Why I became a teacher aide
A belated personal reflection
“If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
- Lilla Watson
Background
As mentioned in a previous post, I am new to this industry, having come from a varied career in administration supporting Directors, a CEO, Heads of units; various researchers, academics; and amazing managers.
However; I was disillusioned with my work behind-the-scenes and realised that I wanted to be more “hands-on”.
I am late diagnosed AuDHD and so have a vested interest in ensuring that young people have an easier time at high school than I did. Luckily, I love learning and share this love with everybody I meet (including you, dear reader).
I was also concerned about the rise in youth crime, particularly after moving to an area with higher-than-usual crime statistics. Media sensationalism was doing little to provide constructive ways forward and the representations differed so markedly from my own experiences with young people. Given that we know schooling acts as a major protective factor for youth offending1, I thought why not combine all motivations in one?
Working hands-on with people;
Contributing to my community;
Sharing a love of learning;
Contributing my lived experience of neurodivergence;
And in some tiny, tangential way - helping to lower youth crime.
Why is an administrator qualified to be a teacher aide?
By default, I’m not sure they are. Yes, my administrative experience helps with policies, processes, regulations, writing, reporting, systematising, and digital skills; but these capabilities are a far cry from the requirements for teacher aide work.
Instead, it is my experience pre-administration that most qualifies me to be a teacher aide:
Working as a cleaner, dish washer, kitchenhand, telemarketer;
Working night shift, split shift; back-to-backs; weekends; full-time, part-time, casual; and more than one job at a time;
Working in libraries, universities, hostels, community centres, council, farms, pubs;
Interviewing people, testing people, selling to people, helping and advising people.
Having the privilege to work with such a range of people forged the foundations of who I am. In many ways I am humbled and grateful for the kindness and solidarity shown to me over the years.
Those who taught me how:
To work with empathy, to listen attentively, to negotiate lightly and love deeply. To be values-led and fight for others, even if they do not understand your intent.
To understand that our liberation is bound in each other.
I am proud to be a public servant. To be of service to the community. I see this blog as an extension of that service.
backoftheclassroom.substack.com
https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/issues/10321/youth-offending-april-2021-edn.pdf