Bailey Gray

Mr. Cohen’s TA, Alex Luke, grading a DBQ

At Benilde-St. Margaret’s, students have taken on the role of Teaching Assistants (TAs), helping teachers while managing their own academic responsibilities. The contributions of these TAs often go unnoticed, but behind the scenes, they lighten teachers’ workloads by assisting with grading and speeding up test return time. Their support not only lessens teachers’ stress but also helps TAs gain valuable life skills.

Senior Lori Weltzin has been a TA for multiple teachers, including Mr. Nepo, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Mahler. Weltzin grades assignments, helps students with homework, and even creates lesson plans. Although her job is challenging, she values everything she has learned. “I think the hardest thing about being a TA is memorizing all the stuff I learned the past years to help students,” Weltzin said.

The role of a TA is not just about helping teachers; it is also about learning valuable life lessons and developing skills students can use later. Jeffrey Cohen’s TA, senior Audrey Anderson, learned so much more than just how to grade papers during her time as a TA. She believes that being a TA has taught her how to work independently while still being a reliable source for the teacher. “Skills I have learned while being a TA are things like time management, learning how to get stuff done on time, and teacher communication,” Anderson said.

Weltzin enjoys the structure she gets from this role, as it adds a sense of organization to her normally busy schedule. She finds her tasks entertaining and rewarding. She admits that her responsibilities have sparked personal interests and helped her develop certain skills. “I think grading papers is my favorite thing,” Weltzin said.

Math teacher John Groess loves to give his TA miscellaneous work, and senior Scarlett Lira knows firsthand how to adapt to the tasks he gives her. Lira finds the TA role helpful in learning how to multitask in an unpredictable environment and learning how to problem-solve. “Mr. Gross keeps me on my feet with different tasks. I have learned how to adapt to whatever he gives me,” Lira said.

These students agree that the TA role is a rewarding experience despite the different tasks they have to handle. Whether it’s for skills they learn or to build a stronger connection with a teacher, these TAs highly recommend this role to underclassmen. “I would recommend being a TA because it’s fun to get to know the teacher you TA and you also earn a credit too,” Lira said.