So, last year I wrote that I was looking forward to teaching high school at a larger, yet progressive high school in eastern Queens. I was having a LOT of difficulty at my first year teaching position, and I felt that moving up into high school was a better idea for me.
But, given the chaotic nature of the board of ed and how they run things, I never got the high school position. I was offered the job, and cancelled all other interviews I had. I was receiving information about the upcoming school retreat and professional development in August. This went on for a month.
Then, in June, I got an urgent message to call my new Principal. To make a long story short, the school never HAD the budget to hire a new English teacher. Um, excuse ME???? I had him explain to me how this happened. I was told his long story about how the school didnt have the resources to hire an additional teacher, he was picked to be an Empowerment School and he was waiting for funding, etc. He said he wanted me to “wait and see”.
“Wait and see”? Okay…I was really frustrated. Job hunting is difficult enough, but when you throw in having an offer rescinded from you and a) it’s a school you wanted to teach at and b) you can’t “wait and see” when you have bills to pay and bills to worry about, I was very defeated. And, the school I was at wasn’t the best environment for me.
So I went on a job hunt and spent most of the summer looking for work and teaching a high school program at a college in Brooklyn. It was hard; I had lots of interviews at high schools and middle schools. People never called back. I did follow up; I wondered if I was doing something wrong. But, I was told that this is how hiring is done for teachers in New York City. SO, I just took a deep breath and hoped that things would work out.
I ended up interviewing for another middle school in South Bronx. It was smaller than the other school I was at. The principal was friendly, honest and very direct about the fact that this school was challenging. The kids are at risk–very bright children, but little to no motivation. She and I had a good conversation about the realities of teaching and whether or not I wanted to teach at her school.
It was a tough decision; I wasn’t sure if I was truly cut out to be a middle school teacher. The middle school years are the toughest; students are starting puberty and are going THROUGH IT. But, I believed that clearly my path was middle school teaching since all of the interviews and offers I received were from middle schools throughout the city.
And, despite the issues I had at my first year placement, I really loved my kids and enjoyed the growth we BOTH experienced throughout the year. So, I said yes. I’m becoming more comfortable with the reality that my journey in life will be one as a middle school English Teacher. I just hope that some of the issues I experienced won’t occur here. I’m just looking forward to a great year as an 8th grade ELA/Literacy Teacher.
