Wow. What a week. I'm so behind that I even missed my weekly post. The one thing I swore I wasn't going to do. I should know better.
I has been crazy busy with the new job and I am so so so tired. I tried to use an old login that I haven't used in 4 years to access my online bank this morning. Gonna be a long day. OK...where was I...
Monday morning I walking into my new school (after standing outside of it for 5-6 minutes because I didn't have a badge to let myself in and no one was in the office yet) and headed to the cafeteria. The first person I met was the woman who had this job before me. Excellent, I could gain valuable information. Not so much. 😑
All I heard were the negatives. The bad news. The awful stories. Awesome. As a teacher new to the county, state, school, classroom, it's always good to be encouraged like this on your first day. Good Lord.
Turns out, the reason last year was so horrible was not only due to the students. This teacher was also a great contributor to the chaos. I believe the term used was "hot mess."
I missed the new teacher training as I was hired after the fact. Speaking of that, the principal announced on the very first day (to the entire staff) that after he interviewed me, he cancelled all his other interviews for this position. No pressure.
I never signed papers or became official until the second day. Even that was iffy as they didn't like my certification from MD. I'm now on an emergency cert. Because after 20 years, I need to prove I'm a teacher. Speaking of that, I need to PROVE that I've taught elsewhere.
HR is starting my salary on Step 1 of the pay scale. That's HALF of what I would have been making had I stayed where I was. I need to provide documentation from MA and MD that I actually taught there. THEN, I need to provide transcripts from all colleges I attended so that I can get my +15 or +30 (I don't remember how many now.). After they get all that, then they will bump up my salary. That's insane. When I started at my last district, they asked how long I'd taught and started me on the scale accordingly.
I also needed at TB test and a background check/fingerprinting. Both cost money. And time. I had to drive over an hour one way after work one evening to get the background check done. I passed. It's good to know people. ;)
I'm learning everything as I go. It's like I woke up in another country with no prior knowledge. I really have to say, the people I work with are wonderful. They have been so helpful and kind and accommodating. Anything I need, someone will attempt to get it for me. I still don't have everything I need. I don't get planning or lunch (yet). I still don't know everything I need to know to be successful with these kids. I'm missing curriculum. I have to give some kind of testing to kids that don't want to learn.
The kids. I have 9 students. Three are ELL; three have BIPs; one is on the spectrum; one is truant (missed 2 of three days so far), and one is here for reasons I can't figure out. I like most of them. Two are going to be the death of me.
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Let's Twist This
🍍 So, funny story. As you've read, all summer I searched for jobs. I believe I sent out 25 applications and had 11 interviews. It was down to the wire and I thought my chances of ever getting a teaching job for this year were gone. Schools were starting with new teacher meetings and professional developments. I thought for sure I'd be back in the real, non-teaching world. As a last ditch effort, I applied for 5 jobs on Sunday the 12th. Let me tell you about one of them.
I had seen a posting for this job for weeks, maybe all summer. I kept avoiding it because I didn't know the area, or anything about that school district. I wasn't thrilled with what the school looked like from its pictures. It was further away than I wanted to drive. I just wasn't feeling it, you know? I kept clicking past this job.
To be fair, I consistently clicked past others, as well. Particularly, any job that said I'd be working with kids that had behavior issues. That was a no. I'd done that before and had no interest in going back.
Even on that Sunday, I reluctantly applied for that one position I'd so easy passed over. In fact, it was the very last one I sent in. Application #25.
At 9:00 on Tuesday morning the 14th, I got a call for an interview. Yay! Maybe all hope wasn't lost! Guys...it was THAT SCHOOL. The principal was very interested in my resume. Could I come in the next day, the 15th? Since no one else had been calling in the last two weeks, why the hell not.
And then I remembered my shaved, purple, NTW hair. And my yellow fingernail polish. Crap.
While waiting my turn that Wednesday afternoon, a gentleman was escorted out after his interview. I heard the principal tell this man that he had one more interview that day (me), and a few more on Friday. Applicants would know by Friday afternoon; teachers start Monday the 20th. They were cutting it close.
I went in and had what I thought was a really good interview with the principal, AP, and ED. It was more like a conversation, actually. Very relaxed. We joked. No one mentioned the hair. He told me he'd call me (don't they always). I sent the obligatory thank you email that evening and prepared to spend the rest of my summer hunting for a job outside of teaching. BTW, It would be in a self-contained classroom (yay!!!!) with behavior kids......sigh.
Thursday the 16th at 3:00 I got a phone call from the district offering me the job. WHAAAAAT?! It was emphasized that they really wanted me to accept. According to the HR rep, they were quite taken with me. Huh. I thought they had more interviews on Friday. Today's Thursday. Wait-the guy before me was probably interviewing for a GenEd position. I was a bit confused, but more excited that finally somebody wanted me.
So the job I'd avoided like the plague, working with kids I didn't want to work with, in an area I know nothing about, in an old, seriously needs to be modernized school ended up being the job I was offered. And the job I accepted. God is good.
There's so much more to this story, but I'm beyond tired and have a shitload of stuff to process. See you next week.
I had seen a posting for this job for weeks, maybe all summer. I kept avoiding it because I didn't know the area, or anything about that school district. I wasn't thrilled with what the school looked like from its pictures. It was further away than I wanted to drive. I just wasn't feeling it, you know? I kept clicking past this job.
To be fair, I consistently clicked past others, as well. Particularly, any job that said I'd be working with kids that had behavior issues. That was a no. I'd done that before and had no interest in going back.
Even on that Sunday, I reluctantly applied for that one position I'd so easy passed over. In fact, it was the very last one I sent in. Application #25.
At 9:00 on Tuesday morning the 14th, I got a call for an interview. Yay! Maybe all hope wasn't lost! Guys...it was THAT SCHOOL. The principal was very interested in my resume. Could I come in the next day, the 15th? Since no one else had been calling in the last two weeks, why the hell not.
And then I remembered my shaved, purple, NTW hair. And my yellow fingernail polish. Crap.
While waiting my turn that Wednesday afternoon, a gentleman was escorted out after his interview. I heard the principal tell this man that he had one more interview that day (me), and a few more on Friday. Applicants would know by Friday afternoon; teachers start Monday the 20th. They were cutting it close.
I went in and had what I thought was a really good interview with the principal, AP, and ED. It was more like a conversation, actually. Very relaxed. We joked. No one mentioned the hair. He told me he'd call me (don't they always). I sent the obligatory thank you email that evening and prepared to spend the rest of my summer hunting for a job outside of teaching. BTW, It would be in a self-contained classroom (yay!!!!) with behavior kids......sigh.
Thursday the 16th at 3:00 I got a phone call from the district offering me the job. WHAAAAAT?! It was emphasized that they really wanted me to accept. According to the HR rep, they were quite taken with me. Huh. I thought they had more interviews on Friday. Today's Thursday. Wait-the guy before me was probably interviewing for a GenEd position. I was a bit confused, but more excited that finally somebody wanted me.
So the job I'd avoided like the plague, working with kids I didn't want to work with, in an area I know nothing about, in an old, seriously needs to be modernized school ended up being the job I was offered. And the job I accepted. God is good.
There's so much more to this story, but I'm beyond tired and have a shitload of stuff to process. See you next week.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Alpha Mike Foxtrot...
...is what I wanted to say to my former employer, but did not. I've burned bridges in the past-usually while I was standing on them. At the board meeting last night, my resignation was accepted. It's finally official, and with the lack of any job offers, I feel like an integral part of my life is over. I'm not a teacher any more.
Back-to-school ads are depressing in a whole new way. I'm so tempted to get rid of my professional/teacher Twitter page, unfollow teacher sites on Facebook, and delete my Pinterest boards that deal with teaching. It's too depressing to have them and I feel like a fraud.
My mother says I should take this time and write a book. That's what people do when they leave jobs, right? I'm no Omarosa (nor would I want to be), but I could pull it off. You know, if I had a ghost writer and wanted some drivel turned out in a few weeks.
I did have a good time with family last week. Of course, a bad day down the shore is still a good day. My nephew is awesome and is at that age where I can act like an idiot with him and he's still good with it. It gave me a chance to relax and decide to quit self-sabotaging. I came back with a renewed outlook and decided to suck it up and move on.
My mother won at the AC casinos recently and shared some of her winnings with me and my sister. Did I put that money away for a rainy day? Hell, no. On Monday I got a mani/pedi in OPI's Meet A Boy, Cute As Can Be and a haircut. I love my nails.
My hair now looks like Negasonic Teenage Warhead's in Deadpool 2. Don't get me wrong, I love her hair, and think Brianna Hildebrand is beautiful. But she's 21, and I'm so not 21. It's not at all what I went to the hairdresser for; not even close.
At first I was like "GAH!!!!" Then I was like "Huh." I have no teaching interviews in the foreseeable future. I don't really need to look teacher-professional. I could rock this look if I wanted. BTW, it's a known fact in the teaching world that things like jeans, faux-hawks, purple hair, sneakers, or reindeer pajama bottoms on the last day before Christmas break get in the way of how well a teacher teaches. 😯
My husband was like, "I love you and all, but don't ever get your hair cut like that again." Me looking like a boy kinda weirds him out. He's quite the conservative Republican. Don't know how we get along.
And so, with renewed confidence I woke up with my NTW hair this morning to a phone call from a principal wanting to interview me. Then later on today I received an email from another principal wanting an interview. Yay that I'm still wanted!!!! Yikes about my hair. Yes, I know schools are down to the wire and I might be a last resort. I get that. Move on.
See you next week.
Back-to-school ads are depressing in a whole new way. I'm so tempted to get rid of my professional/teacher Twitter page, unfollow teacher sites on Facebook, and delete my Pinterest boards that deal with teaching. It's too depressing to have them and I feel like a fraud.
My mother says I should take this time and write a book. That's what people do when they leave jobs, right? I'm no Omarosa (nor would I want to be), but I could pull it off. You know, if I had a ghost writer and wanted some drivel turned out in a few weeks.
I did have a good time with family last week. Of course, a bad day down the shore is still a good day. My nephew is awesome and is at that age where I can act like an idiot with him and he's still good with it. It gave me a chance to relax and decide to quit self-sabotaging. I came back with a renewed outlook and decided to suck it up and move on.
My mother won at the AC casinos recently and shared some of her winnings with me and my sister. Did I put that money away for a rainy day? Hell, no. On Monday I got a mani/pedi in OPI's Meet A Boy, Cute As Can Be and a haircut. I love my nails.
My hair now looks like Negasonic Teenage Warhead's in Deadpool 2. Don't get me wrong, I love her hair, and think Brianna Hildebrand is beautiful. But she's 21, and I'm so not 21. It's not at all what I went to the hairdresser for; not even close.
At first I was like "GAH!!!!" Then I was like "Huh." I have no teaching interviews in the foreseeable future. I don't really need to look teacher-professional. I could rock this look if I wanted. BTW, it's a known fact in the teaching world that things like jeans, faux-hawks, purple hair, sneakers, or reindeer pajama bottoms on the last day before Christmas break get in the way of how well a teacher teaches. 😯
My husband was like, "I love you and all, but don't ever get your hair cut like that again." Me looking like a boy kinda weirds him out. He's quite the conservative Republican. Don't know how we get along.
And so, with renewed confidence I woke up with my NTW hair this morning to a phone call from a principal wanting to interview me. Then later on today I received an email from another principal wanting an interview. Yay that I'm still wanted!!!! Yikes about my hair. Yes, I know schools are down to the wire and I might be a last resort. I get that. Move on.
See you next week.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
The Perks of Being Unemployed
Instead of feeling depressed and unworthy all the time, I decided to pick myself up with the pros of being an unemployed teacher. Don't get me wrong; there are plenty of cons. I've focused on them so much it's almost crippling. But, just for this week, I'm going to try not to think about them. My sister and nephew flew in from CA for a visit, so this week is about family and positivity.
The first two perks, and truly my absolute favorites, are no bra and all day pjs. Honestly, the best feeling upon waking up later than 6:00 a.m. is getting out of the pjs you slept in and into a fresh set. Soooooo comfy. No bra? Even better. Gravity has already attacked The Girls, so why bother with pretense.
Next best thing? Hanging out with kitty all day. Ally Jane is roughly 13 years old, so I'm not sure how much longer we have together. This is time to soak up all the love and belly rubs that I can get.
Something I'm in dire need of, but really don't like, is time to work out. With all the stress and anxiety of late, I've really been slacking on diet and exercise. I've gained weight and don't think I'll be ready for the 10 miler in October. I need to get off my ass and get back at it. I now have the time, I just need the motivation.
I'm a nerd, I love to learn new things. Now's the chance to learn a new language. I'm using DuoLingo to learn German and I absolutely love it. It's not easy, but it's not too difficult. Just enough of a distraction to keep my mind occupied.
Also:
The first two perks, and truly my absolute favorites, are no bra and all day pjs. Honestly, the best feeling upon waking up later than 6:00 a.m. is getting out of the pjs you slept in and into a fresh set. Soooooo comfy. No bra? Even better. Gravity has already attacked The Girls, so why bother with pretense.
Next best thing? Hanging out with kitty all day. Ally Jane is roughly 13 years old, so I'm not sure how much longer we have together. This is time to soak up all the love and belly rubs that I can get.
Something I'm in dire need of, but really don't like, is time to work out. With all the stress and anxiety of late, I've really been slacking on diet and exercise. I've gained weight and don't think I'll be ready for the 10 miler in October. I need to get off my ass and get back at it. I now have the time, I just need the motivation.
I'm a nerd, I love to learn new things. Now's the chance to learn a new language. I'm using DuoLingo to learn German and I absolutely love it. It's not easy, but it's not too difficult. Just enough of a distraction to keep my mind occupied.
Also:
And:
I have time to learn a new skill like drawing, and BW photography. I got with the cool kids and now have an Instagram account where I try to post a BW photo each day. I'm no Ansel Adams, but I like what I've posted so far. I've picked up some drawing supplies and a book and I'm excited to get started on that, also.
Finally, I can save money on Back-to School stuff. I don't need to buy anything. Nothing for me, nothing for the classroom, nothing at all. I can completely ignore the ads and the sales. Yay!!
So this week I intend to focus on the up. The only down I want to think about is down the shore, where I'm hanging out with my family and trying really hard to forget how crappy I've been lately.
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