The Job Saga

You must forgive my pride, for it has resulted in a lack of updating for a few months now. I did not want to make a post until I got a job. SPOILER ALERT: I got a job. So I journeyed through the summer anxiously awaiting a job offer so I could update my loyol audience with happy news. So here goes the happy news:

I began my search applying to a narrow line of jobs: only intermediate grades (3-5), only low-income schools, and only within city limits or slightly outside. When nothing happened with these, my qualifications became less picky. Public, private, close, far, big kids, little kids. Job Opening! Yes! Take me! I sent cover letter after cover letter, resume, application, resume, application. Then wait.

My first interview came from a school I had little interest in teaching at, but I was contacted by the principal and asked for an interview. It was an ESL job where I would be using my Spanish to accomodate students who were new to the English language in a mainstream classroom. I approached this interview as a "practice interview" as it was not in a low-income school and it was an hour outside the city. [Sidenote: I need to teach at a low-income school because I agreed to when I took a grant to help pay for school at Loyola. It requires that I teach in a high needs school in a high needs subject area for 4 out of the next 8 years. A school is considered high needs if at least 40% qualify for free or reduced lunch according to their familiy's income.] So I interviewed for the job, said lots of stupid things, said ummmmm a lot, and learned what not to do in an interview. It accomplished exactly what i meant for it to... practice.

A week later I was called for a preliminary interview with a network of charter schools in the city of Chicago. This one I was serious about. They started as a community organization meant to empower the Latino community. They had English classes, citizenship classes, and helped connect people with jobs. They soon realized if they were going to empower the community, they needed to start with the next generation, particularly in their schooling. They opened several sites and have since been growing. Because this is a belief I feel passionately in accordance with, I was right on board.  I had a great interview that I left skipping down the downtown streets of Chicago. Not only did I hope they wanted me, but I knew I wanted them. It seemed to be a great fit, so I waited by the phone for a call.

The day after this interview, I got another chance to practice my job seeking skills. That was, I had a "practice job offer" from the "practice interview" I was sure I would not get. Turns out my references raved about me and my answers were convincing enough that I knew what was going on. I consider this a practice job offer because I didn't ask any of the appropriate questions. I simply explained I could not take it and needed to pursue other opportunities thank you for considering me have a great afternoon bye. Yikes. Amateur. I paced about this while at my part time job, eventually running into my boss's office and asking if I did the right thing. He said "well you can't go back now." This was true, so I let it go and continued to wait on the other.

I waited. And waited. And wondered why I had not gotten any other calls and what would I be doing in the fall and I CANNOT LIVE WITH MYSELF IF I AM ONE OF THOSE FUNEMPLOYED KIDS POST COLLEGE.

But as He always does, God swooped in just in time to save my rapid loss of hope. I had sent a cover letter and resume to a principal who posted an opening on the Chicago Public Schools website. I immediately got an "out of office" reply and then forgot about it. A week later, on the day the email said he would return to the office, I got a call requesting an interview for the next day. Round three. Ding ding ding.

Got ready. Prepared for the interview. I said "white or purple collar shirt this time" Josh says "last time you wore white you got a job offer." True. White collar shirt with suit. Drive there in my no-air-conditioned car. Pace outside for a bit. Carry everything in and dry my sweaty hands on my pants over and over while in the seat in the office. Do I know much about this job? No. Do I want it? You bet. Will they make me speak Spanish? Probably. Am I ready for that? Heck no.

I proceeded to answer all of the principal and vice principal's questions... including one in Spanish. I had questions about their school and discovered I was quite a fan of what was going on there. And then, something I have never heard of happened. We wrap up the questions, they tell me they need references, then hand me a sheet and I am guided down the hall. I thought we were going to the door, but instead we went to the teacher's lounge. And they sat me down. In front of a computer. WIth a 20 minute writing prompt.

ARE YOU SERIOUS? Yes. My task was to write my first newsletter to fictional parents and students telling them what we would be studying for the fall quarter. I'll just say here that the average over-achieving over-prepared education major would have FREAKED. Fortunately, somewhere along the way I discovered that I could do anything last minute and pull it off gloriously. 20 minutes to be creative under pressure? No problem.

I scurried in those minutes to use clip art and headings and columns and sound professional but personal at the same time and be realistic in my newsletter and BOOM 20 minutes later it is e-mailed to the principal. I return the prompt sheet to the office and say my smiling goodbyes.

24 hours later: A job offer. Nay, the PERFECT job offer. 5th grade gifted bilingual in a fine arts school. Those who are close to me know why this is pefect. I know this is getting long, but let me spell out the reasons:

·         I student taught for a year in a fifth grade gifted classroom. I can now reuse all my units I laboriously created for that precious group of students.

·         Bilingual classrooms are considered a high needs subject area.

·         It's a high needs school.

It's a fine arts school that partners with a local art college and theater group to promote poetry, drama, music, and art WITHIN the curriculum.

We like to call this Every Teacher's Dream Job. More art projects? ABSOLUTELY. Subject area I'm passionate about? YES. In a cool artsy part of Chicago? YES. 20 minutes away? Even better.

GLORY HALLELUJAH I HAVE A TEACHING JOB.