Fellowship???

So, I turned in the application for the Fellowship the other day. I am now officially on my way.

I still have to get a background check for the TEP (Teacher Education Program) but otherwise, that application is totally done, as well.

I finally made a decision about the Memphis Teaching Fellows. I decided not to interview with them for a subject I'm not actually interested in teaching. Something in me feels like that is deceitful.

I have done everything I can to keep my application with Memphis City Schools up to date so that I can get in there for the fall...

Why does this all seem to take so long!!!????

Oh and to make it more fun, I have now found out that there are no less than 5 of my friends in one class or another with my dad this semester...can't pretend I'm not a little jealous... :(

Some days are not great.

So, I am finishing my Masters of Arts in Sociology. This semester I am a graduate assistant to the department chair. Which means I help him with research and help him teach Statistics. I also am taking Medical Sociology. Which is way fun! I was supposed to be taking 2 other classes, both education, that were going to help me work forward to my Masters in Teaching.

My thesis chair informed me that I cannot take 3 classes and have to drop both of the education classes so that I can focus on my thesis.

I am frustrated that my dad gets to continue in the world of education classes and I don't.

I really want to move forward with my life and get out of limbo.

I am chairing my high school reunion and I really don't like the idea of showing up as a recent Grad School grad and not much else to show for the last 10 years other than a husband, 2 kids and a house.

That sounds terrible, but I really would like to at least be employed. or have lost 20 pounds and look better than I did when we graduated... but employed would be nice...

Denver

My family and I just returned from an exceptional trip to Denver for my cousin's wedding.

The city is a wonderful laid back type place and with the mountains as a backdrop, it's amazing anyone gets anything done!

While I was in Denver, I couldn't help imagine what it would be like to teach in such an incredible place.

I picked up the Westword, the local free paper, and last thursday's hot topic was the closing of PS1, Denver's most recent attempt at a charter school for students who have not been able to achieve in traditional education programs. These students have the typical problems found anywhere; learning problems, rough family life, poverty, lack of study skills or behavioral issues. The tough part is that the city school board has not found a solution for the lack of scores and cannot find a better place for the students either.

After reading the article, I was more compelled than ever on two things. First, I feel an inner need to teach and help. I wanted to be teaching today, to take students outside and show them the ways that biology is all around us and how science quietly and gracefully weaves in and out of our daily lives. and Second, I need to live in a city like Denver. I don't know if Denver is where I have to be but, I definitely was inspired by the "vibe" of the city. It has a natural flow that makes sense to me. The mountains are near by and what's incredible is the way that nature makes it possible to experience so many different things in the same area. In the summer, all the way through to the winter, the mountains are there to create all new ways to understand nature and biology.

For now, it's time to focus on those things that are right in front of me... Passing all my certifying exams! and finishing my Masters in Sociology.

I'm waiting on pins and needles to hear if I passed the last exam I took.

So, it's back to writing the thesis, teaching stats and helping to teach/take my Medical Sociology class. Graduation is May 8th!!!!

To interview or not to interview???

So, I applied a while back to two different programs in the city for becoming a teacher. The first is the city school system itself... We'll save that story for another day...

The other was to a Teaching Fellows program that helps to train teachers in the city to work in high needs areas of the city. The only problem is that they have offered me a position in an area that I am not really interested in teaching...

So the debate is, do I move forward and interview and take the certifying test for this other area or do I wait to hear from the city schools and get a job doing what I'm really interested in??

Where do I go????

Ugh.

Getting Started

I guess first I should explain why I want to be a teacher. Teaching was not my first career choice. To be fair my first career choice was probably to become a Pediatric Oncologist when I was about 12 or 13 years old. By the time I was graduating from High school I had settled on owning my own Mass Media Marketing Firm, basically I wanted Holly Hunter's job in "What Women Want", but I wanted to own the place...well, life interrupted me and I eventually found my way to nursing. Which I loved!

I was a great nurse. I cared about my patients, I loved my work and I was darn good at taking darn good care of them. However, when you added the demands of nursing to the demands of real life, kids, a husband, pets, a house, finishing school, etc. Well, it was a recipe for disaster and I ultimately decided to leave nursing and quickly finished my Bachelors in Sociology.

Not many people know what Sociology is...

It's probably not what you think it is...the simple answer is that it is the study of groups. big groups, small groups, you name a group, we look at it.

I'm sure it will come as no surprise, but, Sociologists with only a Bachelors, don't make much money....

So...

Back to school I went to get my Masters in Sociology...apparently my motto is "when in doubt, go to school!"

So, last summer I found myself a year away from completing my Masters and no good plan for an income in sight.

A friend suggested that I look in to teaching, citing my love of working summer camp with the kids as reason enough to at least give it a try...

So, now, 6 months later, I have taken an education class, taken a few tests and attempted to get interviewed by our city school system, as well as being courted for a fellowship scholarship program...

So, here goes!

Class is in session!

(did I mention my dad is in the same program? at the same time!)