to do in class that day.I would assist the teacher with the daily events in the class. I help with testing and reading one on one. I covered in the office at the fount desk when they were short handed. Helping out the public with school process and events. Answering the phones and filing copying,  grading tests,calling to class rooms. Helping out when kids were injured and were sick. Contacting parents when a child needed to be picked up . 
I learn the office procedures for Salem Kezier school district, and class room needs.
I work with the management with the daily changes and needs of kids or parents.
The school being understaffed with the needs of the kids who struggle with the academics requirement. 
I loved working with the kids and teaching and helping them learn.

Every day at work was different. We had to learn to be very flexible and adaptable to any situation. I learned a lot about working with special needs students and catering to their individual needs and meeting their goals. I learned behavior management and skills in the classroom. I learned how to successfully coach the students doing various job tasks and supervising them on outings in the community.

The workplace culture was fantastic. I worked with a lot of great people and staff. They were all willing to help and support each other. The head teacher was very supportive and willing to assist anyone at a moment's notice. The hardest part of the job was learning to be flexible when the schedule consistently changed, but I quickly learned how to adapt. The most enjoyable part of the job was witnessing the progression and growth among the students from when they first entered the program!

Typical days included classroom climate and management as tools to support daily instruction using AVID strategies, and district literacy standards throughout the curriculum.  Collaborative staff, mediocre school management that seemed to care more about district procedures than the individual teacher development and individual strengths brought to planning and instruction.  Diverse student culture and socio-economic levels, along with a growing number of special needs students that are mainstreamed to general classroom is challenging, and at times can be frustrating due to inadequate teacher support and follow-through.  Staff interactions were an asset, and encouraged a supportive culture for teaching professionals.  Meeting agendas were at times more time-fillers than helpful guidance and strategies for every teacher.

Never get a response from HR or Union. Supervisors rarely support employees.  Upper management is very inconsistent with information. Schedule changes last minute. Relying on supervisors to be consistent is unfortunately something I wouldn't recommend. Pay is decent but hours are not guaranteed.  Upper management treats employees like we are expendable. The kids make the negatives better. Definitely enjoy working with them. Upper management and co-workers who are in charge of extra hours play favorites and make unfair decisions based on who they like. Advancement is not supported unless you are "in the circle" with a specific group of management.  Information about Advancement is hush hush and only shared with people the district wants for that position; definitely an not equal opportunity environment. 

I checked in with over 40 students a day on various accommodations.  Made sense of the lesson and offered support to the student as needed. Gave strategies to help facilitate learning. What I learned from the students, they innately want to learn and its my job to protect and provide opportunities by building an authentic report. At the same time the hardest part of the job was managing back to back periods of students that clearly were not interested in learning (then) and made it challenging for other students and staff to continue. I thoroughly enjoy when a student I have been offering additional assistance finally invests in themselves and gets the help they need.

Just usually grounds maintenance such as blowing leaves, mowing, trimming, etc. Leadership is most absent or lacking. Learned all sorts of things which was pretty neat. You also get to be outside for me that is a positive personally. Most of your coworkers are pleasant. Keep to your work if possible. Keep yourself as middle ground as possible. You get to help kids stay safe so that's a positive. It is not how hard you work but how you are perceived.

Providing safe and secure surroundings for children ages 5 to 12.
Learned the appropriate way to deal with children that required extra patience.  Learning how to communicate with parents and children.  
Management was always there to support me with issues that would arise.
Co-workers helped to back me up when needed.
There were no hard parts with the job except when a child wouldn't be returning the next year.  
Be able to interact with the children and their families.
Have food handler's license, CPR and first aid certified, trained to deal with children with special needs and epinephrine "epi pen" certified.

There's certain schools that are great and others that are terrible. That's just how it is anywhere. One of the schools I worked at was amazing. I loved all the staff. They were supportive. They helped support behaviors. And the other school I worked at, I switched from being a special programs instructional assistant to just a general teacher's aide, and nobody supported behaviors at that school. Kids were running on the train tracks. There were no consequences. Kids weren't even being asked to sit out for recess when they did something wrong. There was no accountability whatsoever, and it made the job horrendous. The kids walked all over us and cussed us out and all sorts of things. It was not a good work environment.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Instructional assistant 297 salaries reported	$25.82 per hour
Teacher 22 salaries reported	$73,456 per year
Elementary school teacher 50 salaries reported	$78,481 per year
Office specialist 35 salaries reported	$24.21 per hour
Crossing guard 35 salaries reported	$21.35 per hour

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