Mister Quick Fix

They call me Mr. Quick Fix. I’m everywhere, in every school. Over 400,000 of me in classrooms across the country. Yet there’s minimal data on my effectiveness. For this reason, among others, some call me Mr. Quagmire. Here I am, the “least qualified, lowest paid” providing the “bulk of instruction.” On top of that, I am rarely supervised, barely trained, and minimally vetted While at the same time considered the “first, primary, and…only support response” for the student . My student’s father calls me Mr. Godsend. Distrusting of the school staff, I am his child’s protector From any negative judgement bestowed upon the child by peer or adult. The direct pipeline of communication often goes through me, Not the head teacher, who sometimes refers to me as Mr. Why Didn’t You Tell Us That Earlier? Some even call me Mr. Anything. Or Mr. Wing-It. One day I may work with small groups beyond my assigned student. Other days I’m creating lesson plans with no oversight. I try not to question these practices, or lack of policy and procedures with regards to my role. Everyday is a bit of chaos, and I’m just trying to make it a doable day like everyone else, Helping wherever I can, however I can. That’s my job, right? Right?