San Antonio – A full-time Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) substitute teacher in Northside Independent School District has been working toward becoming a full-time certified teacher for the past three years, but she never expected that along the way to achieving that goal would come the birth of the daughter of one of her former students.
Shauna Malarski works at Briscoe Middle School and says her path began nearly three years ago by looking for a job with a flexible work schedule.
“I had been a stay-at-home mom, but after most of my children had graduated I started working at Chick-fil-A,” Malarski said. “I quickly realized I wanted a change. Then I was hired as a substitute teacher so I could work a flexible schedule and they asked me if I would be interested in an ALE classroom. I hadn't really thought about it before, so I decided to give it a try.”
Malarski said she was overwhelmed at first, but quickly found her footing.
“It was a lot at once,” she said with a laugh, “but within a few minutes of being here I absolutely loved it and knew I wanted to stay. I took any job that would let me be with my kids and I knew this was the place for me.”
Malarski said her greatest joy is working with children.
“The good days outweigh the hard days. It's so exciting to watch my kids grow and learn,” she said. “It's rewarding to see that and to hold them and be around them.”
Malarski said she didn't know what to do when she first entered the classroom, but credits her fellow teachers with helping her out.
“Dr. Holcomb is amazing,” she said. “She's taught me so much and helped me grow and be there for the kids and teach them the right way.”
Malarski served in the U.S. Army straight out of high school, which he said helped him on this trip.
“I have a lot of perseverance from being in the military and being a mother, and that experience helps me give my kids the support they need,” she said.
Malarski quickly realized this was her calling, and she worked hard to take the necessary steps to become a full-time certified special education teacher, but along the way, she was blessed with another gift.
“The first year I was here, I had a student come in mid-semester. She was a freshman and she was a foster child,” she said. “At the end of the school year, she became available for adoption. I connected with this little girl so I thought, 'Let's adopt her.' I was hesitant, but eventually my husband and I decided we wanted to do it. We told our kids about it. At first they were like, 'Why?' but then we explained to them.”
“My husband was adopted and in foster care and now works in child protective services, so he knows what it's like to be in that position, so once they understood, they were on board. Everybody needs people that are on their side, that love them, that support them. And everybody needs a family,” Malarski continued.
The little girl, whose identity is being withheld as the family works through the adoption process, ended up being the best decision of Malarski's life.
“She's very outgoing, a very kind, sweet girl and she loves to help other students. If anyone needs help she's always there to give them a hug or help them with their homework,” Malarski said. “She has such a big heart. She's such a sweet girl. When they told her, 'This person is interested in you coming to live with them and be their forever mommy and daddy,' she was so nervous and excited and came to the house as if she lived there and had been there forever.”
Malarski is now one week away from earning her full-time special education teaching certification, and just a few months away from adding another child to her family of seven.
Malarski hopes her story will inspire everyone to never stop finding their purpose.
“Those kids can do anything if they put their mind to it,” she said. “Nothing is impossible. No matter how old you are, you can always change and find your place and meaning in life. Even if you haven't found your purpose yet, there's still time. You can find your purpose in what you have to do.”
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