I called Sandy to ask her opinion. Should I spend the money or not? I found out at the fair what kind of fair C. County was having: an actual hiring fair. I’m talking an offer-in-hand kind of hiring fair. How could I miss that? Well, after talking it over with Sandy, we agreed that I would see how the interviews went for me the next day. If I was still not sure I could fly out for C. County’s next fair. One never knows what could happen. So that was the plan. I’d do the interviews, fly home, see how things went, fly back if I needed to do so.
While talking to her, we also thought it would be best if I got a hotel room where I was because it was a two-hour drive from Sandy’s house to mine, and my first interview was early in the morning. Spending forty bucks or so would be better than trying to wake up early to make a long drive. Fortunately I had brought all of my things with me just in case. I used the internet terminal to look up and book a hotel. I wrote down the directions from the college facility the recruitment fair was to the hotel and from the hotel to the district office. It was just after 4:00 P.M., so I had plenty of time to explore the area to see what it was like.
I drove to the hotel and checked in, got changed, made a few phone calls and then went out to drive around. It had been super rainy and gloomy the previous day and in the morning, but the sun had actually begun to pop it’s bright little head out so I could really see what the area looked like. It’s beautiful. It’s bustling. It’s busy. It’s fun! I’ve never lived in a city-city before. The largest city that I’ve lived in is Oshkosh, Wisconsin! Hello! It’s mostly college students.
I just drove and drove. There are rolling hills, beautiful homes, townhouse communities, interesting little shops, and bustling crowds. I got myself a little lost here and there because it’s my opinion that that is when you have the most fun. So I did. I found my way back to the hotel, though, and got myself something to eat. I hadn’t had breakfast or lunch, so the first time I ate was 7:30 P.M. Yeah, I was a little hungry. That would explain why I ate so much! Argh.
When I got back to the hotel, I got undressed and ready for bed and proceeded to make telephone calls to Sandy, my mom and dad, and my sisters. My family wants to keep updated with how things are going. They are pretty excited for me. After a couple of hours of straight talking, I was able to go to bed and get some rest for the next day’s interviews.
The Interviews
I never got a hold of the HR lady, so I just went to the district office a little earlier than my interviews. When I got there, she was very happy that I had come in to the office. She had scheduled five interviews for me at five different schools. My first one was actually earlier than I had known (it was one that she scheduled after I had talked to her). She gave me the schedule, a map of the city with the schools marked, showed me how to get to all of them and then sent me on my way. Wow! It was really happening!
The first school that I went to was a sixth-grade academy. They have a school that is just sixth grade! Imagine that! The interview went well. The assistant principal was actually doing the interview because the principal was home sick with walking pneumonia. He seemed pleased, but also said that they didn’t have any positions open. That was okay. I kind of had an idea that they were interviewing me for the sake of an interview . . . for future openings. I didn’t really get *that* feeling while I was there, so it was okay.
The next interview was at an elementary school down the road. It was rainy and gloomy and the school was probably one of the poorest schools that I’d be going to. It was a nice facility, though, and the principal was very nice. She seemed very professional and asked me a lot of questions that she had typed out. I believe I handled myself very well. She did seem interested and impressed with my responses and how I carried myself. When I left there, I felt fairly confident going into the next interview. It got easier with each one. I was really getting my philosophy of teaching and methods of teaching down fairly well in a short, concise statement. Heh.
I was then on my way to my third interview. I drove along, got a little lost and was just a minute or two late. Everyone knew that I was interviewing at five different schools so the fact that I was a couple minutes late didn’t hurt my chances at all. They knew that the previous principal possibly kept me a little late. When I walked into the school (my feet were killing me by this time – poor shoe choice!) I immediately liked it. It was bright and cheery regardless of the gloomy day. The principal was a bit older (not old!) and had a very relaxed feel to her. Her husband was in her office fixing some of the holes in the wall so that her certificates and pictures could hang. Heh. He’s a retired teacher and seemed very nice. While he was finishing up in her office I went to the bathroom. I hadn’t had the opportunity in three hours or so!
When I got back, we sat down in her two comfy chairs and just sat back and had a nice conversation. She didn’t have a list of questions. She wasn’t writing down my responses or taking notes. We just talked. It was really nice. I felt really comfortable. After we chatted a bit, she (Dr. B.) took me on a tour of the school. It sounded so good! I met three of the six third-grade teachers and the SED teacher. One of the students was very excited and told me that she reached the red level today, asking if she can show me what that meant. I said, “Of course!” So I went into the classroom and the young girl proudly read to me all of the privileges that she now has for reaching the red level. She was one level away from “Gold Level” . . . the best! I told her that was excellent and that she could make it to the next level. I wished her luck and then Dr. B. and I left.
I was very impressed by the school. It was neat, quiet, respectful, and proud. There were things made by the students all over the walls. The students that passed us were in quiet lines and waved to Dr. B. with big smiles on their faces. I mentioned to her that the lines were so quiet (something that I am not accustomed to), and she smiled and said that she likes order. Heh. Dr. B. then told me some of the things that the school offers: all students have three periods of P.E., one period of Art, and one period of Music. Art and Music!! They have Art and Music. How terrific. All teachers had prep for fifty minutes a day, five days a week. Wow. They are also a very technological school. They have a computer lab with sixty computers and a computer lab teacher. All classrooms have at least three computers hooked up to the network and the internet. The school actively participates in Accelerated Reading . . . something that our school is finally getting started. I initiated it three or four years ago!
When I left the school, I was very excited. I liked it. I connected with the principal, which is so important to me since I am coming from a school with an outstanding administrator.
Man oh man!
Continued . . .
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