hello, friends!
i write to you today with some news... I AM EMPLOYED! i could not be prouder to announce that i will be teaching first and second grade (combined classroom) at st. michael's school just outside of cincinnati. i will make little to no money, the town is so old it was used in the underground railroad, and the nearest nordstrom is 30 minutes away. and yet, i am truly elated. i will be getting a ton of support and resources from the school and faculty and i have an unheard of amount of freedom with content that i wish to incorporate into my classroom. i've spent the week visiting drew in cincinnati and exploring the school and town. yesterday i met with my student teacher and then traveled back to miami to think about my decision. and by think i mean eat fried pickles. it seemed only right that i would take this next step in the place that served as the stepping stone to where i am now. this is a really good life, people. i forget that sometimes. anyway, a huge thanks to all who had a hand in helping me make this decision. even if you simply listened, i love you for it. can't wait to share this adventure with all of you. until then, i'll be thinking about how i want to set up my donut themed classroom (don't even act surprised)! xo, ld
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there is a song by ingrid michaelson called "far away." it's a pretty adorable song that talks about all the things she would do if she could go far away...living her life as a lobsterman's wife with three girls named ella, nellie, and faye. anyway, the song resonates with my current state as i find myself in a limbo of sorts as i look for jobs. i find myself at times wishing i could have ingrid's ability to indeed go far away.
to be frank, it's awful. as positive as i try to remain, i feel as though for every vacancy for which i apply i hear back from two others saying the positions have been filled internally (by someone already within the school district, for my non-education friends). what's worse is that i have been offered a job at an independent school (which i absolutely adore) but simply cannot afford to live on the pay they can spare for me. i'm left wondering if all the good teachers can't afford to take the jobs that don't pay even the low average salary...what is to be expected of those children who are left with teachers who are perhaps not as qualified or interested in education? if i truly want to work in the schools that need outstanding teachers but have less than outstanding pay, do i have to marry a rich lobsterman so his salary can support me and i can be where i'm needed as an educator? it's a grim outlook i know, but when your resume is tossed out multiple times a day, sometimes your sunny disposition fades a little. i just want to teach. i want to be focusing on the nuggets who need me instead of worrying about playing the games of the school districts to which i'm applying. because if i'm worrying about playing those games, who is worrying about those children? i hope you don't find me to be whiny or ungrateful, i am so aware that things could be way worse. i suppose i feel this is a safe place to let it all out. things are going to be just fine. i know they will. if you are a peer in the same boat, keep on trucking. we were taught to be tenacious for a reason. and if i'm being truly honest, my biggest fear is that i won't have a use for all the donut themed decorations i bought for my classroom...there's a lot of glitter i'm working with here, people. until next time, ld p.s here's the song, it really is precious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdVgCqdV9wI&noredirect=1 |
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