The Silent Assist

EAs to Parents: What We See, What We’re Told to Hide! Working as an Educational Assistant (EA) in Ontario has taught me a lot, especially when it comes to the relationship between EAs and parents. And let me be clear right away—this relationship doesn’t work the way it should. And the reason? Teachers and administrators. EAs are the ones who spend the most time with your child. We’re often the first to see a meltdown, the first to offer support, and the last one standing when everything goes sideways. We know your child’s day better than anyone in the building. Yet, we’re told to stay silent. When a parent asks, “How was my kid’s day?”—we’re trained to deflect. We’re instructed to say, “You’ll have to talk to the teacher about that.” Even if the child was aggressive, violent, overwhelmed, or had a huge breakthrough—we’re told not to say a word. And that silence doesn’t just make us look incompetent. It makes us look like we don’t care. But we do. In fact, most of us hate this policy...

When the Union Fails the Frontlines I was told that education would help me move up. I believed them. I paid out of pocket for certifications in behaviour, learned how to create braille materials, and studied sign language so I could better support the kids who needed it most. I showed up every day in classrooms that were chaotic, violent, and under-supported — because I loved the job and wanted to make a difference. And for a while, I thought the system saw that. Until I applied for a specialist EA position. I was the most qualified. I was the most senior. And based on how the union always tells us the system works — it should’ve been mine. But the board gave it to someone else. No explanation. I filed a grievance. The union’s response? “In some situations, the board can decide a certain worker is better suited for the role.” I was told I was better suited for a larger, more violent student — because I’m a big guy. That’s it. Not because of my training. Not because of my qual...

Covid Bullshit for EAs This one is about a guy I wish still worked in schools — one of the best EAs I’ve ever met. Down to earth. Real. Worked with any student and took on challenges that others ran from. Someone who wasn’t afraid to speak the truth, even when it made things uncomfortable for the people in charge. He stuck up for EAs and students every chance he got and wasn’t afraid to say what most of us only think. He always talked about running for union local president, and honestly, he would’ve killed it. He didn’t back down from anyone. A bunch of the stories on this blog are his, and he’s been kind enough to let me keep sharing them. This one takes us back to the early days of returning to school during COVID. Schools had been shut down for a few weeks, and this was our very first day back. The school board — specifically the Catholic side (shocking, I know) — wanted to make a big show for the media. They were putting on a performance for the cameras about how "safe...

Inner City Schools –  The Hardest Schools, The Best People! Working in inner city schools in Hamilton is no joke. These are some of the hardest schools to walk into as an Educational Assistant. The needs are huge, the student behaviour can be intense, and you’re constantly in motion trying to hold things together. But here’s the part that might surprise people: these are the schools where I feel the most respected and appreciated as an EA. At inner city schools, staff understand the role of the EA — not just in theory, but in practice. They know it’s EAs who keep the school running, especially when things get tough. When teachers, admins, or other staff back off, it’s often the EAs who step in and keep things from falling apart. The SERTs and LERTs at these schools? Easily some of the best I’ve ever worked with. These are leaders doing the job right — managing 30+ EAs when the school really needs 50. They’re in the trenches with us. They don’t just give directions — they jump ...

I Told a Superintendent to Mind His Own Business This story is one of the wildest moments from the five chaotic months I spent at a school that damn near broke me. That place was insane — and believe me, there will be more stories from there. But today’s blog is about a day I stood my ground in the face of one of the Catholic board’s loudest, most arrogant blowhards: a superintendent who didn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. Let me set the scene. I had supplied at this school before and already knew what I was walking into. One of the students I worked with was a grade 5 boy with autism who was extremely violent and self-injurious. When he got overwhelmed, he’d lash out — hair-pulling, punching, and sometimes he’d slam his head into the floor or wall. Watching that is something that sticks with you. It’s not something you get used to, and it's certainly not something you ignore — no matter what you’re told. And yes, I was told to just let him do it. Let that sink in. I’ll wr...

  Never Toilet Alone — Ever. Let’s talk about something no one wants to talk about, but every EA knows damn well: toileting . I purposely had a lighter week, only picking up a couple shifts on each board. Sometimes you just need the space to breathe — but even on a short week, the same old bullshit found me. Here’s my golden rule: 👉 I never toilet a student alone. 👉 I never toilet a female student (I’m a male — common sense, right?). 👉 There is always a second set of eyes. End of story. Seems simple enough. Seems like a rule every admin would support and reinforce. WRONG. We are constantly pressured to toilet students alone — especially when there’s a shortage (which, let’s be real, is always). But let me say this loud and clear: A staffing shortage is NOT an excuse to ignore safety. Admins, SERTs, LERTs — they’ll all try to guilt you. They’ll say it’s “just this once” or “we really need you” or “there’s no one else.” Nope. Not my problem. Not my fault your school is...

Welcome to the Shitshow – My Co-op Nightmare with the Catholic Board Let’s rewind to a time when I was working full-time hours as an EA and juggling a full-time online course load — all while raising kids. Nights were for assignments after bedtime stories. I was doing it all, pushing toward that diploma that I needed just to be considered for full-time status, even though I was already doing the damn job. And then I hit the wall. Mohawk College had a rule: you had to do one co-op with each school board — Catholic and Public. I had already done my Catholic co-op, and now it was time for the Public side. Simple, right? Wrong. The Catholic board — ever the supportive employer (sarcasm fully intended) — told me I’d have to resign just to go do my Public board co-op. Then, I’d need to reapply if I wanted back in. Imagine that. I was a dedicated employee, pulling full-time hours, and this is how they treated me. I fought it. I was pissed. But they didn’t care. Typical. I tried going...