early childhood teacher

educational assistant

assistant d'éducation

teacher

éducateur de la petite enfance

Ottawa Carleton District School Board

After over a decade of working as a teacher with this board at various schools, I can say that the students are generally decent but there is increasing pressure to cut funding for supplies, programs and classroom supports like EA’s. 
There is no support for professional development outside of board directed initiatives (highly political issues) but even then the onus is on teachers to plan to be away and leave suitable material and notes and then immediately pick up the pieces after having been away for PD. It’s easier just to teach! 

It takes teachers about 10-15 years of consistent above and beyond service at a high performing level to even possibly get recognized by the board for their efforts and even so, it’s a piece of paper and a dinner of speeches to attend. 

Colleagues can be hit or miss as many continue to hoard their resources or knowledge while others will share a usb key and swap full course units. 

School culture varies widely. Some of which is linked to the actual layout of the school (which impacts  staff cohesiveness) and student populations/ boundary lines absolutely impact a school. Keep in mind that a school’s “reputation” is highly dated as Ottawa has shifted so dramatically in the past ten years. 
The most enjoyable part of the job is being able to support students in clubs and outside of class initiatives, but do not expect any thanks from anyone (students, staff, admin or parents) as giving continuously as a teacher  is expected and taken for granted. 
The hardest part of the job is how year over year more admin tasks are downloaded onto teachers and add to this having your professional judgement on marks “reassigned” to a pass by admin or guidance. The culture of no zeros, no late penalties, and anytime submissions of work severely undermines teachers’ ability to get their evaluations done in a manageable way. This makes a work/life balance impossible particularly heading into reporting periods. 

The OCDSB is a wonderful school board to work for. A typical day at work as a teacher for this board is, I imagine, no different than most other boards. All of the schools that I have taught at have instructional days that are broken down into four periods. Alternative schools may have a different schedule. 

I overall gained a better understanding of the Ontario curriculum of a variety of math and sciences courses. More importantly, I have taught hundreds of students with a variety of academic needs, and have learned how to modify lessons in order to accommodate their best method of learning. This, in turn, has helped me learn how to best manage large classrooms. 

The administration at each school has been wonderfully welcoming, and for the most part, very helpful. They ensure that the workplace culture is positive. 

The most enjoyable part of the job, for me, is the teaching, of course! I have a passion for creating lesson plans and helping students learn the concepts. However, as much as I love teaching, the lack of job security at this point makes it difficult for me (and many other new teachers) to remain optimistic about teaching for the school board in the future. The uncertainty of having a full-time position is the hardest part of the job.

Depends who you work for, departments range from relaxed and productive to hectic and error prone with significant office disfunction. Better than most federal gov't departments though.
Both teachers and admin staff can wait years to land a permanent position...some never achieve it due to various reasons. Software and hardware for IT are out of date, and will take millions of dollars to bring to an acceptable standard. This is controlled by the Ontario Ministry of Education, not entirely the fault of the OCDSB. Very little funding is available for office staff training, and working outside your defined "box" is generally discouraged, which will affect your career progression.
Free parking (but limited lot size), and generally a good commute with multiple approaches to the main admin offices. Students have been known to occasionally vandalize vehicles at 133 Greenbank Rd. during the school year, and surveillance camera coverage and resolution is well below standard. Significant gull population requires frequent washing of your vehicle during bird season.

Your day starts at 830 am and ends 30 minutes after the school day ends for kids unless you have school preparing to do or have staff meeting to attend. When at the job you are faced with no proper training to deal with children with disability issues or aggressive towards you or running away from school property intentionally. If your not getting attacked by the meltdown of the student/students then your stuck helping school staff with school lockdown because a student is be very unruly and causing disruption and harm or damage to themselves or others or to the building. Every day is a different experience never a quiet relaxing environment anybody who says that is nuts. 
Don't ever hold a student hand unless instructed to, never pick up a student unless instructed to. Never be alone with a student always have a second helping person to support you when asked to supervise the student alone. Never trust your coworkers they will get you fired . There no benefit unless your unionized. Retirement pension or anything else if offered doesn't go into affect til after 10 yrs working there. 

For me a typical day at work, is to be in contact with the children, teach them different games and develop their imagination and creativity.
At my placement and also as I worked in my country, I have learned how important are the children and the importance of teaching them, not only for now also for the future, because our world will be in their hands later.
I must point out that I had a marvelous person as a Supervisor and I have learned a lot from her and took her appreciations and advices. It was really a privilege to work with her.
My co-workers were very good persons, who gave me their support all the time, their cooperation of the work atmosphere was very good.
The hardest part of the job was to introduce me to the children and get their acceptance.
The most enjoyable part of my job, was to see, how much they enjoyed as I introduced them new activities and to see how much fun they had doing this.

My role within the OCDSB was that of substitute teacher.

My typical day could range from not working to working in a classroom from anywhere from kindergarten to Grade 12.

I was responsible to deliver lesson plans provided by the teacher. I could be responsible for one class or it could turn into several months.

The pay was excellent however your schedule is always changing. You could work 5 days in a week or you can work no days in a week.

Everyday you connect with different people however everyday you have the same goals. You are there to teach, guide and manage children in a school setting. You have to be adaptive all the time. Each class is different, each student is different, each school is different. None is better or worse, some you will enjoy more and some less. The better you performed, the more likely that school will call you back for more work.

Connecting with people was my favourite part of this job. 

The hardest part is entering a school you have never been before. No one knows you and you have to stand out to both the staff and students.

The personal support and encouragement during my practice was very important for me. I really appreciated all advices and all the time my Supervisor gave me in order to do a good job over there.
Also the co-workers, gave me their support all the time, their cooperation was very valuable for me, the work atmosphere was also important for me and very pleasant. I also learned from watching them and specially from my Supervisor, how to treat the children, the love and warmth that the children receive in this place is marvellous, making the children to be part of a big family in their day to day.
I will always remember my placement because; I got a significant way to realize my future.

Over the 35 years I taught, the teaching and work culture had changed immensely.
In the past there were more  steady careers  and greater opportunities.Thus it had been easier to encourage students to study and reach ahead.
The work world has become fast-paced  and ever-changing and so uncertain. I feel very bad for the students of the future .. and as such I question whether the work structure environment it is healthy.
Nevertheless learning is not lost- what we learns stays in our heads and permits us to seek opportunities  and that is why education is such an important factor in peoples' lives. 

The typical day for a teacher is fast-paced. You have to be alert at all times, with directing  and observing. 
It is truly a great moment when you, as a teacher, see 'lights go on'
in the minds of the students ...or you see smiles on students' faces.
The hardest part is juggling evaluation with the fast pace of lesson delivery.

I loved working with the students, designing the learning activities, and collaborating with other teachers; however, the job is impossible to do and maintain your health. There is no work/life balance, the needs of the students are increasingly complex (trauma, attachment disorders, suicidality, FAS, etc., etc.) and the support with these issues is not provided. School leadership is overwhelmed and unqualified for these issues. Itinerant care is scarce. Board leadership is uncaring and out of touch with their frontline. Burn out is rampant and inevitably snuffs out the joy of teaching. I wish I could be more positive reflecting on a career I loved and was dedicated to for 22 years. I miss the students and my colleagues; but I was forced to leave after earnestly and desperately trying to make it work for me, my family, and my students. 

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is amazing! I have worked at Elgin Street Public School since October and it has been amazing since day 1! I am the Library Technician there. A typical day for me is cataloguing books and other library items, whether on the physical library item or the online database. I also assist students and teachers to find books of their preferences.

I have learned how to use Alexandria (the Library database).

The management is amazing! The principal is a very nice man and he is my supervisor as well.

Everyone is very positive at the school! Staff members will talk to you even if they don't know you - they are very friendly!

The hardest part of the job is to balance my workload.

The most enjoyable part of the job is when staff and students compliment me!

I am always excited to go to work!

Thank you so much Elgin Street Public School!

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Early childhood teacher 105 salaries reported	$23.17 per hour
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Éducateur de la petite enfance 85 salaries reported	$27.31 per hour

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