As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic I lost my job as a substitute teacher and therefore my income. I was already on Medicaid, due to my low income. I am available to provide child care and tutoring, but because I am an independent teacher, with no affiliation to a school or licensed childcare facility, I cannot be in the state’s registry. I have a CO K-6 teaching license, and am a certified Large Center Early childhood Director and Lead Teacher qualified. My plans to move and start a nature oriented pre-school are now on hold.
Back when I was working as a preschool teacher for a larger company, I needed to have my hip replaced. I’d put it off for years, but this was essential to my well-being as well as ability to do my job. Working with small children requires a lot of getting up and down.
I did not receive any pay while I was on leave for recovery, and when I returned to work I was demoted to assistant teacher. I was paid much less in this position and was a career setback as I’d been working towards my qualification as an early childhood director.
Mary Russell
I did not have FMLA protections because I had been there just under a year. I may have timed it differently if I knew I could have had those rights, but I didn’t have the information. Ultimately, I left the organization and obtained a new job with another employer.
Mary Russell – Ridgway, CO