Mark Alan Effinger It is quite hilarious, if I’m being honest!! I smoke cigarettes on my break and then douse myself with Febreze before I go inside. I have a few rather large tattoos, a nose-ring, dyed red hair, and a bad potty-mouth when I’m not working. My coworkers and I go to the bars at night and occasionally talk smack (I call it venting!) about the kids that drive us nuts…

But walk into my classroom, and you will always be greeted with a smile and an enthusiastic, “How are you sweetie?” Teaching is very much like acting, except the show is always rolling! I am a little bit edgier with my kids though, and I demand a lot from them, especially these days. After 12 months in the same room with 10 four year old boys, (plus 2 girls, what?!) I just yell, “STOP TOUCHING EACH OTHER!!!!!! STOP WRESTLING. STOP RUNNING. YOU KNOW THE RULES.” I get a new bunch in three weeks- watch me transform! I am nice again :)

One of the perks of quitting my district-paid elementary teaching job and transferring to a private preschool: smoke breaks, tattoos are socially acceptable, and I generally can be more of who I truly am.

But ah, the dichotomy would truly make a great sitcom…