lots of news

Okay, so I haven't posted here in a long while. There have been several good reasons. As mentioned before, our dog Mitzi was sick. She grew sicker and sicker until we had her put to sleep on Monday morning. She was struggling to breathe and could barely walk that morning and we could not stand to see her suffer. The PIG and I and Jeremy (her companion dog) are very sad. We took the day off from worldly concerns and walked in the park, drank lots of coffee and got lots of pets (Jeremy). I took Jeremy to Pet Club yesterday because he's seemed so sad and lonely and the whole school loved him, even with his stinky nasty breath.

The other reason I've been holding back is because April 15th was the time for teachers and administrators alike to think about next year. I'd considered telling them I had been looking for another position but decided to wait to see what they'd say to me. Turns out they had decided not to renew my contract for next year. I can't say I was all that surprised as I've had nothing but trouble with the woman who heads my part of the school. What was surprising was to receive the information not from her but from the director of our campus IN A NOTE. No, I am not joking people. When we finally met to discuss (4 days later--he had left the note with our secretary before leaving town), he offered no explanation other than an offhand (and pretty rude) comment about my not toeing the company line. Or at least that's what I think he was trying to say. No, I am not one to follow directions blindly. I am one to try things out and see if they work. I am one to listen to my kids and see what they think is right. Of course I offer my own experience and don't let them run off too far down a path I know is doomed to fail, unless my administrators deem it so in a way that I cannot change (see earlier posts about the ill-fated Garage Sale).

Overall, I'm relieved. Unfortunately I don't yet have another job lined up. I do have my summer (June) gig in place and will be paid through July but after that....

I have applied to the Houston Zoo and also to the SPCA. I'm looking at places like the arboretum but they don't have much open right now. My fall back is to get alternative certification and teach next year in a regular classroom. I'm not wild about this but I could do it if I need to.

In the meantime, I will treasure what one of my soon to be former colleagues said. She's the one I've tried to emulate the most. When she found out that I'd be leaving, her mouth dropped open and she said, "I'm really sorry. You're an amazing teacher."

What have I learned from this year's adventure? Whoodoggie, that could (and may) fill a book. I learned how to relax a bit more as a teacher and I learned that I need to reiterate and give more specific directions, at least to my kids. I can slow down, be patient, listen to my kids telling me about their day while driving safely and more importantly, I can keep swears to myself while driving them! I learned that I prefer bosses who have the same mindset as me or who can at least communicate where I'm diverging from what they want me to do. I learned that I hate having to hide my tattoos and I hate not ever being able to wear sandals or t-shirts & jeans to work. Okay, I knew that last one from UH. I like a job that allows me to get outside a bit and to teach a lot and a supportive community that doesn't think I'm crazy. That's not too much to ask, is it?