New Job

Well, it's been a crazy few weeks! I got a job! I spent the first part of September trying to get my Massachusetts license converted into a Washington license. I needed a surprising number of documents from MA and almost went crazy waiting for them to arrive in the mail. Thanks to the privacy laws now invading every aspect of life, nothing could be faxed. Meanwhile, no job interview could happen without them!

I found out about the opening on a Sunday night at our first community trombone choir rehearsal. (very fun!) It was a K-6 general music job, just exactly like I wanted! The trombone choir director (who is also a middle school band director in the same district) suggested that I take my resume straight to the principal on Monday morning. Knowing I didn't have my license or application complete, I did just that. When I arrived at the office and told the secretary why I was there she responded by telling me that the principal was currently in an interview for that very job. Oh no! A few minutes later a man walked in and said he was there for his 12:00 interview. OH NO! I couldn't believe that this was happening. The secretary stuck her head into the principal's office between the interviews and told her I was there. The principal asked her to tell me that I needed to have the interview scheduled by the HR department in the central office downtown. I started to cry the minute I was out of the building. How crazy that this perfect job was sitting right there and I couldn't get an interview!

The next morning (after a discouraging trip to HR where I was told what I needed to do to complete the application and it seemed totally impossible) the principal called my cell phone and said "tell me about yourself." I was so shocked that I fell all over myself trying to figure out what to say to her. She kindly told me that she was interested in finding the absolute best person for the job and encouraged me to hurry up and finish my paperwork.

After many long days of waiting, I had my interview. Just before I went in, another girl came out and spoke to the secretary. They knew each other already and I thought it was all over. Here was someone who's license was probably in order and everyone already knew her. How could I get the job now? I went in and did my best. I didn't think it went badly but I also didn't think it went well. They told me they would probably be calling the next day (which was Friday).

All day Friday I waited. I was so nervous. The school had seemed so nice, the staff was so nice and the vibe just from being in the office was so NICE. I really wanted it then. Finally, at 4:30 the principal called to let me know that they weren't making up their minds until early the next week. (Heart drops). She also said that it was partly because my license wasn't complete (Heart rises slightly). I knew I had only one more document that I was waiting on and it was in the mail. Luckily, it arrived on Tuesday and I drove it straight down to the licensing office. The woman who worked there (who knew me by name and face at this point!) said she would process it immediately.

On Wednesday morning at 9:15 AM I got a call from the school. It was the principal and she offered me the job. I was elated! She asked me when I could start. I thought for a minute, about to say that Monday would be good, and in the pause she said "Actually, let me put it this way. Can you start on Friday?" Yikes! Yes, of course I would. So, off I went to HR to sign my contract and other forms and Friday morning I arrived in my new classroom.

To say that I am relieved only begins to cover how I feel about this. It is a job in a school where people are positive and happy when they arrive at work. The children are nice (although I'll still have to win over the older ones just like I would anywhere) and I am excited to be part of it all.

I teach eight classes a day. Eight! But they are only thirty minutes long. It's going to take some getting used to because thirty minutes isn't long for anyone older than second grade. However, over the course of two weeks I see every class 5 times! The school has about 450 students and also has several classes of mixed grade leves (5/6, 3/4, and 1/2). The kids ask all the time when we will begin putting on plays and when they can start to sing in chorus. I keep responding "Ok, but let me get my head on straight!" I hit the ground running with a full schedule of classes in a new school, in a new state, where none of the acronyms mean anything (to me)!

Slowly but surely I am getting settled in. I'm still working on setting up my classroom so it is not cumbersome to me. Overall, I'm very excited to have landed in this district and I can't wait to see what the year brings! Here is a picture of my classroom. It is divided into two rooms. The carpeted area is my classroom and the tiled area is actually the stage. I get to use the stage if I want to during most of the classes but during the afternoon there is an orchestra rehearsal there during first grade and kindergarten. (Noisy!!) I'm hoping that can change soon... So here it is and I will try to update again soon!