Then no need to go to any more interviews! Enjoy the feeling of having a job next year without having to stress about the job hunt anymore!
I never got an official offer letter with my job last year. It was a verbal offer from HR, which I accepted over the phone. The first written confirmation was my contract, which arrived about a month after I accepted.
I don't mean to sound cynical, but this was my first lesson about the education world: Lower your expectations or as I use to remind myself, expect the unexpected.
Ok so I got off the phone and everything seems set. It is a 6th grade job at a school that seems like a good place to start. I asked for a letter of intent from the STEM director who seemed confused about why I was asking but he said he would get one to me in a few days.
Congratulations!!! I think you made the right choice. Were you offered the job by the STEM director and not the district's personnel director? This may explain his confusion - unfamiliar with such letters. Just be sure that the personnel dept. is on the same page.
I don't think it's abnormal to ask for a letter of intent. I will need one as I start to look for apartments.
I agree with PP, dont schedule any more interviews. One thing Ive learned from my principal is that Ps have a strong network. You never know who knows who
I had an interview scheduled tomorrow from a while ago. Is it too late to cancel? I will email to cancel my May 9th interview.
This district is a long shot for a job but I may want to work here eventually. Do you think canceling now would burn bridges?
No, it’s just not the right time. A few years down the road they won’t remember that you cancelled an interview.
Cancel any interviews you already have scheduled, even those that are within the next 24 hours. Do not accept any more interviews. From now on, when you get an offer to interview, reply that you appreciate being considered but that you have already accepted a position. Don't worry about having a letter of intent to ensure you have the job. That's not the norm in education. If you need an official offer letter with indication of your salary in order to secure housing, ask for that specifically. Don't let them sense any anxiety you have about them not following through with the offer.
Congratulation! Sounds like you made the right decision for you. Be happy because now everything else can fall into place.
Maybe I should start a new thread for this, but I have no idea where to start when it comes to prepping for next year!! I feel very unprepared.
They said that they have curricular resources, but the teachers have the autonomy to do what they need to for their students.
Have you done an online search for sixth grade lesson plans yet? You'll see a ton of them for free in every subject. Like others have advised: become familiar with the standards, seek help from your future colleagues and organize your lessons in a binder or laptop for easy access. Don't forget to canvas multimedia resources as well and you'll be more than prepared! You can practice different approaches for igniting your lessons before the curtain opens Here's a simple, but effective "hook" to help get things started - best to download to your computer first. Use the countdown at the beginning of a lesson to get everyone's attention starting from Day 1. Remember, no more interviews - it's time to go out and celebrate!
Fantastic! Make a good first impression by going in and introducing yourself to the superintendent - best done while your level of excitement is at its peak!
This may depend on the size of your district. In my district, which has like 40,000 employees, such behavior would be weird.
It never hurts to stand out in a positive way. Regardless of the district's size, a personal/political connection with the big boss can be an invaluable asset in the future. I'm sure you'll winning smile and firm handshake will be remembered well past Monday! Go champ!
Another question--after signing my contract, should I reach out to my principal or wait for my principal to reach out to me? I have questions about what I will be teaching next year, etc.
Agreed. And I would also recommend that you limit your questions to only the most pressing. Don’t overwhelm your new principal or appear too needy. Express your interest and excitement but be patient and realize that they will get you what you need in time. Right now, getting new teachers who are starting in August ready for the next year is low on their priority list.
I would ask for contact information for your new teammates. IME they will be able to provide better info than a P can, although of course you don't want to bombard them either.
Good point. You will probably also be assigned a mentor teacher who will get in touch with you over the summer or shortly before school begins. Just be patient.
I was thinking of emailing him tomorrow and just letting him know that I have signed my contract and I am looking forward to next year. Ideally, I would love to know what levels of 6th grade I will be teaching and what I am expected to cover at each level. I don't think that is figured out yet--but I do think it will be by the end of the year. The STEM director said he would figure it out in the next few weeks. This school has inclusion, college, honors, and pre-AP classes. I told the director that I would be happy to teach the lower level courses since that has been most of my experience and I am getting sped certified. He seemed happy to hear that. So it would be helpful to know which classes I will be teaching before the school year so I can start planning!
