Yes! I asked about you awhile back, and someone said you moved and possibly changed careers. Hope all is well.
It has been quite an adventure! My hoosband and I were offered jobs at the same school in the PNW, so we moved. Between house-hunting (after a few months we finally found a house we loved and bought it) and a long, awful commute, I feel like I have hardly been able to stop and catch my breath. I ended up having emergency gallbladder surgery last spring, which was not awesome. The school is very unique. They do some things there that I really like, but they also need a lot of help. I have already decided that I won't be returning to that school next year. I am really proud of the work I did in the library, including implementing a new information system and doing a complete overhaul on the shelving and layout. Ultimately, though, I felt like I wouldn't have been able to be as successful as I want to be there. There are several reasons for that, but mainly it boils down to some fundamental differences in mission and vision, both for the library and for the school in general. When I started I was told that I could build the library program from the ground up and make it into whatever I wanted it to be, but in practice I found that there were too many roadblocks in place for me to do those things. It was disappointing, and I struggled against that for quite some time, hoping that I could eventually make it work. After certain things came to light, though, it became apparent to me that it was a losing battle for me and that I would be happier and more productive elsewhere.
At the moment I'm collecting unemployment and getting ready to start next school year at a new district much closer to home. =) I forgot to add in my update that my school laid off about half its staff, from the principal on down to support staff, because of this pandemic. I was one of the people who was laid off, although they were sure to tell me that it was no reflection of my performance and that they loved me. (Okay, great, but you're laying me off, so...) It turned out to be okay, though, because it allowed me to collect unemployment while I searched for a new position elsewhere, which I was already working on. We're pretty frugal, and we have enough in savings to handle this hiccup.
I have never in my life heard of a principal being laid off. Wow. How will the school function without one?
You ask a great question! I think they have a plan for the time being that involves having some teachers step up and into different parts of that role. The whole thing went down in a really shady way, especially with that particular position being laid off, and I have lots of feelings about it.
So sorry to hear you lost your job, but at least you get unemployment and have savings. What a relief! Also, I’m sure you will be able to find another job quickly!
I'm happy to see you finding the positive from the situation. My family has found that layoffs are not always a bad thing - even when you liked your position.
