I just got back from our Officers meeting. As officers, we discuss club business. As teachers, we share information about teaching. How do the two work together? In ways to help our Pi Lambda Theta members benefit from our network of information.
We work at various schools in various districts, but our districts have one thing in common: declining enrollment. There’s a mass exodus of families who are looking for cheaper places to live. Several times a week, the newspapers publish stories about how expensive it is to live around here. Every school is losing dozens of students each year. For every two dozen students the school loses, they lose a teacher. LAUSD has year round schools switching back to traditional calendars because they’re losing students. This also means that they need to lose about a quarter of their teachers as well.
It’s not a rosy picture around here. If you want to get a job, you need to get your qualifications in order, and show people you’re worth hiring.
Get to know working teachers. Spend extra time at schools where you’re doing your observations. When I used to sub, I volunteered at my nephew’s school on my free days.
Get to know the other members in Pi Lambda Theta. Every year, we induct over 50 new members. About a quarter of our active membership will be ready to work at the end of this school year after they get their credential. Make sure you meet the members who have jobs because, boy, we have stories for you, and can help you learn what you need before schools will seriously look at you to fill a position.
Once you get hired, keep in touch because the working teachers in PLT have gone through the same thing and are eager to let you know what works, what doesn’t, and how you can cement yourself into a position as a highly effective staff member at your school.
The good news is that schools are always hiring. Make sure you’re the one they hire.
Petra Jones and several of her students were recently recognized as volunteers of the year for the 2004 AIDS Walk Los Angeles.
Petra states that she believes they gave out 4 or 5 volunteer of the year awards, and this was the first year that a school or group of students won. She told me in an email that she and her is “already hard at work, trying to make it a 3-peat” for her and “a back-to-back for the students.” She goes on to say that she takes student volunteers after school 2 or 3 days a week. They get there around 4:00 and stay until about 7:15, doing whatever needs to be done.
Petra has participated in this event since 1993 “or so” both as a walker and a volunteer and she has been a team leader for students and staff members at Gage Middle School for many years. Her involvement in this event is two-fold. It is a commitment on her part to recognize friends and acquaintances affected or victims of the disease and it is a way to educate her students to the “grave concerns” the disease poses for her 8th grade students. She has was awarded “Outstanding Volunteer” her first year and now holds the honor of being the first teacher to lead a school group to the same recognition. She wants anyone wishing to support her team’s (team #29 led by team coordinator is Vanessa) efforts on October 16, 2005 to click on the website www.aidswalk.net, then select Los Angeles and finally selecting a team to join. They’re listed as Gage Middle School Leadership.
Or you can sponsor her by pledging any amount of money to go to the AIDS Walk Los Angeles. You can see her in room 103 if you work at Gage, or you can mail her a check at:
Petra Jones
C/o Gage Middle School
2880 East Gage Avenue
Huntington Park, CA 90255
Her goal is to be a Star Walker again this year. Star Walkers started in 2000. They are people who commit to raise $1000 for the AIDS Walk, and then come through with the pledges and money. She’s working on her 5th year as a Star Walker, but it becomes more difficult to reach the goal each year because there are more walkers on the team and the same people are contributing the money.
BONUS ALERT: If you pledge $50 or more to sponsor her or if you are an adult registered for and walking on the Gage Team, you will receive a certificate for a free half hour massage. Of course, you have to be able to go to the massage place in West LA to use the certificate.
Pi Lambda Theta sent out the latest newsletter. You can view it here.
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