Gerard Dawson

1. What is the environment like working in a school?

The experience differs greatly based on what type of community, neighborhood, and area you’re teaching in. I worked in three different public schools in New Jersey, each with its own characteristics. In Hightstown, there’s diversity among the students who speak numerous languages. The ESL program is extensive, highlighting the importance of supporting these students. Ridgewood, on the other hand, is affluent, presenting a less diverse and more competitive environment from a young age. In order to gauge the type of school it is, visiting the area is the best way to find that out. 

2. Can you describe a typical day at work?

I taught both elementary and high school, but I worked about a decade teaching high school students. High school was more fast-paced, the periods went by quickly and there were many times when I felt like I was rushing through the day. There were always tons of interactions with students in both the classroom and outside in the hallways. Teaching in an elementary school, on the other hand, was always a long day because younger students can be exhausting. The best part of teaching for me was the actual school day because it was continuously engaging and never boring, something was always happening and I found this a positive even though others might find it overwhelming. 

3. What do you find most rewarding working with kids?

One of my biggest challenges is that it’s hard to know that you’re making a difference in a student’s life even though I’m teaching them every day. It’s difficult to tell if your students are struggling with the material or genuinely interested in what they’re learning. Over the course of the school year, and even multiple years, however, you start to see your kids grow into their own person, and that’s when you can start to see the difference you’ve made in a child’s life. My favorite is when students come back to visit and will remember some of the material I taught to them years ago.  

4. Can you share advice for someone starting in your field?

You should balance wanting to get involved and doing your best with being protective of your time and life in general. As a new teacher, it’ll feel like you have infinite things to do because you’re figuring out how to plan, teach, and grade all at once. This can start to trickle into your free time, but you have to go into teaching knowing what your limits are and sticking to them. During the first year, there’s usually burnout and that feeling of wanting to give up, so you have to be aware that these thoughts are going to arise. At the end of the day, treat teaching like your job and not your life because then you’ll be happier as a person and better at your job. 

5. How is your work-life balance?

It was something that I struggled with and eventually improved with time. At first, I put too much time into grading and all the stuff outside the class, but I found new ways to do things more efficiently. I listened to my colleagues to learn how they managed both work and life and applied their methods to my own situations. Most importantly, you don’t need to feel like you have to sign up to volunteer if the administrators or other teachers are suggesting for you to do so, and instead do things that are more in accordance with your own interests.