any teachers out there????

Funny you should ask this question... I plan on substituting next year at DS's school and only his building.
I have our 504 meeting today... they can't hold it against me... illegal!
I still don't trust to get a job anywhere else... what if he has a reaction and I can't get there in time??? So.. to work part time... I will substitute. The district is so hard up for subs that I don't think it will be a problem. We'll see...
------------------
Lisa
Mom to Mason (peanut/tree nut/sesame/mustard)

I'm interested in this too...former teacher, contemplating going back when DS turns 5 (2 years) if I can get a position in his school...but I wonder if that would be good or bad...I'm thinking then I'll never be able to come (and stay) at his classroom parties, be there when volunteer needs arise (that involve food), or go on field trips w/ him. I'm also not crazy about teaching again (I love it and I'm a good teacher but there is so much paperwork, meetings, and political stuff right now that it stressed me out before I left)...can't decide what to do. I too am curious if i would not be as strong an advocate for him if I were an employee in that building...I mean, I know I would be, but what kind of reactions will I get from the principal/other teachers.
Good post, hopefully you'll get some good ideas (instead of more questions like from me!!!).
Melissa

Hi,
I actually started teaching music part time at my daughter's school last year when she was starting 2nd grade. Because my classes are in the morning I still can go to the parties in her room which are mostly near the end of the day. I go on field trips too. So far I've only had to reschedule a couple of classes to do this. It has worked well for us. Instead of packing a ready to eat lunch I sometimes bring something special from home that my daughter likes and heat it up in the microwave which makes it taste so much better than sitting in a thermos. Not only has it helped me to advocate for my own child it has helped for the other 3 PA children attending school there. Classroom teachers have approached me with all kinds of questions. I attend teachers meetings so I have the opportunity to hear what's going on at all levels and question anything to do with food. Even caring well meaning people need reminding to be mindful of food allergies. It really helps that my classroom is right next to the lunchroom too.
There is one little guy that watches for me so I can check everyone's lunch at his table for peanut foods when his classroom teacher is not there. He'll ask me to help him open things. He's so cute. If I am not there and he has looked for me he will ask me where I was.
It has not hurt my ability to advocate for my child or to function as a teacher. I just watch and decide when to say things and to whom.
Hope this helps!

I am a certified music teacher. I taught for 4 years before my son came along. I resigned and became a SAHM for 9 years. I'm now substituting in my kids' school district.
We started "educating the educators" the year before our son entered Kindergarten. Once the school learned we were teachers, the playing field was level. It has only helped us with regard to the school's handling of our son's allergy. We haven't had one problem, and my son is now in 3rd grade.
I think everyone feels a bit more relaxed with me around, but they don't pawn off any of their responsibility on me. They still handle him the way they would if I wasn't there as often as I am. I have no complaints.

I got to thinking about this thread earlier today and thought it would be beneficial to post this...
I DO find it difficult to be a teacher in my kids' district AND be my younger son's advocate - he's not FA, but he has a learning disability. I find it very difficult to ask for everything he needs. I guess it's because I know just how cram packed a teacher's day is already, and asking for special treatment for my son that entails a lot MORE time is just difficult for me.
In comparison, in my opinion, the PA is much easier to deal with than the learning disability on a day to day, minute by minute basis. That may be because everything has gone so well for us, PA-wise, with regard to the school. The school has been wonderful with the LD, too, but it requires so much more time/attention/one-on-one.
Just some thoughts.
Lam
[This message has been edited by Lam (edited March 05, 2006).]

I am a teacher in the high school my son attends. It is a very large public high school -- almost 2400 students -- and having him right here has given me some peace of mind, but I still fight the same battles everyone else does. People think I'm an over-protective, neurotic mother sometimes. It is very difficult to get some people to understand the severity of the problem. When he starts a new semester class or has a new teacher for one of his subjects (think about that, too -- having to educate 7 or 8 teachers instead of just one, having a whole different set of kids in each class...nightmare!), I have to "have the conversation," and very often it will go like this: Pete is allergic to peanuts, milk, and watermelon, and so..." (and the other person will jump in and say) "Oh, I'm lactose intolerant, too," to which I reply -- "No. You don't understand. This isn't an intolerance. This is allergy. Anaphylaxis. He could die..." etc., etc,...I have to explain the whole thing endlessly, it seems. Recently my principal sent out an email to all staff asking teachers who are having parties or celebrations in class to be considerate of cultural differences (i.e., kids who might be fasting for Ramadan, etc). I asked if he could add to that the message that teachers who DO serve any food in the classroom must be vigilant in wiping down surfaces -- and that they should be aware of possible life threatening problems -- but he never sent out the update. It was disappointing, to say the least. I am thinking of asking if I can have 20 minutes on one of our professional development days to address the entire staff, and just get it over with. Kids are walking around the school with huge boxes of candy that they sell in class (fundraisers), and lots of teachers allow it, even though they are not supposed to. It is terrifying to me. So I guess it is good in a way (I'm right here, still kind of overseeing him and helping to manage the allergy stuff), and bad in a way (I have to get cranky with colleagues who don't get it, or downplay the seriousness of the problem). If I had to choose, I guess I'd rather deal with the annoyances and stay close to him now. When he leaves for college in just over three years, that's a whole different level of terror (for me -- he, of course, thinks he's immortal!) Sorry for the long post, but I do have some experience, although not at the elementary level.
------------------
Kelly C in Connecticut