Job interview number four

Went to interview number four yesterday. The principal is a nice lady. The school, not so much. She admitted they have a number of behavioral issues with the students.

I need the job, just nervous that I will struggle with the out of control students.

Job hunting!

Interviewed today at 3 schools; two DOE and one charter. The first was a DOE school that in which I would like to teach. The second a charter school that I hope I would fit in, but I am doubtful. The third was a DOE school in which I would never like to visit, much less teach.

Interviews one and two went well. Interview number three was like watching something plummet from the sky in a heap. Why do some interviews go well and others go bad from the beginning? School culture or poor chemistry?

Received a call from interview number three saying that they had just received a memo telling them they couldn't hire a new English teacher. (True, false? I wonder)

Will wait to see what happens with the other two.

Punono the red cat

Just when you thought it was safe to enter
your room, Punono, the crazy, red cat reaches
out to touch the video camera's lens.

Hope you are all enjoying summer vacation. Remember to eat breakfast, and don't let the cat near your glass of milk...

Update-four months later

It's been four months since the last post. I've been living the life of a sub now for a while. Had a long term sub job with a school about a mile from home up until Spring Break. It's getting easier. Finally realizing that a lot of what subs do is psyching out the students.
If they smell weakness, if they see that you're easy to derail, the day will be a LONG one. If you go in with your guard up which, unfortunately, you must do, you will probably have a successful time in that classroom.
The kids are interesting and often lovable. The money is good, but, no benefits for LOSTs. :-{
If you've got a backbone of steel and enjoy standing on concrete for seven hours a day in a hot classroom, this is the job for you! Good luck.

What the district office says about having no Educ. Assistants for special needs students

After speaking with the district office for Sub. Teachers, I was informed that I should accept any assignment on the phone, and after arriving at the school, ask the principal if there are any Educ. Assistants in the classroom for the Special Needs students. If the answer is "no," decline the assignment. If the answer is "yes," ask if the E.A. will be present for the entire day. Again, if the E.A. is not there all day, and the students with special needs are, the sub should decline the assignment.

Again, the students deserve the safest environment possible. The substitute teacher deserves the option of accepting or declining an assignment they feel is risky.

That's the official info from those in the know at the Department of Education. Subs, don't be intimidated! You receive no benefits and very little thanks for the work assigned. Safety is always first!