I just heard from Rafael Ocampo, the middle school counselor who I followed for a day last school year. When I shadowed Ocampo, he wanted to tell troubled kids that he’d be there for them — but was unsure whether he literally would be there.
Ocampo was a temporary employee, hired on a contract that only lasted a year. That meant he had no guarantee of a job at Roosevelt Middle School for the next year.
Well, it turns out that as the school year starts in San Diego Unified, Ocampo has not gotten his job back and is still searching for work as a counselor. He wrote me an e-mail:
It is almost impossible to find a job as a counselor anywhere in San Diego. I know that I am not the only newer employee that did not get called back this year. … I have been in the process of applying at districts all over Southern California, but those options are also scarce. Living on unemployment funds will just not do, it may be time for a move.
Want me to check in on someone or something I reported on before? Please shoot me an e-mail at emily.alpert@voiceofsandiego.org.
Please contact Emily Alpert directly at emily.alpert@voiceofsandiego.org or 619.550.5665. And follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/emilyschoolsyou.