Change of scenery

"Change brings opportunity. "
Nido Qubein

This is the sentiment I'm taking with me next year when I begin my new teaching position at Lee's Summit West High School as a Reading and English teacher. While this last week has had complete ups and downs emotionally, I feel as if this move is for the best for my career. Countless people, including administrators, have told me that I will never be a full-time Reading teacher here in this district. They just don't have the resources. I know all districts are strapped for money, but Lee's Summit has stepped up and said that they don't want their students falling through the cracks due to their reading abilities. This is what I went to school for, and I'm so happy that I will have this opportunity. I absolutely HATE the idea of leaving my kids and friends that I've met, but I know kids are kids and will be great at my new school. I also know that I will make new friends and meet up my current friends for some much-needed happy hours and get-togethers. :)

A new school means a new school mascot, colors, clothes, etc. I do love these colors!

On one note, I will usher out this year as a Bear and will come in to the new school year as a Titan. This also means I will have to move...again. Hmmm...this will be my 9th classroom in 12 years. I should probably be a master at classroom moving by now, but it never gets old. I guess I will have to just have my summer school kids help me at the end. Maybe I'll offer them extra credit!! :)


Thanks for all your "good luck"s and "go get 'em"s! I needed it, and I did!


Thanks!!

Decisions, decisions

Oh me, oh my. Why do I have to make these tough decisions? I wish I had a magic Genie (is that a proper name?) who would tell me exactly what would happen if I made the right or wrong choice. My dilemma is this: a new job. A new job. My possible dream job? Lee's Summit West High School, the school roughly 3-5 minutes from my house, has a high school Reading position posted for next year. What do I do????? I absolutely LOVE my building. I LOVE my kids. I LOVE my friends. I LOVE the fact that I will be going to Europe in June 2012 on a school trip (more details on that one later if it pans out). I LOVE my job as an English II and III teacher. I LOVE my leadership position on the Instructional Leadership Team. I LOVE the opportunity to be the Assistant Speech/Debate Coach, which comes with a stipend. I LOVE the opportunity to teach Night School and Summer School, both of which come with extra paychecks. (For what it's worth, I would take about a $4000 pay cut once all my "extras" are taken away by moving schools.) When I look at all of these things, I can't imagine that I would leave the comfort of what I've known over the past 3 years, but I also know Lee's Summit is a great school district, my drive would cut down from 50 minutes a day to 10 tops, and being a Reading teacher is what I went to school for. It's what I was hoping to eventually be at my current school, but that opportunity has never come.

Help me! I don't want to apply for the position and interview just to say, "No thanks anyway." I need to know that this is truly what I want for myself before I put myself through the trouble and agony of starting all over again. Hmmm....