Another Interview!

I have been meaning to post updates here, but there really hasn't been much to write. I started taking a course at UVM (University of Vermont) to use for my license renewal next year. It's an educational psychology class and is only for two weeks, so it's really intense. That's pretty much been my life the past week and will continue for another week after.

The big news is that I have another interview! It is at a private Catholic school, so I'm not sure what my odds are at actually getting a job. However, the father of a friend of mine who knows people there went in and told them how great I am, so that has to help! The interview isn't until Thursday, so I have plenty of time to plan. I'll keep you updated!

Didn't Get the Job

I finally heard from the high school and they decided to hire someone else. The reason was that they wanted someone with more high school experience.

The assistant principal said that I interviewed very well but that someone else was more what they were looking for. I did everything I could and it still wasn't enough. At this point, it doesn't look like I'll actually be teaching next year as there are only a few more jobs posted and I haven't been called for interviews.

To make matters worse, today is my birthday. Happy birthday to me. :(

Still No Word

I was supposed to hear about the high school job Friday. I carried my phone with me all day so I could answer it as soon as it rang. I knew that it was really a long shot that I'd get the job, but was still somewhat optimistic. It's a little hard to still believe in oneself after so much rejection, but I thought that maybe all the calls and recommendations from local people would somehow make a difference.

I waited during the whole school day and didn't get a call. Today was the last student day of school, so we had a lot of activities. I kept my phone with me the whole time. The 8th grade graduation was last night, so I had to hang around town until 5:30. At 4:30, I left a message with the Assistant Principal, who was the head of the hiring committee. At this point, I probably won't hear anything until Monday.

Basically, I probably didn't get the job. The failure to hear anything could only mean one of two things: 1. They offered it to someone else and are waiting to hear from that person. 2. They are having a hard time hearing back from references.

I still have a tiny amount of hope left, which is only making all of this harder. There are very few positions posted this year, so if I don't get this one, it doesn't look like I'll get something for next year. A number of positions have even been canceled. Most likely, I have another demeaning year of subbing.

Networking Pro

Yesterday, I hit up as many people at my school as possible to put in a good word for me at the high school. Luckily for me, I am well liked at my school and am very professional. As a result, everyone wants to help me get a job! Apparently, I was not the only one bummed that my position was cut.

I had asked the assistant principal in charge of my evaluation to call some people for me, and yesterday she promised to call the AP ASAP. ;)

I also run a morning program for K-3 with a new teacher who went to the high school. Turns out she has a great relationship with one of the teachers who interviewed me. She promised to give him a call to tell him all the good things she has to say about me.

Lastly, one of the other LA teachers at my school has a friend at the high school. I talked to her yesterday morning and she was excited to call her friend to help me out. I just got an email from her, which said the following:

Hi Mary,

Just want you to know that I put in a good word for you with a LA teacher at [high school]. She was psyched and said that the interview team was very pleased with your interview. I talked with my friend via phone tonight and she promised to pass on the info I gave her today. She definitely liked what she heard about you. It sounds like you did a great job on your own.


Woohoo!! Now, I know that there are about a billion factors that go into who hiring committees end up hiring, but I am totally doing absolutely everything that I can! And I am pleased that my networking seems to be paying off. It also doesn't hurt that I've been on about 15-20 interviews and have become extremely comfortable with the process... If I don't get the job, it will definitely be just the dreaded "experience" piece.

Well Evaluated

I had my end of year evaluation meeting today. Apparently I've been doing everything really well! I know that I've been doing my best and have always tried to cover all of my bases, but it definitely feels pretty good to hear it!

Once the administrator who is in charge of my evaluations types up my final evaluation, I'll have something good to add to my teaching portfolio. Having people agree that I'm a great teacher, should help me get a job. If it doesn't, then I really don't know what schools are looking for...

First Interview Down

I had my first interview of the season today. It was at the high school in the supervisory union where I currently teach.

The interview went pretty well. There were a few questions that I probably could have answered more concisely, but I got to the point eventually and I always repeat the main points of my answer at the end. I figure, if that's what one should do in an essay, I should do it for interview questions.

They didn't ask me any questions that really threw me and I wasn't nervous, which are all good things. Basically, the interview went as well as it could have. I still am not convinced that I'll get the job, though. There are so many qualified people interviewing that I have a hard time believing anyone would really put me at the top of a list.

Also, they aren't going to have second interviews. This was it. So, I hope I made a really good impression and that I said all the things they wanted me to say.

So let's all keep our fingers crossed!

First Interview of the Season

I finally got a call for an interview! Let the celebrations and hurried planning begin! I'm one of those anal interviewers who over-plans. I prep myself with practice questions and make sure that all of my portfolio stuff is up to date and easily managed.

As for the portfolio, I hadn't updated it for this year yet. I had been thinking about putting something together, but was so discouraged by the lack of interviews that I just put it off. So, I now need to scramble to get something together for Thursday.

What I typically bring is a short portfolio with some specific highlights. I bring extra copies so those interested can keep one. I include some lesson plans, examples of student work, recommendation letters, teaching philosophy statement, my license, and a couple additional statements about teaching. I might add in my transcripts just because I got really good grades.

I think I'll be ready for the interview. I had been interviewing a bunch last year and had become super used to the process. I doubt it will be too difficult to get back into it, but the first one of the season is always a little rough. So I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it goes...

First Big Rejection

I haven't posted in a little while as there hasn't been much to write. I've applied for a few new jobs and hadn't heard anything about interviews. In the world of job-hunting, that's not really good, but not horrible either. Really, by now, I should have had at least one interview.

The school where I was a long term substitute for a couple positions had posted a middle school opening. I had worked with the middle school principal some, but the high school one was my main supervisor. The high school principal went to a different school last year, so he isn't around any more. Since I sort of knew the middle school one, I went to talk to him right after the position was posted.

We had a nice discussion and he gave me some pointers for my application. I left feeling pretty good and thought I would at least be called in for an interview. Naively, I thought that was the least they could do since I did a great job there and really proved myself to be a quality English teacher.

When I hadn't heard anything in about a month, I called the district to find out where they were in the process. They told me that they were just sitting down with the applications and that they would begin calling people in for interviews. That was about two weeks ago, so I figured I would have heard something by now. But as I'm overall a pretty optimistic person, I wasn't convinced that I was out of luck.

Today I got the standard School Spring email thanking me for my application and stating that I wasn't chosen for the job. Needless to say, I'm a little upset. Not only did I teach there and have a good rapport with the other staff members, but I even talked to the principal. He told me that if I could handle teaching in St. Albans, it would be a breeze to come back to Fairfax. (Which is probably a false statement, but that's beside the point.)

Basically, I'm upset that I didn't get the job, but also worried about what this means for my future prospects. If I can't even get a job somewhere that I've taught before, how can I expect to get a job somewhere else?

Not So Lucky

It turns out that I have no special rights to that high school job in my supervisory union. It doesn't hurt that I've worked in the same town and am in good standing here, but it isn't going to automatically secure the job for me. So, I have to apply like anyone else.
I called and talked to the department chair to find out some more info on the job. Sounds pretty standard with a variety of classes that would be taught. They will be looking at applications next week and won't be setting up interviews right away.
At this point, I'm feeling pretty apathetic about the entire situation. I haven't heard from any schools about interviews and am unsure whether or not I'll hear from anyone at all. I thought it would be better this time around since I have some real experience, but it doesn't look like that's the case. It seems pretty ridiculous that one has to go through so much trouble to get a teaching job.
I'll keep posting here regardless of any real news. I hope I'll have something uplifting to report in the future.

Possible Light at the End of the Tunnel

Yesterday, the high school in my supervisory union posted an English teacher job. This could be good for me for a number of reasons.
First of all, there are a lot of people at my school who know people and have connections with people at the high school.
Second, my license is perfect for high school and I wouldn't have to think about adding extra endorsements if I worked there. (That is sort of a side conversation about middle school and the complicated world of the middle school endorsement.)
Third, as I experienced a reduction in staff, I may have rights to the position. So, it's possible that I'll at least be at the top of the pile or even more secure with it.
I don't want to say too much and jinx the situation, though.

Contracts Due

Contracts at St. Albans City School, my current employer, are due today. I received one for my .3 (now .296) ESL position but not for my .5 Language Arts one, which was cut. As I don't think it's worthwhile to drive to St. Albans for approximately $11K, I did not sign my contract.
Now, I would think this wouldn't surprise anyone. However, I heard the office manager, or whatever she's called, was looking for me today to find out if I was planning on signing it. Ummm...no... If I was planning on signing it, I would have done so!
This isn't really exciting news, but it's all I have for today. Still no interviews!

Surprised by Hope

I am a member of a Unitarian Universalist church and have been going there for five or six years now. While I attend nearly every Sunday, the sermons and readings usually stir something in me, but often don't have any life altering affects. However, every once in a while I am deeply moved and that is why I continue to go.
Today was one of those days.
We had a visiting minister from Cambridge, MA. He is very involved in the environmental movement and spoke some about that. His main message, though, was that he chooses to hope for the best. He spoke of how we do not know the future and have no way of knowing what is to come. So to be certain of failure is arrogant. How can one know? With that in mind, he chooses hope.
I realized not only how minor my current struggles are in the grand scheme of things but also how silly I have been to be so pessimistic. The worst possible situation is that I'll have to sub next year. And so what? Why not hope for the best and go from there?
I will continue to do everything in my power to be the best candidate for a teaching job, but in the meantime I am going to slow down and hope for the best. I have many wonderful things in my life and there is no reason to disturb my equilibrium just because I don't know what I'll be doing come August.

Still Waiting on Interviews...

Probably the hardest part about job searching is the time between applying for a job and waiting to hear about an interview. The first week is fine, but the following one and especially the one after that can begin to foster feelings of uncertainty and doubt. So far, I have had no calls for interviews this year.
At this point, there are really only two options: sit and wait or call schools and ask what's up.
Now, I typically call the supervisory union rather than the school because I'm a wuss and afraid to be rejected right off. Usually, I hear from them either, "no one's been hired and they're calling people for interviews/interviewing now" or "hmmm...I don't know what's going on with that. Let me call the school and call you back." Either way, it's nice and detached. Much better than getting on the phone with someone who knows perfectly well that you're not getting a call because you're totally not qualified enough.
I've called a couple SU's so far and haven't gotten a clear message. So, I guess I'm back to the sitting and waiting option.

Networking Opportunity Missed

Yesterday and today I've been attending a technology conference for teachers. I decided to go because other teachers at my school were going and it sounded like a good way to learn how to integrate more technology into my classroom. And after I got my RIF notice, it seemed like a good networking opportunity. I even brought a few copies of my resume to pawn off on people.
But I failed.
I talked to a few people, but no one who really had any influence or were at schools that were hiring. In fact, the people who I talked the most to were at school where reductions were happening. Apparently Vermont is really not a place to look for a teaching job right now. As if I didn't already know that.
The other problem with networking at conferences is that educators tend to just talk to people they know. I had a really hard time just TALKING to anyone who I didn't already know. So, there really wasn't much of an opportunity to present myself as a person schools would want to hire.
But at least I had the best intentions at heart. And there are always the traditional ways of job searching.
However, if anyone knows of any jobs, please fee free to let me know! I have some resumes already printed even! :)

First Repeat Application

I had a weird thing happen to me yesterday. A position that I had already applied for and received a standard "Thank you for your application; we've decided to go with a different applicant" letter posted a new position on School Spring. In fact, they are looking for TWO Language Arts teachers. So, I reapplied.

My one thought for why they initially rejected my application was the fact that one of the reference letters I included was from last year. It was still early in my search and I hadn't yet received all of my new letters. I now have more than enough recent letters, so I don't think they have any reason to turn me down right away again.

The down side is that this school is about an hour away. Not exactly what I'd hoped for, but it's better than nothing.

Right now, I have seven active applications on School Spring. At least one of them has to call me for an interview, right? We'll just have to wait and see. I'll keep you all posted!

And Who Am I?

I've never been very good at consistently updating blogs, sites, etc., but I am going to try again! About three years ago I decided to go back to school to be a teacher. As I was an English major, I decided to become an English teacher. Apparently this wasn't the best choice as I am now job searching again for the third time.
So, here I am job searching. It's not really a fun process, but I'm becoming quite the pro! So I'll be reporting on my progress and the trials and tribulations of it all.
I live in Burlington, Vermont and have lived there my whole life. The only time I spent away from here was my four years of undergrad, which I spent at St. Lawrence University. Great school, but in the middle of nowhere. However, it definitely made me appreciate what I had in Burlington.
I have a husband (we just married in December) and an apartment. We have a turtle and a leopard gecko. Someday we'd like to have a house and a dog and maybe some kids somewhere down the road. Right now, however, that's sort of out of the picture.
That pretty much sums it up for now. More to come!