Get a new teaching job

I was hoping the next time I posted, I’d actually get to close this goal down. I felt so good at that point and now have returned to my downer time. It’s amazing how much can happen in a week.

Since I last updated the goal, I had two interviews! That itself is progress. The first one was at a school that had the same name my mom told me I swore my first child would have the same name. Fate? Distance to this job was about 45 minutes away, which is ok as I do enjoy chill down time and of course prep time on way to job as well. The first one was in Okeechobee last Thursday and it went great. The school was smaller, discipline well handled, great working vibe and lesson plans already complete for the first 3 weeks. The other teacher was moving from the middle school to the high school. The interview just flowed, I loved the principal, and she seemed to love me in return. Time just flew by and I was so excited when I left as she said she “loved chatting with me” and I was the more experienced of the applicants. She told me she’d call Monday regardless if I didn’t get the position or not. That I greatly appreciated as anyone whose waited on hearing back knows how it seems to drag on timewise. Monday came-no call. I figured I didn’t get it and she just didn’t want to tell me. Next morning, as in this morning, she left a message on my phone that she’d chose to go with someone else. It’s really too bad, as she seemed like a great person to work for and I would’ve really enjoyed that.

Now Thursday was my interview in Okeechobee, then on Friday morning, I woke up to another phone call. I had an interview for Monday morning in my county at a school that’s a mile or two from my house. I felt ok after this interview, it was not as awesome as my other interview but the interviewer was nice and seemed into what I was saying. The job is more challenging which is fine with me, I just miss all of it. The person there leaving is a more experienced teacher but isn’t familiar with the demographic in the less priviledged schools here. I did tell them about the other interview and explained I’d take whatever job called first. She understood, and I hope that I didn’t ruin chances by saying that as the other job most definitely is not happening.

I’m going to start searching surrounding counties, like I should have after getting the phone call for the interviews as most schools are making sure when students return that there is a teacher in place not a sub. I’ll keep looking and working to find a teaching job.

The frustration with all of it is overwhelming sometimes and I get stuck in that “woe is me” mentality and wonder what is wrong with me that I get passed over again and again. I am working to combat it though.

made the rounds online to school boards around my county and in my area. Applied to Okeechobee, and Martin while I made sure both openings here in my subject area had been applied to. Went down to the job source place and made my copies of my resumes, cover letters and teaching certificates. Martin has a new process for teachers, so arranged to get my transcripts from colleges mailed in. Dropped off a reference form for one team leader to fill out and will call other references tomorrow to see if they’re willing. I dropped off my resume and cover letter at local middle school looking professional. Waited to see if I could see someone, but no luck there. Plus side-job is still open-so maybe an interview is in my future? I hope.

Looked into adding subjects to my certification…the test now costs $200!!!! I think it used to cost $50? What the heck?!? I’m still thinking of doing it, but only one subject at that cost. Otherwise, if I could get teaching, I could afford to try it way easier.

Today I talked with my aunt in Michigan, she told me to buck up, stay positive. She said I loved what I did, someone would see that and get me back in it. I feel like Puss in Boots in Shrek, holding the hat brim looking up with big goo goo eyes hoping for that yes to a teaching job moment. My guy told me the same thing earlier. I guess the longer this goes on, the more down I get. Seems logical, but most definitely not fun. Thinking about looking into volunteering at humane society, joining some sort of group, something that gets me out with others.

In fact every position I applied to before I left has been either closed or noone will speak with me/email me any news regarding them. Mildly disappointing to say the least.

Left FL, and sorority sisters emailed to let me know a position that has been open a while has had no applicants. Even though its not something I have on my certificate, I went ahead and applied for it. I’ll prolly call them tomorrow for fun, to see if they tell me same thing.

The problem is what you hear from people is quite often very different when you speak with admin for these schools that have openings. Drives me crazy but eh, I miss it, the students, the subject, the faculty, the whole shebang. Hope to get back to it soon.

is balling up in the pit of my stomach. I’m wanting to teach so badly that if I got a teaching job there, I would move there. If not, I’m coming home. I can get a lower paying job here, I just hold out for teaching. Is that silly of me?

In the meantime, my neighbor has agreed to watch over kittens & guinea pigs while everyone is gone. My dad just has to let her know a day in advance and all will be fine. I have made great strides with all of them, I only hope a month doesn’t erase their memories.

Packing is such fun, I’m trying to pack with jobs in mind as well as holy, moly it’s colder there than Florida is!

Back to my thoughts on jobs. I’m hoping in a way I get a job there and in a way I’m hoping it’s like Florida has been to me thus far. Sad mix eh?

is the results of my fervid attempts at getting a job around here. I’ve applied in Okeechobee at the high school to no avail. Martin and Indian River doesn’t have any openings for my subject area while Palm Beach county let me apply to 2 openings but won’t let me finish 2 or 3 others. I plan to call on Monday to see if they’re still available. My sorority friend called to let me know the position reopened at her school, apparently the 30+ years of experience that this man had or for whatever reason-he just walked off on the job. This kills me. I want a job teaching and wouldn’t ever walk off the job. Kids are going to push buttons and you have to remain the calm, cool, collected one. I dressed up and went to drop off more application stuff, the principal wasn’t on campus for the day. I go in other times and get no where. I graduated from this high school and I’m getting treated like this?!!! Needless to say, I’m pretty disillusioned with the system here.

I’m flying up to Seattle, WA on Wednesday if a job hasn’t become available to me by then. I’m going to job search there and spend time with my guy. He hopes I get a job there and have to move whereas I keep hoping for a job here, so he’ll move. It’s a conundrum. Fun times lay ahead.

I have had an interview at the DJJ in Okeechobee since my last posting. I was offered a job, but it’s a year long position for less money, more hours, headaches and working with a portion of the student population I don’t have much interaction with. There are more specifics but I didn’t take the job. I was relieved to feel wanted by someone though!

I mailed off the last of the WA stuff, so hopefully that’ll come through. I figure I can always sign up for the subject area test and fly out to do it, so I can step up and get my professional one as a backup out there.

EDITED 10/17/09 Job opportunity turned out to be a scam. I luckily hadn’t given my SSN, but they do have my signature. I’ll be reporting it to the FBI along with another job that I did give my SSN for and never have heard another word. I don’t need identity theft added to my hassles! Beware people contacting you about jobs, always call phone numbers and make sure real people exist along with the internet. Don’t depend solely on one-use both!

I still would like to teach, but in the meantime, I need to make a living and live it. I don’t want to be stuck in time anymore. It’s not a feeling I enjoy.

I see this goal and cringe every day that it remains on my list.

head slumps in defeat

Ok, self-pity aside. New job opened up in our county, I’ve redone my resume. It probably is still wordy but I’m an English teacher and trying to follow all the guidelines I’ve been given…is frustrating. Anyhow, I am going to see if the computer system stopped wigging out and will let me post to it tonight. Tomorrow I’m planning to go to the school with a packet of my information looking all nice in hopes that it will make me seem more eager..not desperate to get the job. I am desperate. I really miss having students and teaching and learning and the whole shebang.

WA teaching certificate is slowly coming together, I am awaiting my background check stuff for a bunch more stuff to be checked off, and the character verification from the college. Will be calling tomorrow about making sure transcripts and other stuff I already sent are truly there even though they’re not checked off yet. I’ll ask again to make sure English covers Reading up there-because down in FL it sure doesn’t.

I’m going to a resume class this coming week and finding out about more training tomorrow. I need to email my resume to the instructor from last weeks to get into his network as well.

Whomever it was that thought unemployment meant more time for other things was sincerely wrong. I feel like I’m never getting a break-and I need to stop worrying so much but its insanely hard not to as time moves on.

I realize that I’m very thankful for all those that are helping and supporting me at this time-be it with laughter, job news, exercise, other wonderful things.

I know-this drama again!? Ha. No, I have begun talking and working things out with my ex bf and we’re trying to get back together. I don’t know what the future holds as far as that whole us quandry but we’re trying it. The third time is the charm right?

Anyhow, I applied for 3 positions so far in Seattle, Washington even though I as in my body am in Fort Pierce, Florida. I’m emailing/calling to find out if that will be a problem for interviews. Two of the schools actually emailed me back saying details would follow for interviews next week. The other school emailed to ask if I was Language Arts and Reading certified. I’m going to call certification department as soon as I finish this entry so I can email her back to let her know. They are much more friendly about it, so I’m trying to be hopeful.

Nothing has been heard from schools here. I am going to try texting my friend L to see if she wants some stuff from my classroom packup after S checks it out. I’m trying to downsize some of what is in storage unit. That is a nightmare I’ll update about another time. Anyhow, keeping busy with that stuff. I really maintain the feeling of not wanting to move until I have a job. I hope with technology and such they can do the interview long distance, whereas my bf maintains I have to be there for me to look as good as the other interviewees. Any thoughts out there?

3 in West Palm Beach county, 1 to Okeechobee county and 1 in Martin county. There weren’t any openings in Indian River County or in Saint Lucie county at the moment. Sucks. Aggravating. My vocabulary skills seem to revert to an elementary level the longer this goes on. Very soon I may be saying urg and uhhhhh. Must get job soon!

I went to schools that I had applied to today to try to get answers as I’d left messages, talked with people and emailed to no response. All of the positions had been filled, the ones open still are not in my field. One place was not absolute but she took my name AGAIN. Found out they had shredded applications at beginning of summer as they had so many and that they were searching for teachers out of the county. The way I found out about that is from a friend who is a member of a site that gets updates like that. Great feelings are exploding forth towards the people hiring in our county-NOT! Teaching in this county is becoming a distant dream. My hope is crashing down upon me.

I came home, went in the bathroom and cried a little. I am going to start researching Colorado(my niece may move there) and Arizona(my sister and her family live there). In addition, recheck certification testing stuff, and maybe take tests in other subjects to see if I can pass them and add more to my certificate.