It’s Official: I’m the luckiest person in the world! June 16, 2011

Candid Teacher Admits: I don’t know how it happened, but it’s OK with me.

As you know, I’ve been applying and interviewing for new jobs like crazy since I found out about losing my current job at the end of this school year.  My phone has been ringing constantly and I have been on interviews for 6 different districts.

3 of the districts offered me a job.

Offer 1- Literacy Coach – 1 year position working with teachers (not students) on the implementation of a new reading program.
Offer 2- First grade teacher – Teacher in a very upper class district with a no-nonsense principal; yikes!
Offer 3- Basic Skills Language Arts Literacy Teacher for a K-5 school.

Offer 1 was easy for me to turn down as I stated in a previous entry.  Offer 2 was intimidating in terms of the superintendent, principal, and the large amount of money offered.  Offer 3 was reasonable in monetary terms (though slightly less than Offer 2), and appealing in terms of community, staff, and job type.

The decision required very little thought.  I chose Offer 3.

I am already thrilled with this decision.  The other Basic Skills Language Arts Literacy Teacher has already spoken to me for a great length of time since getting the offer yesterday and has been so kind and welcoming.  I am immensely excited to begin working to set up my classroom over the summer!

Yours with giddiness,
Candid Teacher

2 out of 3? Maybe. June 8, 2011

Candid Teacher Admits: I think I’m being selfish.

Last week I had 3 interviews. While I should be overjoyed that I’ve been fortunate to get even one interview, I am simply a frazzled mess instead. Perhaps I’m selfish or bratty. Please allow me to explain.

Interview #1– The position is a one-year grant funded position for a Literacy Coach, grades K-2. A Literacy Coach works with teachers and assesses students, but does not run lessons with students. I am a teacher primarily so I can work with students, and this position would put me in the exact same spot as I am now- looking for a new job. This school is 1 hour and 10 minutes West of me in the middle of no where.

Interview #2– I had a “screening” interview 2 weeks ago, a demonstration last week, and have a meeting with the superintendent next week. It is for teaching first grade. If you look back at my previous blogs about HATING being a classroom teacher and the long list of CONS about being a classroom teacher, you will see why this one makes my stomach turn. However, the district is very well-off and I would MOST LIKELY not be subject to lay offs. This school is 1 hour North of me.

Interview #3– I had one interview last week for a Reading Teacher position for a Middle School teacher. While children ages 11-13 (and older) scare the living crap out of me, I’d get to work with students in small groups. That is appealing to me and therefore makes this my first choice. This school is 45 minutes North West of me.

All three commutes are equal or worse than my current commute (goody). Since I haven’t been called for any other interviews (yet, I hope), that’s it for now. Nothing is a “perfect fit”, but beggars can’t be choosers. So here are the results…

-Interview #1 called me today and offered me the job. However, knowing that I am so close to getting the first grade teacher job (a meeting with a superintendent is usually a formality and the principal said, “I look forward to working with you next year”), I turned them down. It felt odd and was a bit upsetting to have to do, but I know I’d be miserable.

-My first choice, Interview #3, called me today and said I was their second choice but they have gone with another candidate. Darn. I asked them to keep me in mind if candidate #1 does not work out. I’d be OK with being second choice, they wouldn’t regret it!

-So, that leaves me with Interview #2, which would mean I’d be teaching first grade. However, this is the best option with the Reading Teacher position no longer available. Oh good grief.

Is it selfish of me to hope for the possibility of another Reading Specialist interview? I KNOW I would be miserable at the Literacy Coach job, but I’m terrified I’ll only be slightly less miserable as a first grade teacher. What am I going to do?

Yours,
Candid Teacher

Four Down, a Lifetime More To Go May 23, 2011

Candid Teacher Admits: While I love interviewing in spurts, I can’t do this for a lifetime.

I’ve been on 3 first and 1 second interview in the past 3 weeks, and I’m already ready to throw in the towel.  I am supposed to hear from the second interview today or tomorrow, and I’ve been on pins & needles since last Thursday. I can’t do this anymore; this stomach in knots, eggs in one basket, hoping for the best, putting my all into one 30 minute meeting… and coming out with nothing. I know I have until tomorrow to hear back from this job, but I’ve already given up hope and am assuming I didn’t get it.  It feels like someone has stolen my joy, my day of happiness.  And it’s not like this is just ANY job, it’s a step in the right direction for me and my whole future.  It makes me feel so out of balance. 

On top of that, my apartment lease is up, of course.   So I need to get a job, find a new place to live or determine if I can stay here, and sort out the rest of my young life as well.   It’s just a repeat of last year.  Happening twice in a row is too much to bare.  Twice in three years of employment is not a good track record.  This “It’s not you, it’s me,” is getting old real fast.  I didn’t think I’d be one of those people who got their self-worth and jobs mixed up.   Well, that just goes to show…
I didn’t think a lot of things would happen.  So far, they all have.

Yours,
Candid Teacher

Interviews, the future, and budgets: oh my! April 28, 2011

Candid Teacher Admits: There are so many things to be nervous about.

I am a bundle of nerves!!

So much is riding on the budget vote tonight, and I am powerless.  We will see what happens!  And of course, I will keep you posted.

All I know is that school is winding down so quickly, and I am so happy about it!  Summer sunshine, here I come. 🙂

Yours,
Candid Teacher

I’m Almost There… March 22, 2011

Candid Teacher Admits: This still isn’t quite the right fit.

I’ve been working relatively hard all year. (Yes, I’m being honest.. I know there are things I could have done better or more of.)  It’s been a large challenge to work in every school in the district, despite the fact that it’s a small district.  I feel that working in one school would allow me to do so much more.  However, instead of allowing me to focus on one or two schools next year, my district plans to have me go to the MSHS every day instead of for just one day per week.  This means I will spend 2 days at each elementary school, one full day at the MSHS, and one period per day at the MSHS.

You would think that this would mean I am definitely re-hired for next year.  However, you’d be wrong.  In the “interesting” world of education, nothing is ever certain.  I think I’ll find out by April 15th, but it may not be until May 15th.  Since I cannot wait that long (because I’d miss the prime time to apply for jobs), I will need to send out applications again.  This becomes tricky since I have no new references from this year and I feel like I’m sneaking around and being dishonest.

I do like most of what I do, but it’s just not quite the perfect fit yet.  Who knows if there is such a thing as a perfect job for anyone, but I’m going to keep trying.  I’d like to be a Reading Specialist for one school and see if that allows me to have more of an effect on my students.  Who knows what will happen, but here we go again!

Yours,
Candid Teacher

Shocked. April 22, 2010

Candid Teacher Admits: It feels like the end of the world.

I’ve been laid off.

There’s no easy way around it.  Use all the flowery language you’d like, but when push comes to shove, that’s it.

I wasn’t terminated for performance issues.  Does that make it any better?

I guess so.  But honestly, when someone tells you, “I’m so satisfied with the job you’ve done.  You’re an excellent teacher, and I wish I didn’t have to say this to you,” yet they still can’t offer you a contract for the following school year, it all feels about the same.  Rejection.

As of June 30th, I will be unemployed.

In honesty, I never thought about losing a job.  Who does?  I only thought about getting my first job.  It never crossed my mind that I may lose it due to circumstances far beyond my control.

So, if anyone out there knows of a K-5 elementary teaching job or K-12 reading specialist job, please let me know.  I’m willing to relocate.

If I do not obtain another position, Candid Teacher will be no more.

Yours, for now,

Candid Teacher

Vote Yes! April 19, 2010

Candid Teacher Admits: Tomorrow is the moment of truth.

Much of my blossoming career depends on tomorrow’s vote for the school budget.  Unfortunately, the town I teach in has a lot of immigrants who either cannot vote, are not registered to vote, or do not have the information necessary to vote.  Also, there are a great number of apartment complexes housing people without children who are not aware of the issues and therefore, do not feel compelled to vote.

I am very nervous and I feel that tomorrow will have a great effect not just on next year, but my entire life.  If the budget does not pass, I can basically kiss my job goodbye.  I will have to consider moving back in with my parents, hold of plans to travel, and try desperately to find another job with the rest of America.  If it does pass, I have a greater chance of having my contract renewed next year and a lot of worry is lifted from me for the time being.

It shocks me when I hear that people are voting “no”.  Those people are complaining about teacher’s salaries.  But, let’s face it, the only reason people care about how much we make is because their property taxes are directly impacted by the budget and our salaries.  I understand that property taxes are astronomically high, but why should teachers and students have to suffer because of this?  It’s really an unfair situation.

My friends who graduated from college the same year as me make upwards of $30,000 more than me a year.  The people voting “no” to the budget make far more than me, probably double.  But of course, they say teachers make too much because they have to fund our salaries.  We did not choose for our salaries to come from your pockets, but where else to you propose we accrue the revenue from?  Would you prefer that you pay a tuition for your children to attend school?  This is the peril of working in a non-profit sector.

Please, everyone, go out and vote.  Every single vote “yes” counts so much and the many teachers who may lose their jobs thank you sincerely for taking the time to fight for us.

Yours,

Candid Teacher

Budget, Budget, Budget! March 20, 2010

Candid Teacher Admits: Wait, I love my job!

Budgets are being slashed and anyone in the district is at risk of losing their job.  I may not be able to blog under the title of “Candid Teacher” much more.

This week I finally felt comfortable with my job.  This whole week, I have been happy with my profession and felt as though I was truly doing what I should be.  And now, of course, is the perfect time for me to get laid off.  Though it hasn’t happened yet, I know it’s lurking in the shadows and I am not safe.

The budget cuts are effecting teachers and students, as class sizes soar and conditions get worse.  What are we to do?  We are worried, tired, and above all, grumpy.

Yours,

Candid Teacher