Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Job hunt

You would think since I was home for the summer I would have caught up on my posting...not the case.

When I passed my exams (for my teacher training) it meant that I could apply for a teaching position.  The way that the alternate cert. program works is I could have applied for teaching jobs as soon as I got accepted into the program without any training whatsoever, which still baffles me.  Then when I got hired on as the "teacher of record" at a school, that would be considered my intern year and my program would provide me with a mentor and I would be able to complete my training, take my exams, do internship projects etc. all during my internship year teaching under a probationary certificate.  Then when that first year was complete, I could apply for my Texas standard teaching certificate.  Ever since I've passed my exams I've been applying like crazy to find a teaching job, which I never thought would be this hard!

I never knew finding a teaching job would be this difficult, let alone finding any job right now.  You really have to know somebody to get a job at a school.  And around all these small towns they usually know who they are going to put into place before they even publicize the opening.  Back around spring break I had called the high school where I'm working now to ask when my last check will be, because thankfully I chose to have my checks spread out over 12 months instead of 10.  I knew the lady that I was talking to about it and I told her to keep her ears open if she hears anything.  She told me that one of the special ed. teachers had just put her notice in a couple of days ago that she's retiring at the end of the year, she immediately connected me to the person I needed to talk to.  The lady didn't answer her phone but I left a message asking her to call me back, this was around 3 p.m.  The next morning before 9 a.m. she calls me and I tell her what I'm qualified in and that I'm already working for the district and I'm interested in the position.  She tells me "oh, I'm sorry that position has already been filled."  Wow, that was fast!

I had an interview with LaGrange elementary which is about a 30 minute drive from our house.  I was really hoping to get that job because it's a small town just like Giddings.  Which also means they probably already had who they were going to fill it with before they interviewed me but have to go through the formalities of everything.  And who knows, they probably didn't I'm just really bitter about the whole thing!  I've also been keeping in touch with a teacher at Lexington elementary, which is another small town about 20 minutes in the opposite direction.  I let her know when I first started looking if she wouldn't mind keeping me updated if she hears of anything and filled out the online application.  Last week she messaged me and said they had a teacher retire on the last day of school that I should get in contact with the principal.  I emailed, and left a message and haven't heard back from her but I know with school just ending she's got a lot of loose ends to tie up, but I'm not holding my breath.  The teacher messaged me a couple days later asking if I had heard anything and I said that I haven't.  She then tells me that a stop by the office may not hurt since they've had over 500 online applications for the elementary in the last couple of months...WHAT?!?!  This is Lexington elementary, which is maybe half the size of Giddings!  If they are receiving that many applications can you imagine what Giddings, Bastrop, Elgin etc. are getting in?!  I told her no wonder I can't find a job!

I did however have a job offer just a few days ago, but I think it's a dead end.  The principal at Immanuel Lutheran, which is a private K-8 school, called me and offered a position they had open.  We've known each other ever since I was at school in Lincoln and him and my mom have known each other since she used to teach at a private school too, so he knew that I was looking for a teaching job.  The only position they have available for the next school year is a part time (25 hours) 6-8 language arts teacher.  When he called asking if I was interested I told him I'm going to have to know salary and benefits before I say yes to anything.  Which is another headache I have right now.  Ever since Colton and I were married I've been on Scott and White insurance because they are the only company in Texas where you can buy an individual plan with maternity, and I added Korbyn to my plan when she came along.  It wasn't stellar insurance but I had to have it.  Thankfully Colton has every cent of his insurance paid in full by the company he works for, and it's really good too, but for Korbyn and I to be added onto his plan would cost over $2,000 a month!!!  So we haven't really ever looked into that option because it's just ridiculous.  I got a letter in the mail from Scott and White a couple months ago stating they will no longer be carrying maternity options, just one HMO plan with maternity.  Well the plan sucks!  It will be almost $600/month for Korbyn and myself and the plan has no deductible but only covers 50% of all costs.  So that means the costs of any medical issues we may have come up could go on forever because there isn't a deductible!  I called the number on the letter immediately and let them have it, it's not like me but I was so furious, the poor lady on the other end has probably had numerous people like me call in.  I just felt like they were completely monopolizing all the women that still want to have babies but aren't on a group plan.  And we have until the end of June when that changes over...yay.

Anyway, so the job at Immanuel would only be part time meaning that they wouldn't cover my insurance.  I told him I still want to know the price of the insurance because I may just purchase the policy through them.  It would be $1,300 a month PER PERSON!  So if I worked there my paycheck wouldn't even come close to covering the insurance.  I did however receive a call from Giddings Intermediate about a 5th grade opening.  I have an interview with them tomorrow afternoon, but like I said I'm not holding my breath about it.  So needless to say I've been a little stressed lately and on top of that we're potty training (next post ;)!  I've been praying to God every day, "God, I'm getting the hint that you may not want me to go into teaching and that's fine.  I'm yours!  Send me in the direction you want me to go...but let's make it snappy because I don't like this waiting game!"  So we'll have to see how everything pans out.  At this point I'd be willing to teach high school trigonometry as long as I have a paycheck and insurance! 

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