Hustling to teach her 8:30 a.m. ESL class, Megan Elsea scrambles with keys to unlock an empty classroom every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. She opens the doors, students take their seats. She opens a large leather briefcase full of assignments, notes, and everything else she needs to survive her adventure each day. A few minutes into the class students are learning, already given the week’s assignments, which Elsea pulls from color-coded organizers. Her bright personality shows as students warmly say “Hello” or “Good Morning.”
One group of students said that Elsea is one of the best teachers they have. They report that she makes it easy to learn English. They added that she is really nice and seems to genuinely care about their concerns and problems with classwork.
Before leaving for work, Elsea handles paperwork, telephone calls, and e-mail, from the floor of her living room. She grades tests and reading assignments from a small corner where all her books and files are stored, right next to her computer. Her garage accommodates miscellaneous books, files and school supplies.
“Just the other day I had to run to the local copy center and make copies at 5:00 a.m., because I don’t have the time to use the copy center on campus. I had to spend my own time and money, but that’s typical for [part-timers].”
“We’re cheap,” says Elsea. Elsea is not paid equally to full-time faculty members at De Anza.
Elsea says that to survive, her husband and son often commute via bicycle, walking or mass transportation services. She says that they have cheap rent and cut corners when needed. Their family owns only one car. It carries all her work for her classes, her supplies for her second job with the Faculty Association [teacher’s union] in the afternoon, and a child seat for her 3-year-old son.
“Sometimes I just throw stuff in the car. It can be a mess,” says Elsea. Elsea carries all of her important files on a zip disk because she has no designated office with a computer. She can pop the disk into any campus computer, read and print important files.
Few part-time teachers are offered offices by full-timers, but Elsea is lucky enough to share an office with Clara Lam, which she uses for storing her materials while on campus.
Between her classes, Elsea runs errands. Part-timers have referred to themselves as “migratory birds,” due to their excess travel. Checking her mail, answering questions from students, making copies and telephone calls, and many other tasks, she still must get ready for her other class. “It’s hectic sometimes, but it’s manageable.”
When class ends, she tells her students, “Please have your name on the outside of your folder, I have to grade and check these on my floor at home.” The students chuckle, but seem to understand.
Students of her ESL classes receive detailed directions on what assignments and chapters of the books will be covered in the next several weeks. Her class ends, and she takes several questions from students, as if she were a full-time instructor.
Running on “near empty,” Elsea leaves Foothill to make the drive home to Redwood City. Messages fill her machine from students. Her in-box usually has messages from several students. “It’s an easy way to communicate with students, as I can’t really meet with them, because I’m on the go.” She says she usually takes care of the messages as soon as possible.
Elsea said that for each class [one hour] she spends at least two hours in the office [at home].
Many full-time instructors praise Elsea and other part-timers for their extreme effort and dedication to teaching students under such insufficient conditions.
Elsea does not have an office, her name is not in the staff directory and she does not receive the benefits that full-time instructors receive. Unusual for a part-timer, Elsea has a paid office hour on Monday. She says that she does not think she is a “real freeway-flier,” but she is a dedicated part-timer.
