Q&A With District 197 Paraprofessional Valerie Mallace

Name: Valerie Mallace

Job: Community preschool paraprofessional at

Patch: What do you do as a paraprofessional?

Mallace: I work in preschool, so we have three different classes, we have a morning class— a Monday-Wednesday-Friday and they’re basically 4-5 year olds; in the afternoons we have another class Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday and they’re 4-5 year olds, and on Tuesday-Thursday mornings we have 3-year-olds. So basically we service like 50 kids and I just help the teacher with whatever needs to be done—prepping, I take a table during the afternoon activity, things like that.

Patch: How did you get your job?

Mallace: I came over from Scotland, the United Kingdom, 12 years ago. The first two years I couldn’t work. I did similar work back home in Scotland ... and to get back in the workforce I applied to be a sub within the 197 District. About three weeks into subbing one of the assignments I went to was to Moreland to be a paraprofessional for the day while someone was out sick. I happened to mention to the teacher, “Oh I love this age group,” because I have three teenagers and I didn’t want to deal with that again. They're so innocent. I said if there’s every a job that comes up,could you please let me know. And about 3-4 weeks later she called, and the person that originally did the job had decided to leave. I just started then and I've worked in most of the schools in the 197 district. I’ve been over at Mendota for I think it’s my fourth year.

Patch: What’s your favorite part of the day?

Mallace: The kids, because they’re so innocent. There’s not any malice, excuse the pun, but they’re so fun to be around. To watch them interact for the first time when they start, because a lot of them haven’t had any preschool experience and they come in and seeing them socialize with other kids the same age, I love that. I love just having a conversation with them, joking with them. We do a lot of hands-on stuff with them. We don’t just come in and play. They have structure and we do activities and things at tables.

Patch: What’s the toughest part of the job?

Mallace: I don’t know if there is a toughest part … I think when they leave to move on, we don’t get to see them again. Some of the kids get to stay here because they go to kindergarten at Mendota. Some of them go to different schools because that’s their catchment area. But I don’t really have a difficult part of the day.

Patch: What’s your favorite activity to do with the kids?

Mallace: I like to see them when they’re singing and dancing. I don’t necessarily take part in that—it’s the teacher that does that. I like to watch them with their singing and dancing, the way they express themselves—they’re all completely different.

Patch: Anything you’d like to add?

Mallace: I just love it. I think it’s a great opportunity. It’s something to feel useful. I feel that it’s a nice start for the kids and I get to be part of that.