Teachers have to be really good at hiding their emotions. I tell my students that we sometimes have to put on our game face and deal with adversity. It’s a part of growing up. Is it easy? Oh heck no – especially when you secretly wish you could act like some of the second graders throwing a fit because they didn’t get their way.
As I mentioned in previous posts, I decided I needed to be more like my students and ask for what I want. So, I put myself on the transfer list and started applying for openings. I had a really, really good interview with my “home” middle school (the one my neighborhood kids attend). This was the kind of interview where you really connect with the principal and you know they “get” it. In the past, this level of connection has usually meant that I got the job. Not so this time. I received the “position filled” email shortly before I left today to go to another interview with a neighboring school district.
That was hard.
I had to put on my game face and go try to convince someone I didn’t know why they should hire me as their media specialist. I had a great conversation with two very nice people. I seemed to answer their questions in ways they liked. Hopefully, I’ll be asked back for a second interview. I really would like to see where the library is located on campus. It’s driving me crazy that I didn’t get to see it today! I was, however, very impressed with the cleanliness of the facility and the sense of order on campus. Markedly different from my current school.
I also have an interview with another elementary school later this week. One of my former coworkers told them they needed to hire me! 🙂 The only sticky wicket is due to staff reassignments, my path will cross with an assistant principal from my former school. She’s a proponent of the fixed library schedule that I’m trying to get away from.
Four years ago, it was either transfer to another school or leave education. I absolutely, positively was not returning to that school for another year. Things are very different this time around. I actually like my current school and coworkers, but I’m stagnating in the day job. Not a good place for me to be. I want to pursue learning commons certification and work toward state recognition for an exemplary library media center before I hang up my school librarian hat. Retirement is still a few years off, but this is something I’d like to do before I do retire.
Come Stitch With Me, LLC 