what to do

[ME610]

I teach in a large school system with 160+ schools, so when I was diagnosed with MS 2+ years ago my neurologist (who loves teachers) encouraged me to move to a school with air conditioning. A letter from him provided the needed documentation for the school system to find me an air conditioned environment. Last school year was my first in this school.

I love my new school... everyone is very nice and very supportive. Some know of my diagnosis, some don't. Since the diagnosis was new to me when I started the new school, I did not share my diagnosis with many. I told my principal, assistant principal and school nurse immediately, just so they wouldn't think I was drunk as I walked down the halls.

I was hired as a reading specialist, but due to budget cuts etc, I taught 5th grade reading for half the day. My experience is all in primary (which they knew when they hired me), and I hated 5th grade. This year, I just pull small groups of students in the primary grades, K-3. My schedule is crazy, so students are brought/sent to me.... why waste the 5 min between groups... I teach 5 groups before 11:45 in the morning... then lunch and planning and three more groups!!
Now for next year... more budget cuts etc.... bla bla bla and I am going to teach first grade MATH and Science/Social Studies for the afternoon. I would do recess and walk the students to special etc...
I spoke with my principal today about my concerns... energy, moving around with first graders etc. Not to mention first graders switching teachers.... She brought up the idea of getting ME a personal assistant. (Our special needs students have them to help them be successful in the regular classroom... that is another story).
My question is that if this is approved (I suspect it could be) is it a good idea or am I setting myself up for bad things down the road? Would this be putting a "black mark" in my record.... in addition, I don't know that I feel comfortable with admitting that I need the help without trying it out first.... let's assume it is approved... what do I do?For sure then everyone would know about my diagnosis. On the plus side I would have another pair of hands to help me... and pull a group of students etc.... it would be great for the students!! But....

[chalknpens]

would it be any different

if you hadn't switched to the building with air conditioning? The flexibility you've described, teaching what subjects are needed, combined with what you expected to teach, sounds common to most elementary teachers ...

How long have you been teaching? Are you worried that the budget cuts would take away the new assistant's position? Or are you worried about having an assistant while others in similar positions may be cut in hours? Or do you see yourself as vulnerable in seniority?

A lot of speculation can add stress, and we all know that isn't good. Are you comfortable enough with these administrators to ask frankly how they will fund such an assistant for you (the one on ones for your kids are mandated by the educational plans, state and federal law, though not necessarily state and federal funding, which raises ire in short budget years.)

Try to sort out whether this move has unsettled you, and the changes in assignments have unsettled you, and perhaps that added stress is complicating your physical abilities ... and if so, I'm not sure the AC is worth the change. But maybe, what is done is done, and so no point in wishing it weren't.

Wishing you peace in your decisions ...

[roo613]

Feeling unsettled is not fun! I'm not sure what the answer is. I get what you are saying, though. You worry that you needing the assistant would cause the higher ups (those more worried about budgets) to feel negatively towards you. And unfortunately, that might happen. BUT, it might not.
This is just my thought, but everyone sounds as if they have been more than willing to work with you. Which, to me, indicicates that they LIKE you and think you do a good job. If they didn't think you were a good teacher, I have a feeling they would try to make life more miserable for you.