Jobs They Love: Hospital School Teacher

Lucky are they who look forward to Mondays – or their next gig -- with joy in their hearts! Meet the folks whose talents and passions are happily matched to the jobs they have.

SARAH PAULDING

On any given day, the New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital is a swirling epicenter of activity -- nurses rushing between rooms, doctors making their rounds, patients being whisked to and from appointments, families visiting their recuperating children or meeting with specialists.

This is, after all, one of the largest and best-ranked children’s hospitals in the U.S. But amid the daily hubbub of hospital life, something else remarkable happens here: each patient room also doubles as a classroom for its occupants. Here, specially trained teachers from the NYC Hospital Schools Program ensure that learning continues, bringing lessons, encouragement, and a sense of normalcy to children facing medical challenges.

For the past 16 years, Morgan Stanley hospital teacher Sarah Paulding has been rolling her portable instructional supplies cart into scores of young patients’ rooms each day, providing bedside instruction that allows them to keep up with their studies so they can easily transition back to school or home instruction after they leave the hospital.

Paulding, who has a master’s degree in special education and is certified in general education, teaches the hospital’s patients who are in pre-k through 6^th grade. Her students look forward to their one-on-one instruction not only to learn but also to take their minds off their medical challenges that range from recovering from cardiac surgery, to dealing with asthma, orthopedic issues, and gastrointestinal problems, among others.

The Hospital Schools Program is a special district of the New York City’s Department of Education and serves approximately 300 students each month who are short- and long-term patients at Morgan Stanley and other children’s hospitals around the city.

Q&A

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Wethersfield, CT, a suburb of Hartford. My dad was a patent and trademark attorney and my mom was a homemaker. She was very active in the community, serving on the Board of Education, the Historical Society, and also the Town Council. I was the youngest of four, and kind of grew up as an only child because my siblings were significantly older. I had a very happy and comfortable childhood and teenage years, and then I went to Georgetown University for college. I majored in history and then pursued acting after college for about a decade. 

How did you get involved in the Hospital Schools Program?

After struggling as an unemployed actress for a few years, I realized that I needed a stable job with benefits, so I turned to teaching because I have always loved children. I became a NYC Teaching Fellow in 2002 and worked in several District 75 Special Education schools until 2008, when I applied for a position in the Hospital Schools Program. A fellow teacher worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and she raved about the Hospital Schools program.  So I gave it a shot and the rest is history! 

Do you see each patient at a scheduled time each day or do you work around their doctor visits, treatments, etc.?

I have to be very flexible with my time. I do try to arrange for set times with my long term patients.  For most students, however, I simply go to their rooms and if I am interrupted by a doctor or a procedure, then I move on to the next student,  This is why I use my rolling cart. It helps me to organize a lot of materials that I may need for a variety of students. 

Being an elementary teacher in a children’s hospital means you have to be prepared to give a class in any subject from preschool on up. How many different grade levels might you teach each day and what’s that like?

I have taught myself many subjects and learned the curricula for many grades over the years.  On any given day I may see a 3 year old and then a 7th grader doing math and then a severely autistic child.  It’s definitely challenging but I love the variety.   It’s just a matter of preparing well and brushing up on any content areas that I may need to teach that day. I have the benefit of being able to re-use many of my favorite lessons.  Many of my “grab and go” lessons address common areas of need in math and reading. 

Do you coordinate with hospitalized students' regular school teachers to ensure they stay on track with their coursework?

Yes, to the extent possible, mostly for the long term students.  Since the pandemic, many students have Google Classrooms at their home schools, so very often I will obtain their log in information and see what they are doing.  Then I can plan my lessons to teach them the skills they will need to complete their assignments.  I call schools frequently to try to obtain any assignments that teachers can share with me.  This is more common for the older students, as the curriculum for younger students in grades K-3 is pretty much the same in most schools. 

Do you ever have group activities for the hospital’s students, like assembles, clubs or parties?

The hospital’s Child Life Department coordinates many events for the children. They have shows and movie screenings, as well as gatherings to make crafts and holiday celebrations. I often pop in to those events to mingle with my students in a social environment. 

Do you keep in touch with former students?

Yes! I am friends with many parents on Facebook, and they often post updates about their children. I love to keep in contact with my former students and see how they are thriving outside of the hospital!

How many other teachers work at Morgan Stanley?

When I began teaching here in 2008, we only had three teachers, but since then we have expanded to have a total of twelve now, including specialists who work with nonverbal students who have multiple disabilities.  We also have teachers who specialize in high school content areas. 

What has surprised or inspired you the most about teaching kids who have to spend time in the hospital?

These kids are often very resilient, especially the ones who are our “frequent flyers”.  These are children who were born with some type of medical problem and have “grown up” in the hospital with several admissions and surgeries per year. These chronically ill children are an inspiration to me. Many of them love school and keep striving to learn and keep up with their peers, despite incredibly challenging circumstances. And their parents are amazingly strong also. 

I have one striking memory of a parent of a seriously ill child in the ICU. It was right before Thanksgiving and I asked the parents if it was okay for me to do a lesson on the meaning of Thanksgiving with their child. I remember this child could barely breathe and his skin was bluish - he was so sick. The parents said yes without hesitation and told me that they had “so much” to be grateful for that Thanksgiving.  I was amazed. Their child passed away soon after, but they were still grateful for every day that they had with their child. 

Photo: Steve Hansen

:-) Please like, comment, and share freely. This is such a great hospital program for kids! -- Thanks.