Looking Back on My Career with Gratitude

Ms. Tita is an AACPS: ECI Teacher, Ruth Parker Eason School 

Patty Tita is getting ready to retire after 22 years of working at Ruth Parker Eason. We asked her to look back on her time with the school system and reflect on her career.

I started at Ruth Parker Eason 22 years ago, first as a Teaching Assistant (TA) and then as a paraeducator before becoming an Early Childhood Intervention teacher. I have loved my time at this school, but I hadn’t always known that I wanted to be a teacher.

I don’t mind sharing that I dropped out of school at the end of eight grade. But I climbed my way back by persevering and turning my life around. I was a sail maker for 21 years but decided I’d spent enough time lifting sales. I went back to school and earned an Associate’s degree in Human Services but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next.

A friend in the school system told me about a TA position at Ruth Parker Eason [a school for students with developmental needs]. My younger brother had Down Syndrome and, growing up, I spent a lot of time helping my older sister—who raised both of us—take care of him. I had a lot of experience working with special needs so Ruth Parker Eason was a natural fit.

I was working at Ruth Parker as a TA and then a paraeducator when a scholarship opportunity came up for me to earn my teaching certification. I was nervous about going back to school because I was older, but everyone in the school supported me. Jack Malloy, my principal at the time, was especially supportive. He pushed me to go for it and encouraged me all the way down the line. I earned my certification and became a 3-5 Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) teacher and have been here ever since.

Over 20 years is a long time to be at one school and I’ve thought about going to other schools, but it would be too hard to leave the relationships I’ve built here. We have an incredible staff and the camaraderie of the team is so supportive—when you need anything they’re there to pull together and support you. I couldn’t have done it without them.

My favorite part of teaching is seeing the changes in the kids and seeing their growth. Some students come in with such challenges, but the eye contact and facial expressions you can see when you make a connection…I love these children so dearly. I also like being able to help the parents. I feel like I can relate because of my experience with my brother, so I can understand their struggles at home.

It’s sad sometimes because we all know children who have passed away. It can be heartbreaking, but we know going into this job that some of these children are so fragile. I appreciate knowing we can give comfort to the parents because they knew their child was happy here.

I think people who have a love of kids with special needs make great teachers. If that is where your heart is, then go for it. It’s not easy and you certainly have days of frustration. I don’t love the paperwork and it can be hard when so much of your job is teaching basic life skills. But I love the kids and so it’s worth it in the end.

I have loved my time at Ruth Parker Eason and will always be grateful for the support I’ve gotten from the school and the school system throughout my time here. Now that I’m ready to retire, I want to move on to helping children in the court system through organizations like Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).