Post- leave of absence

Hey all you readers out there - all two of you,

My apologies for the long silence. As many of you might have guessed or experienced yourself, the last few months before the wedding were HECTIC.

**THIS POST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CRAFTING. SIMPLY AN EXPLANATION OF WHY I WAS NOT POSTING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS**

Shortly after my last post, the paper chain countdown, I started applying for teaching positions in my local area. Seven applications later, I was called to interview with three different districts, two schools within the same district! A total of four interviews! All were within two weeks of the wedding! Two were on the same day!

Add the interviews on top of the stress of doing multi-day substitute teaching jobs, AVID responsibilities, AND the wedding and calling me "stressed" was perhaps not the right word. I was more ANXIOUS than anything because I knew it would all be over rather shortly and in quick succession.

My first interview was with a large district that I have been subbing for and tutoring with. I was excited at the opportunity to interview. This is a district where you have to be recommended by a principal before HR contacts you for an interview. So when I got the email asking me to interview, I started jumping up and down. A year of subbing and tutoring had paid off. The interview itself went very well and I essentially interviewed for the district at large. When the state comes back on their budget, schools will get their allocation money and then decide who to hire. The principal who recommended me made sure to check on my interview afterwards with my interviewers and told me a week later, "you've done you part, now let us do ours."

My response, "Well, you better work fast! I have two other interviews this week. I must be doing something right."   --> The next day I got called to interview for a middle school position with the school district I grew up in.

 The day of my double interview, I was in the middle a multi-day (months in advance arranged) substitute job in a learning support (special-ed) classroom. When the first of the two districts called to arrange the interview, I asked what the earliest interview available was. I did not want to have to get a sub for myself in the Learning Support classroom. After explaining the situation and talking with the principal, I was scheduled for 7 am on Friday morning. They thought I was joking about bringing in coffee in exchange for making the special arrangement until I walked in with a Starbucks to-go container, creamer, and sugar. My panel of five men knew what school I was subbing at and made sure I finished on time and got to my sub gig.

That day at subbing, my Learning Support kids had been learning job vocabulary so we discussed how the interview went, what kinds of questions I was asked and what came next. The kids then spent the remained of their time trying to convince me why I should become a teacher at their school and become their social studies teacher. Given that classroom, I took that as a high compliment. Given that this sub gig was in the large district I first interviewed for, I greatly appreciated their efforts to convince me to come work with them.

At the end of my day, I went to my second interview. Which, by the way, was at my old high school and my panel included my two favorite teachers. The interview process for this district included a 21 question interview, a 30 minute writing prompt and then a 10-15 minute window to explain a lesson I might teach at this particular school. Due to the early morning interview, my day of subbing and then this second interview I felt like I had taken two AP tests back to back and then been asked to still go to six hours of school.

Both sets of interview panels that day made sure to tell me that they would be checking references of only their top two candidates and that I should know early the following week (the week of my wedding). I told them both that I appreciated that because of my upcoming nuptials.

Oh yeah, by the time I finished my interviews and checked my phone (for the first time that day) I had several messages via text. Most were from my references and said they had been called already by my early morning panel. So I knew at that point I was in the top two for one district.

Monday morning, 8:30am I got a phone call from my early morning panel. "We'd like to offer you the full time social studies position at Blah-Blah-Blah High School. Do you accept?"

"AAAAHHHH!!! YEAH!" was my immediate response. But my heart was definitely not in the response. It wasn't my dream district and I was still waiting to hear back from the other district AND had the fourth interview.

Wednesday, an email from my alma mater asking me for more information. My hopes were still high. I must have been in the top two there.

Thursday that week, I went to interview at a middle school in my old district. On my panel: my former middle school principal (now head principal), my former LA/SS teacher from middle school, and a former classmate along with a science teacher I didn't know. Again, same idea as the high school position - 21 questions, 10 minute mini-lesson, and 30 minute writing prompt. They were blown away by my lesson - in fact, asked if I could email it so they could use it at school! Additionally, they mentioned that they had 67 applicants for the position, 5 interviews, top 2 get reference checks and only one would be hired. As if things were stressful enough, they said they would try and let the person know the end of business Friday.

"Oh good, because I am getting married on Saturday and leaving the country for a week on Sunday!"

"WHAT?!?!? Congratulations! And you still came to interview with us?!?!? WOW!!!!"

So to recapture all this:

1st interview - at large with big district - still no answer
2nd interview - early morning, close to home - offer
3rd interview - former high school, extra information - no answer as of the Friday before the wedding (a week after the interview)
4th interview - former district, response time 36 hours

Friday was rehearsal day with the accompanying dinner. So when rehearsal started at 5pm, I still hadn't heard anything from my old district. All I knew was that my references had been checked for both positions so my hopes were really high. This was my dream job in my dream district with my dream co-workers.

Rehearsal went fine by the way. We did a rehearsal inside the reception hall in case of rain and one outside in the meadow in case it was sunny.

During rehearsal dinner when the bridal party was getting to know extended family, my parents and Mr. Husband's parents were enjoying themselves I got a phone call.

"I hate doing these kinds of phone calls. Especially knowing you are in the middle of your rehearsal right now and your wedding tomorrow. But unfortunately we have chosen someone else for the position. Its was not that you weren't qualified or what we were looking for in the position. You are Blah-Blah District material! It was simply that you weren't the right fit for this position and it came down to a couple of points on the interview. I hope that somewhere else in Blah-Blah district has a position for you or that we have something else come available. We would love to have you join us someday and hopefully you will apply again," said the principal for the middle school.

"Thank you for the opportunity. I actually am waiting to hear from the high school as well so hopefully Blah-Blah does snatch me up! Thank you and I will be sure to apply again if necessary."

**THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENT POST ABOUT  THE WEDDING ITSELF. IT WAS PERFECT**

So Sunday, Mr. Husband and I leave for our honeymoon in the Dominican Republic. There will also be a different post about the honeymoon. Back to the story of the interviews and follow ups and jobs.

Being out of the country meant our phones were turned off. About once a day Mr. Husband let me turn on the phone and see if I had a voicemail. Tuesday night I did. So we called the voicemail and all we got was,

"This is So-So from Blah-Blah High School. If you could give me a call when you get this I would appreciate it. Its regarding the position you interviewed for."

After several attempts and finally an email exchange I got to talk with the individual on Thursday morning.

"I have never had someone go through every step of the interview process and then some and not get the position. This is truly a first for me. We simply feel that based on the subjects available, you were not the best fit for this position. It is NOT that you aren't Blah-Blah District material. You are exactly who we want in a candidate. It was simply the subject matter available to teach and what you are best suited for. We hope that you would apply again in the future. If something did change, we would call you first."

"Thank you. Is there anything I could improve upon for next time? Or do differently?" I asked, trying not to cry.

"No. You did everything right. You came across as intelligent, highly qualified, and the utmost professional. We simply didn't think the position and you were best suited for each other. Again, I highly encourage you to apply again in the future if something becomes available," he replied.

After a cordial exchange we hung up. Mr. Husband just looked at me and held me as I bawled for a good five minutes. His encouraging response, "You still have a job offer, you don't have to sub next year AND you met your goal that you have had since we first met. You have your OWN classroom!!!"

"Now, let's go drive a speedboat, snorkel and have some fun!" The distraction certainly helped. :)

So:
1st district - at large, big district - still no response
2nd district - close to home - offer and conditional acceptance
3rd interview - alma mater - turned down but encourage to apply again
4th interview - former district- turned down but encourage to apply again

When we made it back state side, I looked just to torture myself on my old district's website and saw that the other middle school had a LA/SS position available. Just to put myself through the wringer one more time, I applied. Still waiting to hear if they will call me to interview.

Mr. Husband and I have both agreed that the job I did accept is a good offer. Great pay, continuing contract, and the position was as secure as jobs can be here.

That said, I am officially teaching high school social studies, full time for the 2013-2014 school year. :) My own classroom. My own students. My own curriculum. *Happy dance*

Now you can expect plenty of summer craft projects as I get ready to decorate my room and prepare for the units I intend to teach... as soon as I find out what aspects of social studies that includes. *laughs*