Right now I commute almost 40 minutes to work, and while that's not as bad as it probably could be, it's not fantastic. This year we also discovered that my vacations will never be the same as Hayden's, since I teach in a different state. So, I figured I'd send out an application to the one school in the area that I could see myself teaching at. None of that is snobbery, it's just that with out expenses, I can't afford to take a pay cut and most of the schools around here just don't pay all that well. So, I found my ideal school, 6 minutes from home, same vacations as Hayden and the same salary (or very close anyway) and I applied.
The interview was great. There was a team of eight interviewers and they asked interesting, albeit difficult questions. One asked me to talk about a lesson that went badly. I figured, what the hell, I'll give them my train wreck. I told them about the time I was being observed and I decided to have the kids try to identify the context and speakers of various quotes from Macbeth. My supervisor was taking copious notes as my kids grappled with the quote, "I have given suck and know how tender tis to love the babe that milks me, yet I would, while he was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this." The kids got caught up on "the babe that milks me" and you can just imagine where it went from there. The worst part was, they weren't even trying to be obnoxious, they honestly thought it was about a good blow job. Nice. Needless to say, it was an interesting post-conference with my supervisor.
So, score two for me....I was honest about a failure, and I managed to recite a soliloquy from Macbeth all in one fell swoop. They liked me.
And today, they offered me the job. A great thing for me I think, and certainly a solid step for the life of the family.
1 comment:
Yay!! So exciting that you did get job!! What city? What grade will you be teaching??
I love that you told that story about a REAL bad day in the classroom. It bugs me when people can't be truthful about weaknesses or real bad days. It is honesty that most people relate to.
Totally reminds me of my favorite Obama story. At one of the early debates (after NH) Edwards, Clinton, and Obama were all asked "what is your biggest weakness". Obama went first and said something along the lines of "my office is way too cluttered and I have a hard time keeping the paperwork organized". Edwards and Clinton were next - they both said something along the same lines to each other: that they care too much, and give so much of themselves to others. The next week, both Edwards and Clinton were talking about how perhaps Obama's "cluttered desk" could be a real problem for a person trying to go for President. Obama's response (I LOVE this): "Well, I though the weakness question was a real one, so I answered it accordingly. I could have said I just love helping old ladies cross the road and sometimes they don't need my help. But instead I was honest, and I told them what I thought my biggest weakness was".
Ah....an excuse to share a good Obama story :)
So excited for you love! Congrats!
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