No Drama, No Fun, No Wonder

Just before I turned in my time sheet, yet right after I published No Drama, No Fun, I was treated to an encore performance. This time, the office secretary played the leading role in, “Pay Mr. John Half.” She did such a great job, I walked out believing I was only entitled to half a day’s pay even though I was there for five hours.

The Art of Timing

As I learned today, the school district determines the pay rate of a substitute teacher (full v. half day rate) by counting the number of instructional hours, not the number of hours present. The threshold to earn a full day’s pay is three instruction hours. Although I was physically present and ready to work from 9:30AM to 2:30PM, I only “taught” two hours worth of class. The rest of the time was devoted to lunch, prep, and personal reading. Thus, I was only entitled to half a day’s pay.

Silver Lining

Upon signing out, I caught a glimpse of a woman wearing a black dress. I did not think much of her because I was still kicking myself over accepting a half-pay job requiring a full day’s presence. I looked back down at my time sheet and then heard my name belted out with great joy.

“John! What are you doing here?”

Although it took me a second to recognize the face, I knew who it was instantly. It was my AP English teacher from senior year. Neither her straightened hair, nor her promotion to principal, could hide the brillant mentor I had known all those years before. It was so good to see her!

“Ms. X! I didn’t even recognize you, you look so different!”

Yikes! Did I really say that? No problem, follow it up with something cute and qwirky, such as, “But in an amazing way of course.” Go ahead, do it. Go ahead. Oh no, you are not going to. “Yes,” I thought to myself, “I just developed a case of foot-in-mouth disease.”

Ms. X, however, was gracious and let my socially inapt fumble bounce down the hallway and out the back door. After she told the secretary to get my name and number for future substitute assignments (”Put John at the top of the list” she commanded), I walked her to the parking lot and promised to catch up with her next time. Like any great teacher, Ms. X looked past who I was to see who I had the potential to become.

Bravo, Ms. X, Bravo.