Just when I thought I'd never get another interview this hiring season... Yesterday evening I submitted an application for a local all-girls school. I stumbled upon it by chance more than anything. I just received a call from them wanting to set up a meeting tomorrow at 8:30. It's for middle school history, so it's my favorite subjects (human geography and world history). There are three candidates they are interested in so far, even though the closing date is the 25th. From the way they described it, it's mostly a getting-to-know-you type of interview - I don't need to bring anything with me, just show up as my fabulous self . I feel really confident about this position because I actually have a unique advantage: I went to an itty-bitty all-girls school for grades 7-12and strongly believe in single-sex education, especially in middle and high school. I also have a perfect demo lesson idea if I get to go on to the next round. I think I need to have a lie down, you guys. I'm positively dizzy with excitement
Sounds great...a lot of FATE stories today. Sometimes when you stumble on to things by mere ''coincidence'' or by ''accident'' it really isn't
Best. Interview. Ever. Getting to the campus was a bit confusing - the front door to the admin building was still locked, but one of my interviewers (the middle school director) found me and led me through the building. The department chair was meeting with a student, so the director and I chatted for a while and we really got along. The program is being revamped as a humanities course for 7th grade students, emphasizing reading, writing, and critical thinking/analysis. All the students have tablets (Windows Surface Pro) and technology is integrated whenever possible into the curriculum. They're going through a transitional period, which is nice for a first year teacher, since I don't have to adjust from the old way of doing things. And I got to take a tour of the middle school wing! I've never had an interview include a tour, so I was floored. There's a huge library, computer lab, commons area just for the middle schoolers, and the whole place is bright and airy. They said some teachers had to share rooms last year, but they've reorganized, so I would have my own room (and each room has a smartboard!). It was hands-down the most relaxed interview I've ever had for any position. I felt at home there (it's very much like where I went to middle and high school) and my ideas and expectations really melded with the administration. The department head is leaving for vacation next week or the week after, so I migh hear back before he leaves or after he comes back. I feel confident, but am trying not to get my hopes up too much. There are other candidates yet to be interviewed and they need to talk over everything with the rest of the social studies department, but I can help but feel that I rocked it. Also, just to show that Ohio is the largest small-town ever, one of the middle school math teachers was my high school Prob/Stats and Algebra II teacher 8 years ago in a city 150 miles away. Small world!
Interviewed at 8:30 Friday morning and I received a call back at 2:00 this afternoon! On Wednesday I get to meet the rest of the department to discuss the position further and ask them questions, too. I also am doing a 20-30 minute demo lesson with 6-7 incoming freshmen, but the lesson needs to be at 7th/8th grade level. It can be on anything, so I'm going to do The Great Chain of Being, a lesson on feudal heirarchy in medieval Europe. It's a good combination of lecture and hands-on activity (teach the students to grovel!) and works well with any grade level. I love how fast this process is going and I fee that it's a sign that I just might get this job.
The second interview was good, but my demo lesson flopped (technology issues, not enough space in the classroom to do my activity portion). Needless to say they called saying they went with someone else. I'm losing my stomach for the fight. Maybe I'm just destined to work low paying office jobs for the rest of my life.
Oh no! I was reading your thread and hoped it would work out... Please don't give up though! It seems like this interview was unexpected and something else could come up tomorrow. So sorry this didn't work out, but I hope something else is around the corner for you!
