What do students do on a typical school day? Go to class, do some work, and maybe do some extracurriculars. What do teachers and administrators do on a typical school day? A lot. Away from the whiteboard, worksheets, and lectures, other responsibilities are placed on the staff of North Atlanta. So what do some do to get help? Participate in North Atlanta’s directed study option. Directed study is a period where a student who doesn’t have a class at that time is able to help a teacher or administrator that they are assigned to. Teachers get the help they need, and students get the experience that comes with help.
Instead of leaving the school on their free period, students in directed study go to their assigned teachers for what they need to do. For Darvin Hill and Timothy Clayton, they assist Lori McCall at North Atlanta’s library. During their periods, they find themselves writing student dues, assigning late fees, distributing computers, and many other responsibilities. For Aria Brooks, who works at North Atlanta’s front office, she does tasks more akin to an attendant or secretary, checking students out, assisting students who come into the front office, and running errands. While not many students get to do this, they’re still a large help. Working on the overflow of important tasks from the staff, gives students the skills and practice needed for any job. It also shows them just how much needs to be done for North Atlanta to keep moving. “Directed study has a big impact.” Clayton said, “Without it, the school would be very disorganized.”
McCall, who has been a library media specialist for the past 22 years, and direct study helps her with a number of tasks. For example, directed study has helped with the library’s upcoming implementation of Comics+, an app where students can read everything from classics to modern manga. Students who participate with her gain a new appreciation for the library, and some have even gone on to work as a paraprofessional or a specialist, just like McCall. After training her students, McCall gets someone she can trust to run large parts of the library. “I couldn’t do it without the kids that work for me.” McCall said.
Not many are familiar with directed study, but it is an integral part of North Atlanta’s staff and faculty. Directed study is part of the interesting yet unknown elements of the school that contribute to what makes this school move. So what do teachers do? A lot. What does directed study do for them? A lot.
