Sorry, I'm taken!

I wish there was a Do Not Call Again status for job applications. Another school district sent me an email the other day about setting up an interview time. I replied that I had signed my letter of intent and I was taken. The next day I received a phone call from a Principal in a different district wanting a phone interview. I called back and left a message that I signed a letter of intent and I'm taken. 

It's amazing to me that I would have this many school districts interested in me. When I graduated from OVU, I applied in a staggering amount of districts in WV. I only got one interview! One... uno... un! It was with Hamilton Middle School in Wood County. It was in my hometown and I was excited. One of the questions during my interview was if I felt that teaching middle school was stressful. My answer was no! I've been in stressful situations in which my actions or my inactions could have caused the death of one or more individuals. Teaching middle school science would be a piece of cake. 

What I should have said....

Teaching middle school can be difficult at times, but the skills I learned in the military enables me to cope with stressful events in a healthy appropriate manner. 

It doesn't matter that I didn't get that job. I was hired at VCS half way through my interview. It was WV's loss that they didn't hire a passionate WV girl to teach science. My first year at VCS, I applied to WV schools with no luck. I didn't even get acknowledged that I applied in some counties. All the hype about needing highly qualified science teachers sounded like a tub of malarky to me. 

Fast forward to the present day. The ATP job fair in Minneapolis was successful. Posting my resume on the ATP website has been positive. Unfortunately, a little too positive and successful. I've been forced to turn down interviews and jobs in other districts. Some have questioned me if I picked my district too son. I don't think so, I think I'm destined for Barrow. Maybe I should just put something on my voice mail to let others know I'm not available. 

Another District!

And on the way home, somewhere in Wisconsin, Northwest Arctic messaged me that they were still interested. 

So I formed another set of questions to be answered....

1. Housing and utilities cost in Kotzebue?

2. Do we need a snow go or honda? And how to get them up there?

3. If housing isn't district housing, do we have to buy furniture?

4. Outdoor recreation on a spit? (spit is the actual geographic term for a type of peninsula)

I texted those questions to be answered. At the same time, I had to think about which district did I truly connect with at the fair. 

It was started to look like North Slope. 



**reprinted from the journal

Thinking in the car

Pros                                                            Cons

1. 4BD and 3 BD                                     1. Its cold

2. Larger Pay                                           2. Off sets cost of living

3. Football and swimming                        3. daylight hours in 
                                                                      summer and night in
                                                                       winter
4. Teaching only science
to 11/12th grade

5. Prices to fly aren't that bad. 


Questions for North Slope

1. Explain housing and utilities more.

2. How do we get a snow-go or honda?

3. Outdoor recreation?

4. Football opportunities?

5. Possible to move in July?


**reprinted from my journal

Find Chick!

Sunday was the day of the job fair. I arrived promptly downstairs at 9:00 and was the fourth applicant to walk through the door. I dressed smartly, but didn't want to look high maintenance. I looked comfortable and pleasant. 

I visited Southwest first and introduced myself to the gentlemen by the poster board. One had previously interviewed me on the telephone. They called the Principal in Alaska in order for me to talk to him. 

Next it was time to talk to Bering Strait. They were very honest and up front about everything. They declined me, but accepted my application for the future. They pointed me into the direction of other districts. 

Annette Island set up an interview with me and gave me some great swag. 

Fairbanks and Denali had nothing for me, but they still got my resume, handshake and smile. 

Two districts were no shows to the job fair. I checked ATP website and there were no science openings with them. 

My favorite district to talk to was St. Mary's. Its a small district with huge hearts. They love education and want their children to be educated. I spoke with one representative after the fair about his life and all things Alaska. He gave us insight on how to connect with communities and fit in. 

Lower Kuskokwim interviewed me just in case there was a future opening. 

And here's were things got real....

Lower Yukon, Northwest Arctic and North Slope were interested in me. All three districts are located beside each other in northern Alaska and all three tables were beside each other at the fair. All three sought me out and spoke to me about opportunities. 

North Slope made the first move by handing me a Letter of Intent at 1 pm. They were serious about hiring me after my interview. I had a great time being interviewed by the Principal of Barrow. She was easy to talk to about my teaching style and method. 

I stayed at the fair until it was almost finished. I left in a quandary. I no longer wanted to work for Southwest. I was interested in three school districts that were at the bottom of my top 10 list. What was a girl to do? 

I sat in the atrium in the middle of the hotel with all my packets, swag and notes. In the middle of that mess, I met Chick. A really helpful retired teacher that worked for ATP. We spoke about comparing my needs with the various districts. 

Monday was going to be a long ride home and tonight's reception was going to be interesting. I had to think through lots of information. 



** reprinted from my journal. 

Hotel Time/Mall of America

The Alaska Teacher Placement Job Fair was held at the Embassy Suites in Bloomington. We arrived very late at night. It was a miracle that we didn't sleep in the next morning. We were able to enjoy the omelet station.

Saturday morning we headed to the Mall of America. It is a borderline Mecca for me and all things shopping. There's a rumor that they will be adding 300 more stores. I have no idea how that is possible. We were there from 9 am until 4 pm! Most of the time we were at Nickelodeon theme park. Georgia rode her first roller coaster and Abi and Emily went on a double loop ride.

I always take a pic of our parking spot. In comes in handy sometimes!

We LOVE Dora!

We love Sponge Bob this much!

Abi carried the Minnion that we won!

Ready to drive!

All three girls rode the coaster. I was so proud of my Georgia. It was her first big girl ride. 

"That roller coaster made my heart stop!" 

Abi and Emily's coaster was intense! I have no idea how they rode that ride. Straight up and straight down and two loops! You can count me out on that ride!

I finally got to eat at Tony Roma's resturant and didn't see even 1/8 of the mall.

The line for the Rainforest was over 45 mins!

We went back to the hotel and crashed hard. The Great Gatsby was on tv. Everyone passed out.

Then it was pool time!

**reprinted from the journal

Road Trip

322 miles to go?

322 miles to go.

322 miles to go!!!!!

Chicago to Minneapolis

Last Part!

Insert Hallelujah Chorus!

** from my journal

No Root Beer!

I dislike, nay detest the beverage known as root beer.

I never, ever, ever and I mean ever order it.

I will drink water in lieu of root beer.

The counter girl at South Holland McD's tried to convince me otherwise.

Whatever.

Just give me Dr. Pepper in my cup. The survey on the receipt will give me justice, right?


** reposted from my personal journal

Job Fair/Road Trip

After a rocky start at the Hertz counter at CVG, we hopped in the rental car headed towards Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to GoogleMaps, it was going to take us about 11 hours to get there. It helped me mentally to break the trip up into segments that were easy to manage.

Cincinnati to Indianapolis
Indianapolis to Chicago
Chicago to Minneapolis

It looked so easy on paper to drive this trip even with all the bathroom and lunch breaks. It was going to fun and an adventure for all (or so I hoped). 

The first segment:

This is the road that never ends,

It goes on and on my friends....

Yes, a simple 90 minute ride can prove to be too much for me. Ask anyone that has sat with me during a meeting with a scarf. 

The second segment:

Things that really happened or was said during the trip.

1. I am tired of Pearl Jam. (wrong you can never get tired of Pearl Jam!)

2. Comparison of Alanis Morissette's song "You oughta know" with Adele's "Someone like you." 

3. Bah-sten accents all around for 10 miles!

4. Just take a nap already! 

5. OMG! Its a wind farm! Slow down so I can take a picture of all the turbines!

6. I'm that baby's pappy!

7. Is that a pig farm or chicken farm?

8. Its a 90's party up in the hizzouse (?)

9. That University of St. Francis has one heck of a basketball team!

10. If you fart, crack a window!

11. Followed by... ewwww! It smells like fried chicken in here!

12. Gary, Indiana, my home sweeeet hooooome!

13. Oh yeah, time change! We lost an hour. Where's the hour? I want it back!

14. 8 miles to the state line baby! 

15. Welcome to Illinois!

16. Are you Illonoid yet? LOL

**Once again, this is reprinted from my personal journal that I was keeping at the time.