As some of you already know, I got a new job. That's right. I said goodbye to the Sylvan Learning Center and found a bigger and better job for me.My new job is teaching 6th grade at the Syracuse Arts Academy. I have now been working there for the past month now and I LOVE IT!
I had started to look for a new job back at the beginning of May. I just felt that it was time for a change and I knew that I didn't want to stay at Sylvan for much longer. I liked the job and all, but I wanted to move forward in life and I no longer wanted to work six days a week with a boss that was starting to make me crazy. Since I had a job though that I knew I could keep as long as needed I was not in any rush when I started looking for a new one. I knew that I wanted to find something that I would really like doing and not just settle for something new.
With that said, I started to look for jobs that had something to do with the arts. I love the arts and I love being with kids so I knew I wanted something that included both. Since most public schools are starting to push the arts out, I knew looking into them would not help me much unless I could get a job as the art specialist, which would be difficult with them pushing the arts out of the schools. I started to look into jobs as a art teacher within the local schools and within community centers around the area. While in my searches I cam across a site called teachers to teachers. It is a site set up to help teachers find the jobs that they are after. Teachers can get on and fill out a profile about themselves and there experience with teaching. The teachers fill out what kind of license they have, what areas they are interested in teaching, locations of jobs that would work for them, and so forth. Then schools that have job openings can also get on and post a advertisement for the job. From there what the system does is match the teachers up with the jobs that it thinks would work for them. As a teacher it sends you a list of new job postings that fit your criteria each week. Then if you are interested in the job you can fill out the online application and submit it to the school from the site. After looking into this site a little bit I choose to sign up and see what it could do for me. Plus, it was free to sign up , so I couldn't really see any downside to it.
I filled out my information and then started to look into the jobs that they had posted. It quickly became apparent that I wasn't going to find much in the regular public school system besides art teaching jobs for Jr. High and High School, which my license dose not cover. Over the next couple of weeks I I would check the site and look through the listings of jobs. I came across a few that I thought I would like and started applying for them. The ones that I had applied for were for charter schools that emphasized the arts with kids. there are not many of these out there so they were pretty far spread out. One I applied for was in St. George, one in Logan, and then One in Syracuse. All of the applications asked me about what I would like to teach, how I integrate art into lessons and why I thought art was important for kids to learn and participate in.
Right after I applied to them I went to Cabo, Mexico for the next week. When I got back I found that the Syracuse Arts Academy wanted to set up an interview for sometime that week. I quickly called and set one up for that Wednesday the 6th of June. That first interview was with the Vice President of the school. She informed that they had had some other openings since I had applied and that she would consider me for a variety of them. I thought the interview went really well and as I was leaving she said that I should get an email by Friday morning letting me know. As I was driving home from the school I had this feeling that that was where I belonged and that it would all work out. Well, Friday came and went and I had no email. I thought for sure that I didn't get the job but felt OK about it all. I continued on with the next week and didn't check my email again until the next Saturday. Upon checking it I realized that I had indeed received and email from the school and that I had received it the Saturday before. In it is was asking me if I would like to come back for a second interview with the Principal. I felt like an Idiot. Why hadn't I checked my email earlier??? I felt for sure that they thought I was a snob not to answer back and had probably filled the position. I quickly wrote back a reply saying that I was very interested in coming back and what had happened with my email. I apologized profusely and hoped that it would be enough.
That next Monday I received a phone call from the principal. She laughed at my story and said that she would love to meet with me as soon as I could. We set up an interview for the next day which was Tuesday June 19. I went into this interview a little more confident then the first one and walked out of it with that same feeling of belonging and that all would work out. As I was leaving I was informed that the next step would be to come back and interview with the grade level team that I could be working with. Two days later I received a call to set up that interview. We set it up for the next Tuesday June 26. By the time I walked into this interview I felt like a pro. this time though there were about 8 people in the room all asking me different questions about my teaching style, procedures in the classroom, my art background and how I could bring that into the school, and so forth. I was there for about 45 minutes and once again walked out with a smile on my face. I felt good about the school, the job opening, and the people that I had just talked to. I went home with the feeling of things working out just fine once again.
On July 5th I received and email from the principal that said she liked me very much and thought that I would be a great fit to the school. she listed out some of the details with the job and wanted me to read them over and get back to her as soon as possible if I wanted it. I quickly read through them and decided to think about it for a day. The next day I called her and had a couple of questions for her. We talked for a minute or two and then she asked "so, do you want the job? I think you would be great at it." I paused for a moment before answering trying to decide if this was right. I knew it was and told her I wanted the job.
The job that I was offered was for a 6th grade job share. I would have a 6th grade class but I would start the year off sharing it with another teacher. The i other teacher is pregnant and will be leaving on maternity leave next week. She had to start out the school year in order to keep the insurance. The school wanted to set the job up as a job share so that I could start the school year with the students and then just take over when she leaves.
Since I have started this job, I have loved it. The rest of the summer was a little crazy trying to get things settled with Sylvan and get the new people trained. I have spent many days and Saturdays there trying to help then understand the systems and the programs. I officially had my last day two Saturdays ago. I told them they could still call me if they needed, but that I would no longer be coming in. And let me tell you, it has been great not going in. I really don't miss it all.
Ever since I started the job with my new school I have felt right at home and know that it is where I belong. After the first three days of school it felt like I had been there forever. I still have some things to learn and figure out, but that comes with every job and especially with teaching when the core standards change and a new school system to learn. And even though I have some things to learn and figure out, and even though I am crazy busy trying to plan the lessons and stay on top of the grades, I am loving it. I have a great group of students who make me laugh and drive me nuts on a daily basis. I get to integrate art into all the lessons I want. But most of all I get to teach kids and I get to watch them learn and grow and become more of who they are meant to be.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
An Epic Summer of FUN
School started last week which means that it was also the official end to summer. And what a summer it has been. One full of friends. laughter. adventure, and great memories which will last forever. The summer of fun all started when one of my best friends received her mission call to Jacksonville, FL. Those of us in that group of friends were talking on night and decide that we should make it the best summer ever, full of adventure and all the activities we could before she would leave. By the time the night was over we had the beginnings of The Epic Summer of Fun. Now, my summer of fun included that many activities with this group, The Fab 5, and a few other groups of friends as well. This is how the summer went.....
May
The month of May started with me getting a new car. My old one was officially dead and I needed something to drive. I went and got my car that first Saturday in May, May 5th. That night stated the Epic Summer of Fun activities with a night at the Drive-In where we saw the Avengers. This is also the night that I found out my new car heater worked extremely well :). The rest of the month included a trip to Logan, a backyard BBQ, singing in the Stake Choir at the conference center, getting new contacts, and the best trip of all that happened the last week of May. This would be a trip with most of the Fab 5 to Cabo San Lucus, Mexico for a week. We left on the 25th and drove to Vegas that night. the next day we boarded a plane and headed to California and then to Mexico. Once there we proceeded to drive to the villa that we were staying for the week, Casa Grande (you can look it up on the internet if you want to see where it is at) We stayed there for a week with days spent sunning by the pool, playing at the beach, shopping, eating at fabulous places, music videos, para-sailing, and just enjoying time with friends.
June
The fun continues in June with first returning from Mexico. Then we have a Backyard movie and BBQ for Brett and Jacq's Birthdays. This month was also the month that Jacque went through the Temple and it was such a great experience to be able to be there with her. There was a John Bytheway devotional, a family party for great cousin Jimmy who turned 80, and then some backyard fun at Taryn's. From there we had a weekend in Park City, some baseball, movie nights, and I ended the month with a trip to Driggs ID with the sister, brother-law and nephew. On this trip we drove up to Driggs on Friday and then went to Yellowstone on Saturday and then drove home Sunday afternoon. It was a pretty great trip and a great month.
July
This month was a busy month. It started off with a bang with the 4th of July. The night before included fireworks at the WB park with music and friends. On the 4th the day included the ward Breakfast, the West Bountiful parade, and then the Stadium of Fire with the Beach Boys and the most amazing fireworks show ever. I loved every minute of it. This month also included trips to the temple with friends, the Bountiful Farmer's Market, Fab 5 girls nights, a Day spent at Cherry Hill, and the first trip of the year to Lake Powell with the Fab 5. This trip usually takes place over Labor Day, but we choose to do it sooner so that the whole gang could go. We left at 3am on Thursday the 12th after a night of packing and crashing in the living room of Brett's house. We spent the rest of Thursday and the next two full days on the lake before we headed back home on Sunday. After the Lake Powell trip came the Bountiful 24th parade with the 2000 Stripling Warriors, a Bee's Baseball game, the Bachlorette Party, a night at the Ogden Rodeo, a day at Bear Lake to celebrate the 24th, a game night with old friends and a new one, a camp-out at Crystal Hot Springs with my friends ward followed by a Saturday spent at the Hogel Zoo to celebrate my birthday, and then onto Jacquie's mission farewell and another trip to Lake Powell. All in all is was a pretty amazing month.
August
August started off with one of my favorite trips. Every year there is a group of us that goes to Lake Powell for the first week of August.Once back we had a farewell night to say goodbye to Jacq. The rest of the month included dinner at Taste of India for Jessica's B-day, cleaning at the Deseret Mills, dinner with friends, dinner at Johnny Rockets, shopping at City Creek, a BBQ with my new co-workers, BBQ for Jer and Allie's B-days, new teacher training for work, The Brigham City Temple open house, And movie nights throughout the month. And then school officially started and that meant it was the end of Summer. But, even though it ended it was full of fun and laughter and truly became the Epic Summer. Now....onto a Fabulous Fall. :)
May
The month of May started with me getting a new car. My old one was officially dead and I needed something to drive. I went and got my car that first Saturday in May, May 5th. That night stated the Epic Summer of Fun activities with a night at the Drive-In where we saw the Avengers. This is also the night that I found out my new car heater worked extremely well :). The rest of the month included a trip to Logan, a backyard BBQ, singing in the Stake Choir at the conference center, getting new contacts, and the best trip of all that happened the last week of May. This would be a trip with most of the Fab 5 to Cabo San Lucus, Mexico for a week. We left on the 25th and drove to Vegas that night. the next day we boarded a plane and headed to California and then to Mexico. Once there we proceeded to drive to the villa that we were staying for the week, Casa Grande (you can look it up on the internet if you want to see where it is at) We stayed there for a week with days spent sunning by the pool, playing at the beach, shopping, eating at fabulous places, music videos, para-sailing, and just enjoying time with friends.
This is Rudy Lob
Night at the Drive-In
Trip to Logan
Cabo Mexico
June
The fun continues in June with first returning from Mexico. Then we have a Backyard movie and BBQ for Brett and Jacq's Birthdays. This month was also the month that Jacque went through the Temple and it was such a great experience to be able to be there with her. There was a John Bytheway devotional, a family party for great cousin Jimmy who turned 80, and then some backyard fun at Taryn's. From there we had a weekend in Park City, some baseball, movie nights, and I ended the month with a trip to Driggs ID with the sister, brother-law and nephew. On this trip we drove up to Driggs on Friday and then went to Yellowstone on Saturday and then drove home Sunday afternoon. It was a pretty great trip and a great month.
Backyard Birthday Fun
Park City
Softball Game
Yellowstone
July
This month was a busy month. It started off with a bang with the 4th of July. The night before included fireworks at the WB park with music and friends. On the 4th the day included the ward Breakfast, the West Bountiful parade, and then the Stadium of Fire with the Beach Boys and the most amazing fireworks show ever. I loved every minute of it. This month also included trips to the temple with friends, the Bountiful Farmer's Market, Fab 5 girls nights, a Day spent at Cherry Hill, and the first trip of the year to Lake Powell with the Fab 5. This trip usually takes place over Labor Day, but we choose to do it sooner so that the whole gang could go. We left at 3am on Thursday the 12th after a night of packing and crashing in the living room of Brett's house. We spent the rest of Thursday and the next two full days on the lake before we headed back home on Sunday. After the Lake Powell trip came the Bountiful 24th parade with the 2000 Stripling Warriors, a Bee's Baseball game, the Bachlorette Party, a night at the Ogden Rodeo, a day at Bear Lake to celebrate the 24th, a game night with old friends and a new one, a camp-out at Crystal Hot Springs with my friends ward followed by a Saturday spent at the Hogel Zoo to celebrate my birthday, and then onto Jacquie's mission farewell and another trip to Lake Powell. All in all is was a pretty amazing month.
Fireworks at WB Park
4th of July
Cherry Hill
Lake Powell
Farmer's Market
24th Parade - Stripling Warriors
Bees Baseball Game
Bachlorette Party
Hogel Zoo
Ogden Rodeo
Bear Lake
Jacquie's Farewell
August
August started off with one of my favorite trips. Every year there is a group of us that goes to Lake Powell for the first week of August.Once back we had a farewell night to say goodbye to Jacq. The rest of the month included dinner at Taste of India for Jessica's B-day, cleaning at the Deseret Mills, dinner with friends, dinner at Johnny Rockets, shopping at City Creek, a BBQ with my new co-workers, BBQ for Jer and Allie's B-days, new teacher training for work, The Brigham City Temple open house, And movie nights throughout the month. And then school officially started and that meant it was the end of Summer. But, even though it ended it was full of fun and laughter and truly became the Epic Summer. Now....onto a Fabulous Fall. :)
Lake Powell
Farewell
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