A Strange Journey of Employment

Two weeks ago the saga of trying to find a teaching job began. It has been a strange and crazy journey that I had to document. It's really too crazy to make up, too. It's a little long but it's because there's so much to tell. It's kind of a compolation of emails I'd sent to my family as updates.

Monday, Aug 6:
Saturday before last, my friend called me and said "Just wanted to let you know, there's a 1st grade ELL position open at my school. Not sure if you're interested but if you are contact the principal." She also said that she would love to sit in on the interview to give me support but she could only do it on Friday. I emailed the principal my resume and the principal contacted me back asking if my application was complete. In order to double check, I tried to contact HR at Metro with absolutely no luck at all. I couldn't get a hold of them at all. All week I have been frantically trying to get in touch with them and following up with the principal hoping to get everything cleared for the possibility of having an interview on Friday.

I took Friday off and it was busier than if I had gone into work. I was calling and emailing and working on straightening up everything. Unfortunately, no interview on Friday. Fortunately, I got a call from another school (the one 1.2 miles from my house that's brand new) Friday afternoon wanting to interview with me Tuesday @ 2:30 for a Kindergarten position. Yippee!!! Friday night we went to Ka Lin's birthday party and had so much fun playing pictionary it should be illegal. :)

Here comes the crazy part!!! Saturday morning I checked my email. I had an email from the principal saying "Hey, I'll be at the school today from 8-12. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood." What does this mean? Is this an interview? Is this a casual get together? Do I wear my suit? I called my friend and she said that it was an interview but I didn't need my suit but bring my resume. I run upstairs, get dressed and head out the door. I got on the interstate and was met with ridiculous traffic!!! Traffic! On a Saturday! Apparently the Williamson County Fair has more visitors than I realized and was clogging up the road. I was so angry. I had done so much to get this interview only to be stuck in traffic!

I called the principal to let her know my situation and she said to call her if it looked like I couldn't make it by noon. 15 minutes later and only up to the next exit, I called the principal to let her know I certainly couldn't make it by noon. She asked me a few questions and we talked for a little bit and then said "well this is what we've come up with [my friend] can do the interview... and make sure she shows you the room." I was floored! This is so cool! My friend is going to be doing the interview!! God stuck me in traffic for that very reason! :) The interview went great and the room is very spacious. And, best of all, they can't hire me on the spot because it has to come through HR but they want to offer me the position!!

I'm still going to do the interview for the kindergarten position at the brand new school right down the road from my house. It's an opportunity I can't pass up. It's been overwhelming for all of this to come out of the blue. I have to remind myself though, it might be out of the blue for me but God knew. It's so nice to feel wanted and to do teaching interviews again and to be able to wear my snazzy suit. :)

Wednesday, Aug. 8:
My interview at Longview for the Kindergarten position went pretty well. I was pleasantly surprised at some of the answers I had given them. They were really good answers. :) I was really calm and looked GOOD in my new suit. :) The ladies seem nice and it was really nice to finally meet the principal in person after emailing & talking on the phone so much. There was a lot of laughing which is a good sign.

As of right now, I haven't heard back from them. I called a few minutes ago and the secretary said that the principal has stepped out of the building. I'm hoping to hear back in the next few hours. Please, please help me pray about this. If it's God's will, I know it will work out but if it doesn't it would be pretty disappointing.

A little update on the Metro job, Metro told the principal that I wasn't highly qualified to teach and so the principal interviewed other candidates and offered someone else the job. I found out that somehow on my online application, it showed that I was an English teacher and I was not highly qualified to teach K-6. I really don't know how that happened. I can't imagine that I would put down that I was an English teacher!! I was pretty disappointed at the news but was also looking for a way to gracefully opt out of the metro job in case Longview did work out. Well, it doesn't feel like a very graceful way to opt out of it and I'm still not sure if Longview has worked out or not. :)

Wednesday Night, Aug 8:
Well, I didn't get Longview. They offered it to someone else. Big bummer! I got my application fixed for Metro and the HR lady sent a metro wide email to principals letting them know I was available. I had JUST found out about Longview and was crying on the couch when a principal from a metro school called me and wanted to interview with me today. (When she called, I didn't even realize the "metro wide" email had been sent.) I interviewed with her and started crying in the middle of it and told her all that had happened. I also told her that I don't know specifics or step by step ways to teach reading but I love kids and I'm ready to learn. I just need a chance. Despite my crying, she offered me the position anyway.

I am now a kindergarten teacher at Hattie Cotton Elementary School. Can you believe the week I've had?! I think I'm still in shock. Oh, and I start tomorrow, Thursday. We have a 1/2 day meeting then I have to go to the board and pick up a packet & I have to go back to the board on Friday. I'm not sure when I'm going to set up my room. But hey, I have a room to set up.


Today, Saturday, Aug 11:
Now for another update, the teacher that was in the room had an hour's notice before I was hired to move out of her room and that she would be teaching 3rd grade. The room was in shambles! She had lots of stuff. She moved some stuff Thursday & Friday and today, Saturday, Brooks & I and Cathy organized and cleaned and moved furniture for about 4 hours. Cathy was my organizer and Brooks was my beef cake!!! :) We took out: a double sided book shelf, 2 desks, 2 tables, 10 chairs and lots of trash! I couldn't believe how much stuff she had! It look so much better. I really couldn't have done it without them. I am so grateful for their help. I should take pictures to share. :)

You know, God is just so incredibly good. It took a lot of twists and turns but I believe this is where God wants me and where I need to be. It makes me so excited to know that. God can take us on some crazy adventures and through it all, He's in control and I trust Him to take care of it all.

School starts Monday. Please pray for me and my students and all the other teachers and students starting.