Tattooed Teacher

It’s official...we will not be returning to school the rest of this school year :/ This means I’m out of a (school related) job at least through July/August. I have this strange paranoia that they’re going to forget all about me and I won’t land a full-time job, or that they’ll forget to post jobs altogether...I know that’s silly and improbable. The high school has several postings already, but none for either of the elementary schools when I was told at least two people were definitely retiring...

I miss the kids. I miss the structure and routine. I miss planned lessons and life lessons. We’re still doing online learning, but I’m a sub so I’m not involved with that...the most I’m involved is with helping my niece, which I’m happy about, of course- at least I have one person to teach!

Right now, I think, needs to be a period of reflection and growth for me. I need to prepare for potential interviews. I’d really like to do some online professional development, if possible. I need to get back to journaling, both on here and in my paper journal. 

I have so many questions and thoughts swirling in my mind that it’s not possible for me to be entirely relaxed. I’m just praying that my efforts these past 1.5 years have shown that I’m a good fit for one of the elementary schools. It is my absolute dream to work here, where I grew up and where I can continue to be close to my family. People have asked me what grade I’d prefer and, honestly, I’ll accept any grade. I think there’s rewards and challenges for each level...and sure, I may be bummed to only be teaching one or two subjects, but that means I’ll really get to hone in and get great at teaching those things.

So, on the last day of my previous assignment, I decided to go ahead and text the other elementary school to let them know that I would be finishing up my long term job that day. However, I saw I had a voicemail and decided to check that first. It was the principal from the other elementary school! I gave her a call back and she let me know that she had a long-term position she was interested in me filling. Here’s the info I got on the assignment so far:

I would be contracted through the rest of this school year

I would have my own classroom but not my own class

I would pull eight students from each first grade class, giving me a total of 16 students at one time

I would teach one group of eight while the other group of eight worked independently

I would be responsible for teaching both ELA and math, but I would use the lesson plans provided by the other teachers

I would not be responsible for putting in grades

I would be paid more than a sub but less than a teacher

She told me she would have to check with the board, but that I would likely start March 16 or March 23, depending on if the board had to approve me or not (I’m already approved as a sub, but she wasn’t sure if I’d need to be approved for this specific job).

And then...we get the notification that we will be out through March 31 (originally March 27, but the governor declared all schools in my state be closed through the 31). This means the very earliest I could start would be April 1...and then, I would only teach three days before we would be out a week for Spring Break, and back on April 13. I gave the principal a call on Friday and left a voicemail, telling her I had a few questions about the assignment and that could she please call me back when she had a moment, as I knew that Friday would be hectic with the schools having all of a day’s notice that we would be closed for two (now nearly three) weeks. 

Well...I still haven’t heard back from her. I’m unsure if I should give her another call or leave it be until it’s closer to time for us to go back. I have heard of other schools cancelling graduations and whatnot...so I am afraid we may end up not going back to school at all, but I’m really not sure what the future of this school year holds due to the Corona-virus. 

What I do know is that I still really, really want to work in my home school district. I know that at least two people are retiring, and there are potentially two more retiring/leaving...I just keep hoping and praying that something I have said or done has proven to them that I would make a great addition to the school.

The principal at the school where I’ve done the two long-term sub jobs has told me she has heard nothing but good things about me. When I told her it’s been a dream of mine to work in the school I went to, she told me we would see about making those dreams a reality and for me to keep my eye out for job postings. She mentioned interviews happening in April...so far, there haven’t been any postings. When I told the principal of the other school that I would accept the first grade position, she said she and the first grade team were all excited it was me and that they knew I was reliable. 

Okay y’all, time for that update I promised you! Here’s my timeline of events from the past few months:

Late August to Thanksgiving, 2019: I subbed these three months in two classrooms. For the morning (7:30-11:30), I taught in a special needs preschool class. I had four students. In the afternoon (11:30-1:30) I went to the inclusion Pre-K class to assist four students with special needs. This assignment was full of new tasks and challenges- it was my first time in a long-term position, my first time working with a paraprofessional, and my first time working in a specifically special needs classroom. During Thanksgiving break, I had already started missing my students. I missed X’s intelligence and getting the chance to work through their emotions with them. I missed learning how to communicate with E, who’s nonverbal. I missed EN telling me not to park in their dad’s spot at school- literally, they popped out of the car telling me how I was in their dad’s spot one day...it was so funny!  I also miss the opportunity I had to work on learning ASL each day. I’ve learned colors, many animals, many words related to foods/drinks, family words, and other words such as help, all done, etc.

January to March 6 2020, plus one week in December 2019: I subbed these two and a half months in a general ed. Pre-K classroom. This classroom had me working with another paraprofessional and teaching 22 students. I felt a little more prepared for this long-term position, but I was still nervous, as I always am when starting up something new. However, I was able to get into the groove of things, and those couple of months flew by! One big perk was I didn’t have to miss the students from my previous assignment anymore, as I usually got to see them at least once or twice a day! Through this assignment, I found more students to love. Like M, who loved looking at the various earrings I wore, particularly my space themed ones. Or A, who always offered me the brightest smile when I told them good morning. Now I’m really missing all the kiddos I got to work with <3

HEY Y’ALL.

So uhhhhhh, long time no see, right? 

Ahhhh, you guys! 

Sooooo remember that kind of mysterious call I got from the HR person? 

I got another call today from someone else at the central office...

Starting tomorrow, they’d like me to come in an observe a SPED Pre-K classroom. Starting Monday, they’d like me to take over as the classroom teacher for a maternity leave!

It’ll last until maybe Thanksgiving break. It’s not a full time position, and I am not sure if Pre-K is the right for me, plus I’m not sure of the needs of the SPED students in the classroom or if it’s fully SPED or a blend...but I’m excited to have this opportunity to get into my dream school. And I’m excited I’ll have two paras in the class as well!

Okay okay okay

So

I am desperately trying not to get my hopes TOO up...but hear me out.

I gave my central office a call just to check if I needed to do anything to update my sub status. She let me know what modules I needed to complete, then asked me if I’d gotten a call from the elementary school. I told her no, I hadn’t, and confirmed my phone number for her. Then she said she would give the school a call back and I may hear back from her. Then she asked about my certification and I told her yes, I’m PreK-5th and that I currently have an eligibility and clearance certificate, but all a school has to do is request my induction certificate again and that shouldn’t be an issue. 

Sooooo...maybe a full time position is opening? Maybe it’s a long term sub position? Maybe I completely misunderstood the direction of the conversation? I don’t know but please pray, keep me in your thoughts, send good vibes, etc etc etc.

Also, I’ll be subbing for the first time this year on Monday- third week of school, in Pre-K. Bit nervous about that!! But I’ll do as I always do and follow the plans left for me and get to know the para.

Guys...

I could really cry. I so, so, so want to work for my home county.

I’ve pretty much lost hope, y’all. 

No more interviews. Dwindling openings. Teacher PDs have been happening and most schools here start this week or next. I am trying not to give up hope, but it is so hard.

My way past appropriate update...didn’t get the job. They said they were interested in me and let me know there was a half time position...but traveling that far for half time and likely less than half of regular teacher pay...just can’t swing it. They said to keep an eye out for other openings and reiterated their interest, but no openings.

No other interviews. Schools should be starting in about two weeks. Feeling pretty hopeless to be honest. I thought I’d be able to get something this year. I have to have three satisfactory years of teaching by 2021 to keep my certificate...I know that’s a ways off but I’m kind of freaking out.

I’d love to stick wirh subbing until something else comes up, but I can’t just keep waiting. I have bills and life events to pay for. I want a wedding, a house, kids...

It is I, the prime teacher of procrastination.

I have my first interview of the year on Monday! It’s for a third grade position. I am so, so hoping it goes well and I start hearing back from more places. This is literally the only school I’ve heard from out of the 20 or so I’ve applied for. Also I literally applied for this position at 11pm on Thursday and got the call to interview at 10am Friday...so...is that a good sign that they jumped straight on me? Haha.

OOTD: March 7, 2019

OOTD: March 4, 2019

This whole outfit is from kohl’s!

Today was my last day with my second graders, as their teacher will be back tomorrow. I had one child (the one from the beginning of last week who refused to come in because i was there) come up and hug me and tell me that I’m her favorite substitute. So that’s progress! I’m hoping I get some more time with third and up this week. Tomorrow I won’t be going in because I have a dentist appointment, but I may go try to have lunch with my niece when I get back. I hope I’ll be at her school sometime soon so I can see her more often~