Life...: Veering Off-Course

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Veering Off-Course - Of Course!

I thought I would do a quick chat about my new job. I'm not exactly sure ALL of the details but I will tell you what I do know.

First of all, I thought I had my life mapped, planned and on course. It was simple, file for a divorce, go back to school, graduate, teach, get a masters, teach another 35 years, retire. Well, I guess it's just not that easy. As August approached I started getting nervous about finding a job, even discouraged at times. I decided that if I wasn't teaching, I would at least like to be in a school. So here I am.

I start on the 16th by going to a retreat at Wintergreen, and will be in the school full-time as of Aug. 23rd. I will be a case manager for a local (not-private not public school). So they are funded by the city but is not considered a city school.I will have a total of 4 students that I am responsible for, I will be working with a teacher, and counselor to determine the best teaching practices and strategies for the students. All of the students that I will be working have a degree of Autism, from mild to severe. There also a 7th grader that will be coming into the preschool/elementary classes. I'm anxious too see how that is.

The benefits seem pretty good and after I have worked there for 6 months they will pay for 80% of my masters degree (pretty good incentive to work there). Of course there will be a commitment involved, but who knows I may come to love the school and working in the Sp.Ed. field, and retire from here in 35 years. Just saying.

The hiring process was awesome! I went in last week for an interview, went yesterday for the second interview. At the end of the interview they explained they had to make a decision today by 5 and I would know either way on Friday. To my surprise the principal called me at 5:30 last night and offered me a job!

For some reason I am really excited about this opportunity. I get to be in a school, working with students and other teachers. I did not have to go back to restaurant work, law offices or substitute teaching. I am also excited because this experience could end up being the deciding factor whether or not I WANT to work in Sp.Ed. or stay in general education. PLUS - if I can work at this school - I will be able to work in ANY school, believe me, it is going to change my life!

Now, if a RCPS calls and offers me my very own classroom, I have no idea what I would do!!! Time will tell, let's hope this is not another example of bad timing.

I will tell you all about my new job when I have more to talk about!

Here's to trying new things and veering off course a little, for now.

<3

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Things I Love the Most:

Things that I love the most:

The way Meagan says I love you, it melts my heart, oh and
the once I year I get to see my nephews, because I miss them so much!

The smell of honeysuckle when the spring wind blows,
and how the sunlight heats my face.

The feeling of falling in love, and the hard work it takes to stay there.

Post-It notes, school supplies, new pens and pink erasers.

Pouring my heart out on this blog, and not caring who reads it because it is who I am.

Books for kids, books for adults, books about life, books about love and books on self-improvement.

Laughter, the kind that makes you cry or pee in your pants, laughing at the silly things life holds and at the mistakes I make.

The way a child's face lights up when they realize they do "get it", and knowing that I helped them get there.

Instant gratification, even if it takes a while to get.

Peanut M&M's and decorated cupcakes, but most of all enjoying them with a friend.

The way he pushes my buttons since I'm so cute when I'm angry, and then we laugh.

Having a tiny hand in mine as we walk to the park, when you know you are their protector and guide, and somehow they know they are yours.

The smell of suntan lotion in the summer, the sun at the beach, and the pages of an old book.

Good friends, the kind you consider your family, the ones that don't leave when times are rough, the ones that don't disappear when life goes off course, the ones that don't quit or let you quit when you are tired.

Crossword puzzles, learning new words and their meanings, and then using them in a sentence so someone else can learn them too.

Most of all, I love life, I love the little things in life, the big things in life, the dreams that do come true, the fairy tale that awaits and knowing that God does have a plan, even if I don't know the outcome, I know - that my life is the way it is for a reason.

Favorite Poem:

This is what we are about:
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold the future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We must provide yeast that produces affects beyond our capabilities.

We cannot do everything
and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something,
and do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way....

We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders,
ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
~from a poem by Archbishop Oscar Romero

Where I'm From...

Where I’m From

I am from that old wood stove that crackled and hissed at night,

By the rocking chair where you were held tight.

I’m from up the hill, under the pine tree where the sap stuck to my toes

From the mile long clothesline stretched across the yard,

From the home inside that buzzed in the summer and stung my nose.

I’m from the swimming hole filled with tadpoles that hatched,

From the toads under Granny’s trailer we used to catch.

I’m from the sweet smell caught in the breeze,

OH that honeysuckle made me sneeze.

I’m from the bus stop where I got my first kiss,

And when my daddy found out he was....

I’m from Andy Griffith reruns, Heman and She-ra shows, cassette tapes I made for my friends, star bright, light bright, and bears that cared.

From leg warmers to rolled down socks, tight rolled pants and where turtle necks, and sweaters, were paired.

I’m from the Little House on Prairie and plenty of Hail Mary’s,

From standing on my knees and those old rosary beads.

I’m from that pan of shepherds’ pie for

which I despised.

I’m from snow so deep you couldn’t see my house,

Even though I was tiny as a mouse.

Christmas with cookies and milk, stockings that hang, newspaper wrapping that covered a doll, when all I wanted was a basketball

OH- and turkey for carving.

Where I’m from you’re not made of glass, children are seen and not heard and we don’t have enough money to heat the whole world,

and by the way eat your veggies because children in Africa are starving.

These are my memories,

Those were the days.

To Be A Teacher Means...

To embrace diversity and love every smile regardless of learning ability, physical capability, color, race, religion, or any other discrimination people face.

To not only love to teach people to think for themselves, but love to be ever learning and ever evolving into something greater.

To try not to change the world, but to change a child, make them be their best even if you have to give them a piece of your soul.

To be your best everyday, even when it seems that you have given your all.

To fight for social justice, because it is right, moral and a social necessity.

To know that teaching has its successes and its failures. If a teacher isn't making mistakes then they are probably not taking risks.

To take risks and learn from the mistakes.

To have a classroom that feels like a home, where I, my students and their parents can feel comfortable and loved.

To overcome the daily challenges of teaching with a smile on my face and a warm heart.

To teach the "unteachable" - to have someone learn something when every other teacher said they were "unteachable".

To not lecture of group of young minds, but lead them through thoughts and questions they have about the world.

To know, I am good at what I do because it is my passion - not just a paycheck.

To always remember I was born to teach, and this I shall do - someday :)