Behind The Front Lines - Troy Recognizes Teaching Assistants

It takes more than teachers to educate students at school. In fact, it takes a whole team, and teaching assistants provide additional support for students who need it, especially with reading, math and writing.

Troy Community School District 30-C recognizes and appreciates the help teaching assistants give their students and teachers, especially during this upended year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have immense gratitude to them for everything they do for us,” said Troy Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Assessments Dr. Kristin Johnson. “They make a big difference in our students’ lives. Especially during this past year, when we have all done our best to adapt and change and change again, our teaching assistants have helped us continue to provide the best programming and support for our students.”

Troy has interventionist teaching assistants, special education teaching assistants, and Merit teaching assistants. Johnson said TAs focus primarily on reading and math interventions and support in special education classrooms, and Merit teaching assistants focus mostly on reading interventions.

The social and emotional aspects of nurturing students are also a priority for them.

TAs help students in small groups or one-to-one, based on specific goals given to them by teachers. The overall goal is to close any gaps students have in the primary subjects.

Gina Schalk has been a teaching assistant for 18 years, with 13 of those serving Troy Hofer Elementary School.

“Everyone learns at a different pace,” she said, “and I enjoy helping bridge those gaps in education.”

For the past two years, Schalk has worked with English language learners. She remembers one student who spoke no English at all when she arrived at Troy. Schalk helped her learn the language, which not only was necessary for her academic progress, but also helped her make friends and be able to speak up in class.

“Every student is a different person,” she said. “You go in with understanding and empathy.”

Karen Speckman has served Troy for 20 years, first as a substitute teacher, and then as a Merit teaching assistant at Troy Heritage Trail Elementary School. She retires this year and looks back on her career with fondness for the relationships that developed with her position.

“I enjoyed the opportunities to help students grow,” she said, “and also to help them find their way and to help the whole child. I feel TAs are vital for the students and for the teachers.”

“Our teaching assistants don’t look for recognition,” Johnson said. “but their work is noticed more than they know. The things they do, they do for love of our students. They have such big hearts and so much patience. They make a big difference for our kids, and we can’t thank them enough.”