How to Prepare for your First Day

Our top educators are in high demand, are called back by their schools, leading to stable, flexible career options. These educators also frequently get taken “temp to perm” by our school districts - which means they are transitioned from Zen staff to full-time District staff.

Here are our top tips on how to prepare for your first day as well as how to consistently make a great impression with the School Administrators, their classroom Teachers, and the students.

Look smart. Know your school’s dress code, and if in doubt, keep it safe with business casual attire
Be on time. Aim to arrive 15 minutes before your booking to get settled in. Stay until the end of your shift. If you do get sick, report this as early as possible (ideally prior day!)
Follow directions. Follow the plans, schedules, and expectations provided by the school and classroom teacher
Be curious. If you don’t know, ask! Don’t pretend you know something you don’t know, just ask good questions - when you’re new to a school, it's the perfect time to ask questions
Be proactive to solve problems as they arise, or take ideas to teachers and leaders. If you don’t have enough work to do at a specific time, see how you can help teachers or admins!
Never be defensive. Take feedback and suggestions with a mindset of what you can improve upon, and avoid becoming defensive
Professional warmth. Energetic, friendly, and welcoming with students, whilst upholding professional expectations
No cell phones. Cell phones are in do-not-disturb mode and put away whenever in the presence of students
No physical contact. Refrain from physical contact with students, other than those specifically required by your tasks, which you have been specifically trained to perform

Along the journey, the Zen Team is here to support. Your Account Manager regularly gets feedback from your school administrators and can help coach you to be more effective. Our team can also provide additional training on specific skills we identify that you need support with.

Both the Substitute Teacher and the Paraprofessional roles are proven entry-point roles for those building a career in education, and both are also ideal for long-term, flexible careers. Whatever you are hoping to get from your career at Zen, we are here to help.