RAYE WOOD, NBCT, ED.D.
  • About
  • Resume
  • Contact

Job Hunting

5/16/2019

1 Comment

 
Over the last several years, I have been pretty restless in my work. I thought that changing grades would help. I was still restless. I thought that changing schools would help. I was still restless. 

So for the first time in 13 years, I have been seriously job hunting. There are many reasons for it, none of which include my students. This has been, by far, the sweetest class I have ever had. Of course they have their days (who doesn't?) but they make going to work fun. 

Alas, I knew I needed a real change. I was not into teaching a split again next year and that's what I was assigned to. I took that as my sign that I needed to do something drastically different. Thus, I began a job hunt. 

I haven't had a real interview in so long. I would argue that even the interview I had for my transfer to my current school wasn't really an interview. Not compared to the interviews I have been on recently. 

On April 30, I had an interview in a district very close to where I currently work. Looking back on it, it was pretty awkward and stifling. They weren't welcoming, they didn't appear all that friendly and I left there feeling really weird about it. That same night, I applied for another couple of jobs in a district a bit farther away.  The job description was really appealing. I told my husband the job description really should. have read "Raye, please apply for this job" because it fit me to a T.  The very next day, on May 1, I got a phone call from them! 

They did an impromptu phone interview right then. They asked me some really deep and thoughtful questions. I was quite impressed by their thoroughness. One of the questions they asked me was what I would do if stakeholders wanted me to keep the status quo but I knew it wasn't in the best interest of my students. I said "if you're asking me if I will push back against any and everyone in order to do what is right for my students, my answer will always be yes." I then went on to explain that my advocacy for my students has not always been appreciated (in fact I've had some principals who downright hated that about me), but I don't care. It's not about me. It is about what is right for kids. Period. They must've liked that because they invited me in for another interview!

I do not like the interview process. I always feel so nervous and awkward. But I have to say that this district made me feel SO welcomed and at ease. Their questions were wonderful and very thorough. As nervous as I was, I felt so good and confident sitting there with them. They put me at ease, laughed with me (when I said I didn't become a teacher for the fame and the glamorous pay) and were just so much more friendly than the place I had been the previous week. Amazing how vastly different districts/schools can be. 

A couple of days went by and I got a phone call inviting me to do a demo lesson! I was so excited but so nervous. The demo lesson would be with high school. I am an elementary teacher by trade so it was a big step! (This is an ESL teaching position so all grades K-12 which is why the demo was at that level.)  I prepped all weekend and fretted over the lesson because I am so not a high school teacher! They kind of scare me because they are so tall! 

I did a close reading lesson using the lyrics from the song "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. The students stared at me for the first several minutes and then I told them that THEY were scary to ME because I teach small fries. That made everyone in the room laugh and then the kids opened up. I actually had a lot of fun teaching those big students! 

On Tuesday I got a phone call that they were ready to check my references. Basically as long as those panned out, the job would be mine! Two (incredibly long) days later [because I am impatient], I got my official offer via email! So grateful, blessed and excited for a new opportunity.

I have felt so restless being in the same four-walls of my own classroom for the last few years. I think this ESL position will be a perfect change for me because I will be working in multiple schools, with multiple teachers and a variety of students who need support with their language development. Guaranteed that every day will be different because I probably won't be in the same school two days in a row (I mean I could be, but it doesn't sound like I will be). I'm going to get to meet and collaborate with so many people and I think that will also help me to continue to grow and learn as an educator. What more could a person ask for? 
1 Comment
Lynn
5/24/2019 09:48:02 am

First of all CONGRATULATIONS! welcome to the world of ESL, there is a very active twitter world with the best ESL folks in the world. If you want some folks to follow let me know.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018

    Categories

    All
    Esl
    School
    Uganda

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.