Cathrine, I didn't say that your daughter didn't like Mrs. Q. Please re-read my post. I was trying to understand what you were saying. You said your daughter "wished they had all day kindergarten" and it sounded like she didn't like having to go off to the specialty teachers.

You didn't say anything positive about Mrs. Q. You seemed to be saying that you think she is doing something underhanded by wanting to pay someone to assist her out of her own pocket to help her when she herself can't seem to get things done during the alotted time. You seemed to be critical of the fact that she couldn't pack everything in as well as the other teachers during the time your daughter had her as a teacher. You mentioned that a lot of people think it is wrong for her to be paid to substitute when she is drawing retirement. Adding those things up, I got the feeling that you don't hold her in especially high regard.

You've mentioned that the school is probably just using her because it's cheaper to have a sub than to hire a 'real teacher'. The 'real teacher' is on maternity leave. She did not quit. The school CANNOT hire a second teacher just because someone is on leave for 9-12 weeks. They are probably paying the teacher who is on leave, paying her bennies, paying her retirement... and they can't do that for *two* teachers at once. Mrs. Q IS a sub for the 'real teacher'. It may be that long-term subs need to hold certificates, and Mrs. Q probably does. She has experience.

Would you and the other ladies who are talking about Mrs. Q. rather they hire a non-certificated, inexperienced individual and pay them instead of Mrs. Q, who has 40 years of experience and holds a certificate?

Personally, I think Mrs. Q feels guilty that she can't get everything done the 'real teacher' indicated needs done. She doesn't think it should cost the school district extra to have the para stick around after hours and doesn't even want to ask. She's willing to have it come out of her own pocket so that the kids will get the kindergarten experience they're supposed to have and not allow it to be compromised just because she herself is struggling to juggle it all.

That *almost* sounds like... um... integrity, perhaps?

She may not have a handle on all the rules and regs and union policies and may not be doing it the 'right way', but I sure can't fault her for her attempts to do right by the students, even if it comes at personal cost to herself.