EAs that have worked here for years are bullies and have zero respect for any new supply staff or new EAs that work here. They are unfriendly and rude.
If you have worked here even briefly - you know exactly whom I'm talking about.

I supplied here for years and loved coming back here. This year I supplied and I was not treated well. I dont plan to come back to this school ever gain. Students were ok. You are short staffed for a reason. Sorry to the great staff who are great.

Multiple current and former staff have spoken out about the ongoing issues at this school, yet nothing has been resolved. The fact that so many staff have left to work at other schools is telling. The toxic culture was felt from day one and observed by many staff.

It often seemed that certain team members were deliberately trying to undermine others or make them appear incompetent in front of colleagues, despite the fact that everyone was meant to be equals simply trying to do their jobs. The work of an EA is already challenging enough, dealing with high-needs students and frequent violence. But when staff don’t have a supportive team to back them up, it becomes deeply discouraging. On top of that, being micromanaged and constantly monitored by program support made the day-to-day experience feel tense and exhausting. Staff were under a microscope from the moment they walked in.

It takes a toll on mental health. Coming in every day stopped being enjoyable and became mentally, physically, and emotionally draining. These are very real and very concerning issues that lead to burnout and job dissatisfaction. Nobody should be treated this way.

Something needs to change. There needs to be some accountability and honest self-reflection at all levels. Good staff are being driven out due to unchecked negative behaviour, and that should concern anyone who truly cares about creating a safe, supportive, and professional environment for the safety and wellbeing of both students and staff.

Kindergarten Classrooms Are in Crisis—and No One Is Talking About It

I work in a kindergarten classroom with 26 children, one teacher, one ECE, and myself—the only Educational Assistant. Two of those children have special needs that require constant, individualized support.

But there’s only one of me.

Every day, we face moments of chaos and crisis. Children are being hurt. Educators are being hit, bitten, scratched, and spat on. Staff are going on medical leave from stress and injury. ECEs are being pulled away from their role to fill gaps meant for a second EA. The classroom becomes unstable. Learning is disrupted. The environment becomes unsafe—for everyone.

We are not okay.

In the past, EAs were assigned one-on-one to students with high needs. Today, we are being stretched thin—expected to do the work of two or three people without backup.

This is not just my story. This is happening in schools across the province.

The system is failing our children and burning out our educators. I am calling on the media, the public, and the government to pay attention. We need:

One-to-one EA support for children with special needs

Safe classrooms for students and staff

Respect for the professional role of EAs and ECEs

A system that protects—not exploits—the people who care for our youngest learners


This is a crisis. And silence is no longer an option.

0/10

I’m listing all of the incidents that I’ve experienced (that I can remember )since the start of my EA journey in late 2017.

On a regular basis I am subjected to: slapping, kicking, punching, pinching, spitting, sworn & screamed at, pushing, foot stomping & head butting.
Occasionally I am subjected to: body slamming, biting, hair pulling & threats
Once I was slapped hard across the face, whipped with a gait belt across the face just below the eye and knocked in the head by a students head

Sadly I’ve witnessed several violent incidents against coworkers & students.
This is physically and mentally exhausting.

Thanks you for collecting our stories and hopefully shedding light on this crisis!