become a teacher

I very honestly don’t know if I can do this.

It’s been one week and I’m ready to quit.

There is a reason why public schools in New Orleans are among the worst in the country, and I’m not sure what it is. It’s very wrong and it’s very complicated.

As I was sitting in the RSD office waiting to sign paperwork, the neighborhood elementary school called me offering an interview. So I headed over there and an hour later had accepted a position as a computer literacy teacher for grades PK-8.

I did call the other school beforehand to let them know.

I start as soon as the paperwork goes through.

Starting Monday the 26th I will be a pre-kindergarten teacher in the Recovery School District.

I will spend several days setting up my classroom, then as soon as I get a Temporary Authority to Teach from RSD I can start teaching. The education system in New Orleans is crazy: I was very upfront with the principal that I have no experience in an early childhood classroom, nor do I have any intention of getting certified in early childhood education. My certification, when I finish in two years or so, will be in elementary education, grades 1-5. She told me that by next year I could have an elementary classroom.

The situation here is so desperate that my utter lack of experience wasn’t a problem, and that continues to blow my mind. I attended a teacher in-service today and told several fellow teachers about my situation and no one seemed surprised.

Part of me is very excited about this opportunity to take on a challenge and make a difference, but another part of me knows that these students deserve a well-qualified teacher. I will do the best that I can by my students; I do have that to offer.

I have an interview for a 1st grade position tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm. That’s worth missing the end of the Saints game. :-)

I started my elementary school field experience on Tuesday. It’s in a 4th grade classroom at a local charter school. I’m about the only white person in the school except for when fellow UNO students come in to teach a lesson, but I don’t feel uncomfortable at all.

I also heard back from the Recovery School District. I need to go take a “skills assessment” next week, and I’ve scheduled it for Wednesday morning. Wish me luck.

I start my field experiences today, in a middle school in Jefferson Parish (read: the suburbs). Ultimately what I want is an elementary school in New Orleans, but that won’t happen until the end of October thanks to the inefficient Recovery School District. (My background check will take a month because they’re implementing a new system, though what they’re doing with new teachers in the interim is beyond me.)

Anyway, I’m making progress and progress is good.

I made it to New Orleans. Classes start tomorrow. The neighborhood elementary school is just down the street.

Completely finished now! I have achieved QTS (qualified teacher status)!! Will have to quickly get a job sorted for next year now!!
Thanks to everyone for your encouragement, comments and cheers.

1. Accepted 10k in student loans.
2. Applied for a substitute teacher position in the New Orleans Recovery School District.
3. Officially accepted into the teacher education program at the University of New Orleans.
4. Registered for more of my teacher education coursework at UNO.

Classes start August 20th. Moving down there a week before for volunteering and sightseeing, good food and jazz music.

Well it’s been quite a journey getting to this stage of the course, but I have about 2 weeks to go. I can’t tell you how happy I feel about this!! I’ve finished the curriculum with most of my classes, so we are mostly having fun lessons – which is great!
Still, 2 weeks is a long time – I’m not there yet!