If You Weren't My Teacher, I Would...

Two of my students during a Service Learning Project

My first few days at the alt school seemed like a blur. I think I was functioning in survival mode, and wondered each day what was in store for me. Would it be kids sneaking out the back to smoke cigarettes or the teacher next to me wanting to read my palm? I just never knew what to expect, which I of course enjoyed, and looked forward to each day. However, this day in particular left a permanent mark, to say the least.

I think it was day four and I thought I had it going my way, until I met Mandy. She was sixteen and tougher than any wannabe gangster we had in our program. The boys were scared of her and the girls wouldn't even look her way. That morning, I approached a table during breakfast. Of course, I said, "Good Morning" to each table. What happened next was something that I will NEVER forget. Mandy stood up and was nose to nose with me and said, "If you weren't my teacher, I would kick your ass." I knew at that moment I had two choices, go to the corner and cry like a baby in the fetal position, because I was terrified, or option number two. I chose the latter of the two and stood my ground. I locked my eyes with hers, and as we were nose to nose I quietly whispered, " I am a lot f#@&ing tougher than I look." She took a step back and sat back down. I walked off with conviction and confidence, but my heart was about to beat out of my chest. I went into my office, and replayed the situation over and over again in my head, questioning what I had just done.

The day seemed to drag on, until it was 3:00 p.m. I couldn't get to my car fast enough.  Once I pulled out of the parking lot, I started sobbing like a baby. For those of you who know me, know that doesn't EVER happen. So of course like most 23 year old girls, I did what we would all do, and called my mom. She was extremely sympathetic with my situation and immediately starting developing a plan of attack for me to resign or just quit. Just when I thought we had the perfect plan in place, I hear my dad in the background, yell, "Who are you talking to?" I begged her not to tell him, but then I heard her say, " It's Leigh, she is quitting her job, a girl said she was going to kick her ass today!" I knew what was coming next, and of course I was right. Next thing I hear is, "Mary, give me the damn phone!"

By the time that Buns got on the phone, I had dried my tears and knew that this conversation was going in a completely different direction. "Stinky*, what's going on?" I quickly told him the Reader's Digest version of the day' events and I will NEVER forget his response, " You are a RAGSDALE! No snotty-nosed kid is going to run off or intimidate a Ragsdale. When you go home, look in the mirror and tell yourself, that you are a RAGSDALE!"

For the next eight years I walked into that building with my head held high and never looked back. He was right. I could handle anything, because I was strong enough to do so. I think of this moment on my hard days, and it makes me smile and remember to toughen up!

*Stinky is one of many nicknames, given to me by my father*

My next post is when we visited the county jail! Stay tuned, it's a good one!

xoxo,

Leigh

In the Trenches...Tales from the Alternative School

My Grandparents
Principal George S. Pallo & Teacher Marie Pallo

As many of you know, my heart belongs to the "at risk" youth of the world (which aren't we all "at risk" of something?). I have always loved the underdog, as I admire their grit, gumption, and drive to survive. I can only assume that my passion comes from my late grandmother, Marie Pallo. I have heard countless stories of her "saving" kids and never giving up. Although I didn't have the opportunity to meet her, I feel that I am passing on her legacy, one child at a time.

I taught Alternative Education for eight glorious years in a rural school district, south of St. Louis. It honestly changed MY entire life. My students opened my eyes to a world that I never knew existed. They taught me acceptance, tolerance, patience, and many other street lessons that I needed to know. However, that came much later. First, I had to prove myself!!!

The FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:

I remember being super excited for the first day of school, it was my first real job!!
I was a twenty something year old with ambitions out of this world. I was going to walk in and change lives, boy was I mistaken! I was way in over my head, to say the very least.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I looked like I had just stepped out of the pages of Vogue. I wore a tailored white shirt, pressed to perfection, a black puffy chiffon skirt, with strands of pearls and three inch heals that I could have run a marathon in. What I didn't realize, is that the school was located on the top of a bus garage, in the middle of nowhere and I quickly realized I was completely out of my league. The staff was cracking jokes about how many mice they had already killed and setting new traps. I HATE mice, they totally freak me out, so I was anxious and totally grossed out before I ever started! It smelled like stale cigarettes and diesel fuel, which I preferred over the thought of a mouse running across my shoe. What in the hell had I gotten myself into this time, kept running over and over in my mind. I was screwed to say the least.

When the first teacher greeted me, she said, " You won't wear that again, especially if you have to have it dry-cleaned. Who do you think you are, COCO Chanel?" Although I took that as a HUGE compliment, I knew that I was way in over my head, but it was too late to back out.

I took a deep breath, and walked into the common area where they all sat. They all looked like the kids out of Gangsta's paradise, but all white, with no diversity other than their clothing. They looked like they were going to eat me for breakfast, kill me, or just make my life a living hell, but as my dad always said, "God hates a coward!" and what they didn't realize, was that there was a new sheriff in town!


Until next time,

LMR