I finally got a call from our school district today about interviewing. She said the only positions available in the fall will be resource - and two of the three openings are "traveling" positions which means I would work mornings at one school and afternoons at another. I can't tell you how sick this news is making me. I have never wanted to work resource, in fact it's right up there with behavior. What I wanted was my own self-contained instructional room - mild, mod, severe - whatever. She told me to think about it and call her back if wanted to be "in the interview pool." I just sat here in shock for 10 minutes and then called a buddy of mine - who happens to be working one of those traveling positions right now. She told me to do it - get my "feet in the door" and look for transfer positions next year. I'm just so sick right now. I swear I could just vomit. Here I've been gathering all these things for a classroom, and reading books, and getting prepared - and I'll be lucky to have a desk in a corner of someone else's small office, teaching somebody else's kids. I just don't even know what to think right now. Ironically the one full-time resource position is at my son's school. I have a really good relationship with the principal because I'm one of the two parents on their PTO. I considered calling him and begging him for the job. If I have to do resource, I may as well be at my son's school, right? And I'd much rather do the full time at one school than travel back and forth each day. I just don't know what to do!
I say go for the interview, if nothing else it will be good practice for interviewing skills. And your friend is right, you can always take one of the traveling positions and then ask for a transfer for the next school year.
I'm still pretty depressed about this, guys. Not gonna lie. However, I'm starting to get more used to the idea of not having my own classroom. I also applied with the county to see if they had any instructional openings. Unfortunately, they're resource-based positions as well.
I'm confused.... I thought resource room was your own sped classroom, with kids coming back and forth from their gen ed rooms?? Is it termed differently in your area? (I'm the SW)...
Zoom - I don't blame you for being down about not having your own classroom. I would be so disappointed. I think that you should really consider one of the traveling positions since it will get your foot in the door and be good experience. I don't fully want to teach pre-kinder, but I am willing because I know I'll have the opportunity to move up in grade level once I have my foot in the door. :unsure: Easier said than done when you take a position that you don't 100% desire. I think you should also consider speaking with the principal at your son's school. I was reading your post and wondered why you hadn't already.
I think many of us have had to take positions that weren't our ideal or dream job. My first teaching position required me to travel between two schools and 4 different classrooms. My planning area was in the copy room and I spent most of my planning time unjamming (not sure if that is a real word) the copy machine for student and office helpers. I only had one small locker to store things so I basically had to carry everything with me on my cart. I had to take everything home each night because I started at one school and ended the day at another. I did that for 2 years before someone retired and I moved into his position. So I do really know how disappointing it is to plan and dream and to have reality smack you in the face. Now, as I look back, having a traveling position has made me one of the most organized teachers on my floor. I couldn't ever do anything on the fly; I had to have every moment planned with all necessary materials to be successful so when I finally got my own classroom I was really ready. While I truely understand how disappointing this news is to you, there just might be a silver lining in your black cloud.
Go to the interview. As I see it, there are three possible outcomes: 1. WORST CASE: The interview won't go anywhere and you won't be offered the job. Even so, you'd get some more good experience interviewing. 2. BETTER CASE: You're offered a traveling RR position. Hey, it's still a job, and it would let you get your foot in the door in a district. Then maybe next year, after transfers and vacancies, you might be able to transfer to a more desirable position. It's much easier to transfer in-district than to make that first step into the district. 3: BEST CASE: The interview goes well, and you're offered a job. Between now and the start of the school year, there are changes in personnel and placement, and a more desirable position opens up. You're offered that position.
Thank you. Thanks for the support guys. I really do appreciate your thoughts and advice. Hopefully I'll hear back from both districts tomorrow. And I will put a call in to the principal with the ft resource position at my son's school. I guess it couldn't hurt. I just didn't want to be a pest.
and 4. You get to travel enough to see what else (jobs posted in other schools and districts) is out there...and can send out resumes around December, and might get a second semester offer. Or in March, interview during spring break...when princpal's starting projecting numbers. And, you will be ahead of the game for next school year..because you will already have job hunting ball rolling.. 5. You will have solid year of experience under your belt, benefits, salary, and teacher's pension started.
there is no such thing as being a pest when it comes to job hunting! You should be a stalker as far as I'm concerned. Nobody remembers the 2nd choice, UNLESS they keep their name fresh in mind by constantly contacting the hiring office.
6. Have your body in more than one school exposes you to more people, kind of like number 4. 7. You will still get to know these kids well and you may find that you really like the resource room more than you ever thought you would. Call the Principal and tell him you would be interested in interviewing for the open resource position. Lemon
hey, who knows...you may get a gas card, or reimbursed for mileage! It is nice to have a traveling job, for many reasons. You can stop at the store, grab a hot lunch (and dodge the staff room gossip ), pay a bill, cash a check and not have to use up your lunch hour, or beg to leave early. As long as you have your cell phone, sign out and check in regulary, nobody sweats you. Just don't get carried away and go car shopping or think you can drop your kid off at soccer practice! I have been told to report early for IEP meetings, and specialists never showed! Some called later to say they had a 'scheduling' problem or forgot. I thought sheesh, this is all you do! I had to come in early, and didn't get paid! And, when the weather is bad...everyone will understand if you call and say you are stuck (because you will be) and say it's too bad out, don't bother coming in!
I too, travel this year. I was not excited about it at all at first, but I have learned that it is not always so bad. On the nice days it is great to be able to get out for a short time -- even if it is going from one school to the next. I agree with the fact that you are exposing yourself to more people -- I am trying to get fulltime at just one school and have a better chance now since 2 principals see what I can do! I also say go on the interview --you never know!
*******UPDATE******** Hey guys, I have an interview tomorrow at an elementary school that I'm REALLY excited about! It's a self-contained classroom, 8-9 students, K-3 with Autism, 2-3 Aides. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I'll be studying the interview questions on the job hunting forum! This school is in a different district than what I originally wanted (the one that is currently only offering resource positions) and will mean a cut in pay by about 3k/year. But so far, that's about the only drawback. It's about 10-15 mins from my house. WISH ME LUCK.
Good luck Zoom. The $3K cut may be a wash since it's close to home -- with gas prices continuing to soar.
What a difference a day makes!!! And, did you talk to the principal at your son's school today? Good Luck tomorrow! You will do awesome
Went on the interview... I think they liked me! It was a really short interview, about 15 minutes long, and when I left I was sort of like, "Hmm." It's hard to explain. It didn't help that just before I left for this interview, I received a call for another interview - this time for the same district that worried me in the first place! It was from a middle school prinicpal and it's for departmentalized language arts. The school is right around the corner from me, the pay would be 3k more, and the hours would work better with my son's school schedule. Problem is, he can't interview me until the 16th. And the folks I interviewed with today said they would be making a decision this week! So now I'm a little worried. Can't win for losin', folks!
that's the kinda of trouble we like to be in! don't decide anything until you see everyone... you have a right to decide what is best, and they should understand. glad it went well...either it rains or it's a drought hey, can we have your leftovers?!
