My transition: One month in prison - AMA

Let me answer the most likely basic inquiries first:

What I do and Where: I work in a state prison and support the classroom teachers by running a learning lab. I enroll inmates in online courses and then coordinate times for groups to utilize the lab and complete their hours. The courses range from helping them with basic academic skills all the way to earning nationally recognized industry certifications. I occasionally tutor inmates in the lab if they request it. Some of them act like kids and test boundaries, but I have the ability and authority to shut them down quickly.

How much I make: My salary is 52K + full state benefits. Salary is close to what I was making in public school, but 75% of the BS I had to deal with in public school is now non-existent. I actually get bored at times and just do word searches and crossword puzzles as I monitor the lab (Trust me -I am not complaining.)

When I work: M-F from 7-3:30. No bringing stuff home, no giving up nights, weekends and/or holidays grading papers, working on lesson plans, activities, projects, etc. When I clock out at 3:30, I actually clock out. I leave feeling little to no stress and there is no dread about the next day.

Who I report to: I have one supervisor (who is like the principal of the facility's education dept.). I am not questioned about every decision, it is not the teachers' fault when inmates fail, we are not observed, we are not expected to sacrifice and perform miracles. There are no parents or district people to answer to. We have a basic performance plan. Each of us is just expected to do what we were hired to do and we are left alone.