u/Gold_Repair_3557

I’m a resident sub (often called a building sub). For those not in the know that means I’m a sub on staff at the school. Anyway, state testing time has come around. Ive been put in charge of testing students who require a separate setting, either due to a disability or excessive behaviors. There are three resident subs at my site but I’m the only one who showed up to the training and admin never got around to training the other two. I always thought that was a questionable idea, and here we are. I‘m at home with a horrid stomach virus and no one else can apparently test these students. We still have this week and next week for make ups, but idk… hopefully certain people learn a lesson from this.

I was setting up for state testing and this girl was being disruptive. Nothing unusual. This is a girl who gives off attitude to every staff member she happens upon and starts constant drama with other students. She’s been suspended multiple times this year for fighting and for shoving her science teacher.

Now I’m known to be a very patient man. I don’t yell. I don‘t lose my temper. Maybe it was the stress of making sure nothing goes wrong for testing. Maybe it was that I’ve been dealing with her for a little too long. But I crashed out a bit.

It started off as a warning. I told if she refuses to be quiet she has to leave. She started yelling at me that she wasn’t doing anything. Then started insulting me. I started seeing red. Opened the door and yelled at her “you need to get out of this classroom!” It wasn’t stern. It wasn’t slightly raised voice. It was full on.

The girl stormed off to the office and demanded to talk to a mandated reporter. A counselor came out and she told me later it became apparent pretty fast that there was nothing to report. I didn’t use expletives or touch her or even go anywhere near her. We were on opposite ends of the room.

I‘m just embarrassed. I’ve worked with students that have attitude before. But something about this particular one just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it’s the fact that she’s willing to say or do anything. There are no limitations with her. Other staff checked on me through the day. Her usual teachers told me they don‘t even acknowledge her unless they absolutely have to. I don’t feel bad that I said what I said, or the tone, but just that I let a student get to me and I showed it. Idk it was just one of those days.

Had awkward conversation with a 6th grader today. For background, he was raised by two men. I had made a brief reference to my mom and this boy said, in a very nonchalant preteen boy sort of way, “I kinda wish I had a mom.” I didn’t really know what to say because sure, don’t want to unintentionally insult his family but also don’t want to invalidate his feelings. So I just sort of went “yeah…” and moved on. What would have been the appropriate response?