Welcome back to The Forgotten ECE, the podcast that shines a light on the educators who too
often go unnoticed.
I'm your host, Jamie Wagler, and today we're asking a question that every before and afterschool
educator has probably thought at one point.
Why doesn't anyone know what we actually do?
Welcome to The Forgotten ECE, the show where before and afterschool educators, summer camp
and PD staff and CYWs have a place where they are seen, heard and valued.
I'm your host, Jamie Wagler, and I am so excited you're here.
Okay let's be real, before and afterschool programs exist in this weird in-between world.
Alright before we get started I need to set the stage.
I want to know how many of you had this conversation before?
Seen.
You're at a party.
Meeting someone new.
Them.
So what do you do?
You.
I work at a before and afterschool program.
Them.
So is that like babysitting?
You.
Internally screaming.
Listen, if I had a dollar for every time someone misunderstood my job, I wouldn't need to work
ever.
I'd be on a beach somewhere, spitting a fancy drink with an umbrella.
But no, here I am, hosting a podcast to set the record straight.
Because before and afterschool educators are not babysitters.
We're not just supervising until their parents show up.
We're educators, we're problem solvers, we're program planners, referees, social emotional
coaches, snack distributors, and occasional shoe finders.
Yet despite everything we do, we're still invisible.
So today I'm going to break it down for you.
Why doesn't anyone understand what before and afterschool educators really do?
How does this lack of recognition affect us?
And most importantly, how do we change this narrative?
Because I don't know about you, but I'm so done with being an afterthought.
Let's go back to this before and afterschool programs exist in this weird in-between space.
We're in schools, but we're not a part of the school system, always.
We're educators, but we don't always get the same respect as the classroom teachers.
We work with school-aged children, but people just assume that early childhood education
means preschool, or toddler, or infant care.
So why does no one get what we do?
Well, here's my theory.
We work the quote, invisible hours.
Teachers are seen teaching, we're seen standing by the doors while the kids get picked up.
Teachers don't see the organized chaos that we manage every single day.
Principals might not even know your name.
Then, when you get into the classroom, if I'm sitting on the floor playing with Legos,
people assume I'm just messing around.
What they don't see is that I'm encouraging problem solving, that I'm helping kids work
through social conflict, and that I'm teaching resilience after their third tower has collapsed
for the fourteenth time.
We're not always in staff meetings, or even in staff rooms.
Have you ever tried walking in the staff room of your school?
Are you even allowed in the staff room at your school?
I've actually heard from educators that they're not allowed in the staff rooms at the schools
they're attached to.
And I'm not talking about your child care staff room, I'm talking about that school
staff room, because let's face it, you're in a school most of the time, whether that's
in a classroom, sharing it with a teacher, or in a gym, in a library.
Our schedules don't line up with teachers, which means we miss out on important discussions.
And when the discussions are made that affect us, we usually hear about them after the fact.
I've also heard a lot of educators being told messages from the teachers to tell the parents,
and that's not always the greatest thing either, because it's never the great messages, it's
never the, oh, little Joanna built a huge tower and concentrated for a long time on
it.
It's usually that Joanna hit a kid in the face today, and you know what, their behavior
wasn't on point.
Why is it never the good messages we get to give?
I mean, it's good messages from our programs, but you know what I mean.
Next, I'm sure some of you might be thinking, okay, sure, you go and get what we do.
It's annoying, but does it really matter?
Um, yeah, it does.
It affects our pay.
Let's talk numbers.
Teachers have a pay scale.
Do we?
Whatever funding allows it.
If people think we're just supervising, they don't see why we should be paid more.
Guess what?
Spoiler alert, we should.
And also it keeps us stuck in these split shifts to seven to nine and three to six.
What a dream schedule.
Schools and educators and childcare centers won't be pushing for full time roles if they
don't see it as essential, which means we're constantly scrambling for side gigs, extra
hours or a second job.
How is it fair when we are making just the same difference in children's lives as teachers
are or as other ACEs are?
And why are we battling other ACEs when we are ACEs too?
Don't we have a team?
Shouldn't we be on the same team?
All in all, it makes our job harder.
There's less recognition, fewer resources, less respect, more unrealistic education and
less visibility, making more frustration for us.
Have you ever had a teacher ask you to just deal with it when a child's behavior is you
because they don't have time?
Yeah, we're always the catch all.
See, like I was saying.
Okay, I'm sorry.
Enough venting.
What can we actually do about it though?
Because let's be honest, waiting for someone else to advocate for us is not working.
First, I actually want you to realize how amazing of a person you are for choosing this
incredible career, for choosing to make a difference in before and after school children's
lives every day.
I don't want you to undersell yourself.
Start overselling.
Start telling them like it is.
No more, oh, I just do before and after school.
Try.
I create a program, a play-based learning program that supports social emotional development
for school-aged children.
Or try.
I create engaging activities that build problem solving and leadership skills.
Or you could say, I have an early childhood educator specializing in school-aged programs.
Any of those would do.
And I challenge you to try it.
I challenge you the next time someone asks you what you do to use something like that.
Educate families is the next step on what we actually do.
Look at newsletters, social media, bulletin boards, whatever it takes to show that this
is not just free time.
Highlight what the kids are learning through play.
When parents or families understand the value, they will advocate for us too.
Try closing your before and after school program for one day.
Don't actually try that.
But think about it.
Think of all the parents who won't be able to work because school's hours are not set
for the working society.
Use your social media.
Use your Instagram.
Use bulletin boards.
Incorporate newsletters into your program.
Advocate for your program within your centers.
Tell your peers and your educators, your coworkers, all the amazing things that are happening
in your school-aged program.
Get the word out.
Next, build relationships with the teachers that I'm in.
I want you to try to find a way, small ways, to get involved with the school community.
Invite teachers to check out your program.
Make sure the principal knows your name.
You want the school to also see that you are valued.
Do you know that families look at schools that have before and after school programs
when they're going to register their children?
They can't register in a school that doesn't have a before and after school program if
those hours they need require them to have before and after school care.
I also want you to push for more professional development.
If there's no PD for before and after school educators in your location, ask for it.
Advocate for training that really applies to our reality.
The more professional development we have, the harder it is for people to ignore our
expertise.
And that's exactly what you are.
You're an expert.
You're an expert in the field of school age.
At the end of the day, before and after school educators are the glue that holds the school
day together.
I want you to remember that.
We're there in the morning, setting the tone for the day.
We're there in the afternoons, helping kids wind down, connecting and learning different
ways through play, through games, through relaxation.
Someone they can trust, someone they can confide in.
We are not an afterthought.
We are not just supervisors.
We are educators.
So you know what?
I want to end today's session, today's podcast with a challenge for you.
Next time someone asks you what you do, hold it.
Find one small way to showcase the work you're already doing.
And if someone calls you a babysitter, call me back.
Thank you.
Amazing listeners for your support.
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram at missjami underscore R-E-C-E.
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Again, thank you so much and happy learning.