Upon arriving home today from taking my daughter swimming, I found a message on my answering machine asking for an interview - for an 8th grade Language Arts position.
I'd just given up my hopes earlier this week for finding anything permanent this year. I've been making plans for other pursuits. Now this comes along. I'd submitted an online application on the off chance my writing background might make me interesting to middle school English departments. I'm not even officially qualified (I have an Elementary license). However, this principal did interview me earlier in the year for a science job and it seemed to go well. Perhaps they remember me favorably.
Dare I hope to get this job? I think I'd be good at it, once I learned the ropes. But does my inexperience count too much against me? What do principals REALLY look for in a new hire teacher?
At any rate, Hatrackers, cross your fingers, say a prayer, do your mojo or whatever you do to send good vibes. I want to follow the path that will bring the most good into this world - for me, my students, and my family.
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
~~~~Jenny~~~~
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Jenny, you are so caring and wonderful that I'm sure you would be a fabulous Language Arts teacher!! Go in there confident in your abilities, and knock their socks off!
Break a leg!
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
<hugs, prayers, and good energy underway>
Posted by policyvote (Member # 3044) on :
You are hereby the recipient of mucho vibes, karma, mojo, voodoo, hoodoo, and hokum!
Peace policy
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
and here I was hoping that Jenny was going to say she could come to Kama Con.
Nonetheless, best of luck on the interview!
AJ
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Good luck! After you wow 'em, come tell us how it went! Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
~~~~jobjobjob~~~~
Posted by BelladonnaOrchid (Member # 188) on :
Wahoo, Jenny! I shall be sending job vibes towards your general location...um, wherever that should be.
Posted by ak (Member # 90) on :
Ah, Jenny, best of luck! I know you will be great at whatever you do!
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Madame Orchid, I am in Kokomo, IN.
*spreads arms wide*
I can feel the love, O Hatrack. Thanks for all your encouragement and support!
Also, Banna, I am seriously considering coming to Kamacon. I'd just like to know my upcoming schedule first.... Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Jenny, good luck!
I'm running out of phalanges to cross for jatraqueros - you squeaked in under the wire.
Dagonee
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
And here I almost put (sp?) next to it.
Smooooooooth.
Dagonee
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Hope you get it, Jenny -- but I thought you are a "gifted" instructor (around here they call them "gifted facilitators"). Will you be able to teach a gifted program and English both?
Farmgirl
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
To a place called Kokomo...
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Good luck, JennY....I think you would be wonderful fro the position.
I think one of the best things a teacher can show id enthusiasm, it really impresses the students and the parents. I imagine that the Principal would like to see it too.
Just don't go overboard and drool on him or something...
Kwea
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
It sounds like this would be perfect for you, Andrea. I hope you get it.
I Also hope you get to come to Kamacon, cause I miss you.
Ni!
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Absolutely!
Hope, pray, and VISUALIZE!
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
(((Jenny))) *sends a lot of good vibes*
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
If you're ready, if you've got what it takes, then...don't worry! Keep pushing yourself forward. You'll get what you deserve, and that's the best.
Even if this single chance fails, which hopefully it won't, there is tons that you can do .
Best of luck to ya .
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Good luck, fellow teacher! Hope you get the job!
Now...please, can someone explain to me how teaching licenses work in the U.S. People tried to explain it to me once, but I still can't understand. Here we get our licenses as soon as we finish college.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
*high-five*
Andrea, I expect that the thing most likely to prevent you from getting this job is whether or not you ultimately decide to take it.
Best of luck:) The school will be fortunate to have you.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Interview scheduled for 2:00 tomorrow afternoon...
I was looking over the licenses of the teachers formerly hired by this school, and at least one other language arts teacher was hired without having her official middle school language arts license. So, there's at least precedent....
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
You can do it Andrea!
Hobbes Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Eduardo, it's different in each state, here.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Just for you, I shall put off my entire work load and concentrate favorably in your direction. My employers will just have to understand.
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
*vibes*
You DO know how utterly cool you are, right? You have to know things will swing your way, dearie. Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
*crosses fingers for you* I really, really hope you get this job! Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Life for Jenny is very strange at the moment. The principal of the school called me to take me off the list because, as I knew well, I didn't have the proper qualifications. Seems her secretary set up the interviews without checking backgrounds first. So, I'm out.
However. I was also contacted by a DIFFERENT school to interview for a 7th grade science position, which I am marginally more qualified for.
Go figure. That interview is on Wednesday.
I'm not asking for any more hope or good wishes. Just stay with me and enjoy the ride. I'll post more as Andrea's Adventures in Job Hunting continues....
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Damn - looks like I sacrificed that chicken just for the fun of it.
-Trevor
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
*sends luff*
good luck!
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Trevor, is the chicken non-transferable? What about if you toss in an extra fee? Like, say, a cricket?
Jenny, good luck! And when you get this one, let me know, and I'll see if I still have any junior high science stuff around here.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Interview 9AM today. Lasted for 45 minutes. Went really well. I could get excited about this. We'll see. Will know by tomorrow evening one way or another.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
*crosses fingers* Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Woo-hoo, will sacrifice another chicken for you.
Riv - it's an excuse to gnaw at a bit of chicken in a vaguely pagan frenzy and claim I'm doing it on behalf of someone who needs divine intervention.
Chicken fingers, chicken sandwiches, burned chicken with spices...it's all good.
-Trevor
Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :
:best_of_luck_graemlin:
Hobbes Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Trevor, ohhhhhh! *lightbulb moment*
Jenny, good luck!!! Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
The joys of euphemism.
-Trevor
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"I was looking over the licenses of the teachers formerly hired by this school, and at least one other language arts teacher was hired without having her official middle school language arts license."
Jenny, This is harder for administrators to do now, under NCLB. What is your certification? Is it a generalist, like 1-6 Elementary? In that case, you could teach English or science, but ONLY if you taught something else, like one class of reading. Otherwise, you would have to have a middle school, specific certification for that subject.
Superintendednts CAN write you a waiver, and then let you take courses for that certification.
You know what, though? You will get something. And if you don;t have a job at the beginning of the year, STILL don't give up hope. Lots of restructuring happens in the first few months. Also, teachers who are leaving their jobs will not usually give notice until they have another one lined up. There is always a scramble at the end.
You will get a job! You will, you will!(And my certification facts are for Massachusetts, but I think they will be pretty much the same for you. There is a lot of fudging being done for schools to be in compliance with NCLB.)
And in interviews, make sure you are up on the inclusion lingo.
Good luck!!
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Thhbbbt! Didn't get it. Maybe I'm meant to be a substitute and writer this school year. I AM spending a lot more time focusing on writing now. Don't know that I'll make much money at it, but it's much more enjoyable than angsting about not having a "lucrative" job.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Nope, be patient, Jenny. Our school is still scrambling for positions. Something will come up, but you might have to be prepared to do anything. It really is early still. Honest.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
(((Jenny)))
In Florida, you can get a temporary certificate that is good for three years, and all you need is a bachelor's degree. Is that not the case where you are?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*hug* I spent most of last year subbing and trying to figure out what I'm going to be when I grow up. Applied for all sorts of things. Worried a lot about the fact that I didn't have a job.
And then other issues (mostly stuff with one of the kids) made me very glad that I didn't have a regular job -- because I would likely have lost it, after missing that much time.
Best of luck, Jenny! I trust you will find the right balance for you. Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
This'll be my 3rd year subbing. I was fortunate enough to get temporaries in the previous years. May I do that again!
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Oh man.
Well, all that means, Andrea, is that the position wasn't the right one for you. Maybe you are meant to write this year!
I'm looking for a query letter/proposal buddy soon - someone who will be ready to start querying agents so we can hold hands together. I'm *gulp* probably going to be mailing out in the next two weeks.
Wanna mailbox watch with me?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Icarus,
Massachusetts has temporary certificates, but it is still up to the principal or superintendent to accept them.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Suddenly, a bunch more job openings popped up! Belle, I don't have a book ready yet, but I have a great idea for a non-fiction one... E-mail me, girl, and let's chat...
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Yay! Now you can start to be picky.
Posted by Jess N (Member # 6744) on :
Hey, Jenny!
Don't give up on teaching, if you're good, they will come--trust me. Have you considered teaching at the technical college level? Often they hire adjunct teachers (part timers) with only bachelors degrees. That's how I began teaching last year.
Just a thought...oh and I just wanted to say hello!
Jess
[ August 01, 2004, 04:40 PM: Message edited by: Jess N ]
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
See, that's what I'm afraid of. What if I think I'm a good teacher, but nobody else does?
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
That is a completely irrational fear.
Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :
Indeed.
Posted by Rakeesh (Member # 2001) on :
This reminds me of Seinfeld's take on fears, namely that (supposedly) fear of public speaking was the most common fear, and fear of death was the second most common.
"So that means, that to most Americans, if you're at a funeral, it's better to be in the casket than giving the eulogy!"
Which is my oblique, not-entirely-relevant way of agreeing with Mike and Celia
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You can do it Andrea!![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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