Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sherri on March 13, 2008 at 9:12pm

Hi Lisa,
I am a physical education teacher with alopecia universalis for the past 9 years. I was hired before the hair loss so my situation is different. I am currently wearing a wig. My hair sometimes comes in enough to wear a bandana and I also just wore a ballcap when it first fell out. I teach middle school and students have always treated me like gold. I wear a wig now because it allows my students and I to forget about my hairloss. They have enough to worry about and it is exhausting to always stand out. I don't hide the fact that I wear a wig, but I bring it up a lot less than when it first fell out. Good luck with the job search.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on March 13, 2008 at 10:29pm

Hi Sherri,
Thanks for responding. I have a question for you or maybe two. If you had started your career with Alopecia and you had to go in for an interview, how would you act or "be." I mean, would you hide the fact behind a wig that you have alopecia and not let on? Would you tell them up front that you have alopecia? And the other question would be, if you were on a hiring committee and someone came in who had alopecia, would you hire them? I am just so worried about how I should "be" when I go for my interviews. I am not ashamed at all about my AA, I don't want to hide behind something that I am not and I do not want to lie. I guess since I haven't had to interview for a job before having AA, that I am a little nervous and confused about what to do. Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Sherri on March 14, 2008 at 12:55am

Hi Lisa,

I would not hide it, I would not refer to it. It is what it is. The information they should know about you is what great things you have to offer. Do not appear needy about it is my advice. I taught a grade 6 homeroom for 6 years and a wig was never an issue. I was rehired as a pe teacher 2 years ago. I have coached a girls rigby team for 7 years. I teach wrestling. I run assemblies and high profile events at me school. I have a great job. The wig is a side issue. Show them what you have to offer and why you would be a great teacher at their school.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on March 14, 2008 at 6:42am

Thanks Sherri,
I think that is what I needed to hear. I mean it is a part of who I am and I do not see it as a handicap or anything. I will do just what you said for my interviews. Thank you so much.
Lisa

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Permalink Reply by Alexandra on March 15, 2008 at 4:45pm

Hi Lisa I agree with Sherri about just not referring to it. I graduated in Dec of '06 with my elem ed degree and have been teaching since Jan of '07. I wear wigs everyday, but that's just because after 12 years with this, it's what I feel most comfortable with. I teach 1st grade along with 5 other teachers at my school and only one of them knows about it along with the assistant prinicipal and our staffing specialist. The only reason they know is because I had a kid pull my hair hard enough one day that my wig almost came off. I work at an inner city school and the students are mainly african american and they sometimes ask me if my hair is real or not, but that's because they are always around weaves and wigs, etc.. not because they think my hair isn't real. Unless someone asks me about it, i just dont mention it, because it doesn't define me as a person. It's part of who i am and either people like me or they don't. And if a school is going to judge you on the way you look, then you don't want to be teaching there anyways. But from what I hear about north carolina, there's a demand for teachers (some county from up there came to my college to recruit teachers) and they should be excited at the chance of having an amazing teacher work for them.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on March 15, 2008 at 10:10pm

Alexandra and Melissa,
Thank you both so much for you honesty. Being that I am going this alone or so I feel in the real world (not in web world, here I fit right in), it is hard to decide how to approach the topic. I love what both of you said about your experience. You two are the only ones who I have found or who have come forward as teachers with Alopecia. Thank you so much!!

Melissa, It is obvious that I have something going on with the hair. I still have hair but it is so strange and I have bald spots showing in the front. I think that I will do as you had suggested and say something like ""I know you're probably wondering about my hair. I have Alopecia and (fill in your explaination)". I really like the way you worded that. I think I really just needed to know if it would be ok to explain it or talk about it during an interview if need be and you made it sound really easy.

The two of you are wonderful and I feel much more confident going into these upcoming interviews. Thank you so much for your support and advice. I will keep you posted on how the interviews go.
Lisa

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Permalink Reply by Melissa on March 15, 2008 at 8:01pm

I have a degree in secondary education. I graduated in December of 2004. When I taught high school last year I had the same experience as Alexandra, I taught a lot of African American kids who could INSTANTLY tell I wore a wig and the first day of school was the worst day of my entire life. Every time I turned around the kids said "WIG, WIG, WIG, WIG" and when I turned back around they would stop and laugh. Finally I just said "Why don't you ask me a question if you have one." And one of the kids said "Do you wear a wig?" And I just said 'Yeah, so what?" They were surprised that I told them and we just talked about Alopecia and after that they were my very favorite class. I know that's not what you wanted to know! But I feel like that story shows how important it is to just tell people what it is. They're afraid of what they don't understand and once they understand it they're totally ok with it.

Now, regarding your applications to schools, I would NOT ignore the subject. If your hair loss is obvious they might assume you are sick and won't be able to teach and again, they will be afraid of something they don't know or understand. I would simply say, "I know you're probably wondering about my hair. I have Alopecia and (fill in your explaination) and I think it would be a great learning experience for the students to learn acceptance and get experience dealing with people who look different." Or something like that. If you don't want to wear a wig, don't! But I don't think they would NOT hire you because of it. Schools hire teachers in wheelchairs, people that are tall, short, fat, skinny, every types. Bald shouldn't be any different! Keep us updated on the job search!

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Permalink Reply by kastababy on March 16, 2008 at 9:29pm

A school or school system can NOT discriminate against you because of your looks or your alopecia. To do so would be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, in addition to being a Title VII civil rights violation, because even though you have alopecia, you are still a woman first and therefore considered to be a "protected class" of citizen in the United States and are entitled to job consideration on those grounds. I am not a teacher, but I have lots of teachers in my family, and if you are willing to come a little farther west, the Memphis City Schools in Memphis, TN are looking for elementary school teachers. Right now the need is so great that they will also pay for you to attend courses at the University of Memphis to obtain your master's degree as well. I think that telling your story to your students is a great way to bring awareness to the classroom and who knows, you may be helping a child in your class going through something similar as well! Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on March 17, 2008 at 6:47pm

Wow, you are a fountain of information that I knew nothing about! Your response was very powerful, thanks so much. I have not ruled out Tennessee, my husband would move to TN in a heartbeat...(big Vols fan!!). I will keep you posted! Just one little question, how could you prove that you were or were not hired based on this? I am just curious since I am fairly new to this and did not know that this would be considered part of the disabilities act. You are great!!

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Permalink Reply by kastababy on March 17, 2008 at 7:45pm

Actually, that would be the easy part -- say you are competing with another woman for a teaching position. You have identical interviews, identical qualifications, references, background checks, same age, same everything. The only difference is that you have alopecia and she doesn't. Because there is such a critical shortage of teachers nationwide, if you were not hired, that would be the only grounds for you not to be hired. In addition, you have the right to see your interview records, which would provide additional evidence (the only thing you wouldn't be able to see would be the references.) More often than not, though, the problem doesn't come during the hiring process; it comes after you are employed and you find yourself in a hostile work environment. What I learned in job hunting was to do two things: if you wear a wig normally, wear a wig to your interview and disclose your alopecia ONLY to whomever you have to. Quite frankly, it is not the school system's business to know about your alopecia if it does not affect your ability to do your job. Secondly, always carry a letter from your dermatologist with their original signature on it. That way, if the time ever comes where you choose to wear your head bald without scarves, wigs, or hats, then your school system cannot use the excuse of violating the dress code as an excuse to restrict your wardrobe. More often than not, being prepared is always the best defense against anything!!! I hope this helps too!

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on March 20, 2008 at 7:05am

You are awesome, I feel so much better about going to these interviews now.
Thanks for your comments,
Lisa

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Permalink Reply by Laura Duksta on March 16, 2008 at 10:49pm

My best advice in almost every situation is...get as comforatble as you possibly can about your Alopecia. I have a standard way of explaining it every time someone approaches me..."I have Alopecia Areata, I lost all of my hair at age 11, but besides having no hair I'm perfectly healthy...and at this point I really love it!" Theres no emotion, no drama, no saddness...I found that when I used to act like this was the worst thing that ever happened--that's how people treated me. Now that I am comfortable about it...so are others. You may very well want to approach your interviews acting as if you are an asset to their staf because you can teach about tolerence, self-eseem, just be yourself...so many lessons that are so important at that age!!! I go into the schools to give talks and the teachers and students love it. People want to expand their tolerance, compassion and love...and we give them that opportunity :-)
Keep Shining!
Laura

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