To improve educational opportunities for children, aim Heilbronn employs specially trained support teachers. Melanie Meißner is one of them. We spoke to her about why she is needed and how she can help.
Ms. Meißner, five years ago, you gave up your job as an occupational therapist to work as a support teacher. How did this come about?
Melanie Meißner: I completed my training as a language support teacher at aim back in 2014 and have been working in schools on a freelance basis ever since. Then the opportunity arose to work for aim on a full-time basis. It wasn’t an easy decision, as I also really enjoyed occupational therapy. But being at school, directly in the children’s environment, that excited me more. I have a lot of opportunities to make a difference here. And I’m free to choose the content of my teaching and can really incorporate the children’s interests. It’s very fulfilling for me. When I see how much the children enjoy coming to the language support classes, I feel like I’m in the right place at the right time.
Melanie Meißner completed her training as a language support worker at aim in 2014. The occupational therapist already had experience of working with children and practiced both professions in parallel for several years – until she decided to devote herself entirely to language and classroom support. She works at an elementary school and a special education and counseling center (SBBZ) in the district of Heilbronn.
What challenges do children and teachers in elementary schools face?
Meißner: One of the schools where I work is a special education and counseling center (SBBZ). There are children here who, for example, have not yet developed speech skills appropriate to their age. However, the majority of students receiving language support are those who are learning German as a second language. When they start school, they often don’t speak a single word of German. This is a major challenge: for the teachers, who have to design their lessons for very heterogeneous classes, and of course for the children themselves.
How can you help with your expertise?
Meißner: Our support takes place both in small groups and alongside regular classes. The children requiring additional support meet in small groups for two hours a week to learn together. We also support some of them during regular classes, meaning that we’re present during normal school lessons. By explaining individual topics in more detail, we help them to keep up. And the teacher can focus on the other children during this time.
You spoke about the challenges for teachers. Do you sometimes reach your limits too?
Meißner: Yes, if only because we have very limited time for each individual child. I see each child twice a week for language support, and some also during classroom support. It should actually be much more often. This sometimes gives you the feeling that you’re giving it your all but, in the end, it’s still not enough.
I therefore wish that the needs and concerns of children and families could be given more attention in our society. For us to equip all children with the right tools for the future, much more needs to be invested in educational institutions. “All children should be able to develop their talents and pursue their interests.”
For more than 20 years, aim Heilbronn has been committed to promoting educational opportunities for children and young people. A particular focus is on language support for elementary school children. Around 240 language support staff are working in the current 2025/2026 school year, including in the “Language for Life” support program. A total of 157 schools and 3272 pupils benefit from this program. Thanks to the support of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, the majority of aim’s services are free of charge.
Find out more about the language support offered by aim – the Academy for Innovative Education and Management – in this video.
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