Tina Garcia Interview Write-up
Tina Garcia is a former middle school teacher and the current paraprofessional who helps keep kids safe during recess while also overseeing lunch for some grades. Now, at first glance, this may seem like a low-touch, low-impact role, but that's not how Tina approaches the work. "I'm looking for harmony amongst the children... we're trying to help them understand they've got to follow the rules." Simple in theory, tricky in practice.
"It's a test every day; they'll forget every day. Why they have to go down the slide one at a time, why they have to walk a certain direction. I'm scanning many zones."
It's not just about reinforcing the rules though, it's also about connecting with the kids and rewarding positive behavior. Using her discretion and Dragon Dollars, she can encourage positive actions by the students immediately. Once student's experience stood out in the conversation. "I was having a really bad day pretty far, and then Mrs. Garcia cheered me up by saying some pretty nice words and maybe hanging out with me," said Grace. Being open and honest with the kids helped student Sia connect as well, "I was probably in 4th grade and I realized she was Native American... you just had that connection. It warms my heart; you don't see people like me around."
A good day for Tina Garcia: "It always involves laughter somewhere; somebody's always making me laugh. Whether it's Riley's jokes or Grace making a great swoop in the basketball [net]."
The students had many nice things to say about Tina Garcia over the 20-minute interview, but one student surprised me. Kingston said, "I wish she would get paid more." When pushed further why he brought that up, he said, "She's just really nice and works harder than most people do." Well Kingston, you'll be happy to know that PASS has already agreed to cover Tina Garcia's salary at the highest rate for the 2024/2025 school year. Her impact is clear and valuable.
