Support Teachers
Ugg! It makes me absolutely bonkers when I hear the amazing humans who provide us with extra support in the classroom, lunch breaks, nap time assistance, and one-on-one support for a child exhibiting behaviors that feel challenging being called Floaters. It reminds me of how the world sees us outside of early childhood education as less than. Why would we other the people who make our days so much better.
The people who provide us with extra support in our programs should hold the title of Support Teachers—this acknowledges the work they do each and every day in our programs. It is important to understand the amount of flexibility, problem-solving, and attention to detail that it takes to support teachers and the children in their care.
I’ve had this discussion many times with ECE programs, and I am so thankful that so many have changed how they see and acknowledge the people who make our days a little bit easier. As we close out another “school year,” I hope program leaders hear this message.
