I work for a small district in Washington state. But, I guess, if you wanna get technical, I work for a tele-practice company that hired me to work for that district.

I could have landed anywhere and I landed at a place that I WISH I worked at in person.

But, alas, I’m in Chicago for the next couple of years.

Anyway, the special education director called me a few days ago – as she wanted to tell me herself before the recruiter for my company did – that they were able to hire an in-person school psych for next year. Which means they won’t need a virtual psych (me).

I’m glad she was the one that told me because, obviously, I’ve been working with her all year. Not the recruiter.

Of course, I’m sad to be saying goodbye to these people I’ve come to know over the past 8 months.

But I also know that this is what’s best for kids.

I have helped where I can. Ensuring the legal paperwork is taken care of, trying to do my best to consult from afar. But nothing compares to someone being there – on the ground – seeing firsthand what’s going on day-to-day.

Nothing compares to someone being able to show up and handle a crisis in person. You can’t do much – in that regard – from behind a computer screen.

So, yeah, I’m sad I won’t see their faces over Zoom next year. But I’m genuinely happy that these people I’ve come to care about are going to have more hands-on support next year.

The kids need it so much.

That being said, I am trying to figure out what next year will look like for me. I loved the flexibility of this job for my own, personal reasons. I liked being able to wear both my “mom” hat and “school psych” hat throughout the day. And, selfishly, I want to keep Auntie Bella in our life until she graduates. Which means one more year (and then, hopefully, we will put Ishu in school at that point).

So maybe I do this again for a year.

Or maybe I find something similarly flexible – but somewhat in person – around Chicago?

I don’t know.

But I’m grateful to have had this experience nonetheless. Even more grateful that they’re doing what’s best for kids.