Long Time Gone
It has been almost two months since I wrote anything here. There were the last few days of student teaching, then all of the graduation excitement even though I chose to remain as far removed from commencement and almost everything that had to do with it as possible, and on to the (ominous music) job search.
Backing up though to my last day of student teaching it was really nice although my two sweethearts were not there due to illness/seizures. So my little man and my precious angel were absent on my last day which was hard because I wanted so badly to have one more day with them. Anyone who says that as a teacher you have to remain completely removed from your students is in my opinion not in this for the right reasons because how can you ever make a difference if you do not truly care for a child? Anyway, on my last day the assistant director bought lunch for me and the others in the office where my internship was at and then the outreach director had brought a small cake and cookies for me to have and share with whomever I chose. Very very thoughtful! Both of them as well as the "secretary" (she did way more than that - more like crisis control) were so kind to me and had made my time there as a student teacher both in the classroom and as an intern wonderful. I also learned to think rapidly around the secretary and to match sarcasm - survival of the wittest. :) Like when she made me break two copiers and I did not stick around to take the blame for the second one. I told her copying on card stock was not going to work in the photocopiers we had available but she insisted I try so I tried on the copier in the office and promptly jammed it incredibly. Thinking I proved my point I show this to her and am astonished to be sent to try again on another copier, I protest but am overruled so I follow orders and not only jam the copier but a piece breaks off when I retrieve the original that is stuck inside (leave no identifying evidence). Now I insisted it would happen again so there is no way I am taking the blame for this so I take my evidence, prop the piece back up, leave the machine flashing its lights, and abandon ship. :) Between laughs I tell her the other copier is broken and it is HER fault - her first question is if anyone saw me!! So anyway, my last day was very nice and I was sad to leave as it had been a great experience as well as the school being a big part of my college experience for 5 years.
On to the job search - everyone I talk to where I am looking for a job (I want to return to where I grew up to teach, not the town specifically but a general region)has been so incredibly negative telling me that schools are laying off teachers, I am never going to find a job, even one person telling me I probably wasted 5 years of college. "Everyone" is a term meant to cover family members and other contacts that still live in the area but excludes a few people who have shown faith in me. Well I had an interview opportunity in the beginning of June, traveled all the way there, and seemed to impress the superintendant of personnel. One minor problem - there was an internal bid for the job who because of contract had an advantage and got the position over me but had she not gotten it the job would have almost certainly been mine. Major frustration there. I have since applied to four other districts and completed a phone interview 10 days ago for a school district (the individual offered to do so to spare me the expense of travel for an interview) that seemed to go extremely well but I have not heard back from them. I continue to check job postings in the area as well as here but I desperately want to teach at Home as I miss my family and the schools tend to be better supported there.
I truly miss working with my kids every day, I miss the smiles and the laughter, the hugs, the interactions, the need to use every part of my mind each day, the challenges even, the celebrations over successes, the planning how to share in discovery, the excitement, the energy, the growth, the daily miracles of childhood, the unique individuals that you come to know and treasure and love. I miss my kids.
Backing up though to my last day of student teaching it was really nice although my two sweethearts were not there due to illness/seizures. So my little man and my precious angel were absent on my last day which was hard because I wanted so badly to have one more day with them. Anyone who says that as a teacher you have to remain completely removed from your students is in my opinion not in this for the right reasons because how can you ever make a difference if you do not truly care for a child? Anyway, on my last day the assistant director bought lunch for me and the others in the office where my internship was at and then the outreach director had brought a small cake and cookies for me to have and share with whomever I chose. Very very thoughtful! Both of them as well as the "secretary" (she did way more than that - more like crisis control) were so kind to me and had made my time there as a student teacher both in the classroom and as an intern wonderful. I also learned to think rapidly around the secretary and to match sarcasm - survival of the wittest. :) Like when she made me break two copiers and I did not stick around to take the blame for the second one. I told her copying on card stock was not going to work in the photocopiers we had available but she insisted I try so I tried on the copier in the office and promptly jammed it incredibly. Thinking I proved my point I show this to her and am astonished to be sent to try again on another copier, I protest but am overruled so I follow orders and not only jam the copier but a piece breaks off when I retrieve the original that is stuck inside (leave no identifying evidence). Now I insisted it would happen again so there is no way I am taking the blame for this so I take my evidence, prop the piece back up, leave the machine flashing its lights, and abandon ship. :) Between laughs I tell her the other copier is broken and it is HER fault - her first question is if anyone saw me!! So anyway, my last day was very nice and I was sad to leave as it had been a great experience as well as the school being a big part of my college experience for 5 years.
On to the job search - everyone I talk to where I am looking for a job (I want to return to where I grew up to teach, not the town specifically but a general region)has been so incredibly negative telling me that schools are laying off teachers, I am never going to find a job, even one person telling me I probably wasted 5 years of college. "Everyone" is a term meant to cover family members and other contacts that still live in the area but excludes a few people who have shown faith in me. Well I had an interview opportunity in the beginning of June, traveled all the way there, and seemed to impress the superintendant of personnel. One minor problem - there was an internal bid for the job who because of contract had an advantage and got the position over me but had she not gotten it the job would have almost certainly been mine. Major frustration there. I have since applied to four other districts and completed a phone interview 10 days ago for a school district (the individual offered to do so to spare me the expense of travel for an interview) that seemed to go extremely well but I have not heard back from them. I continue to check job postings in the area as well as here but I desperately want to teach at Home as I miss my family and the schools tend to be better supported there.
I truly miss working with my kids every day, I miss the smiles and the laughter, the hugs, the interactions, the need to use every part of my mind each day, the challenges even, the celebrations over successes, the planning how to share in discovery, the excitement, the energy, the growth, the daily miracles of childhood, the unique individuals that you come to know and treasure and love. I miss my kids.