I'll be wishin- and hopin- and thinkin- and prayin

Wow, I feel like it's been forever since I've been on here. It just feels like I've been so busy, there just hasn't been a time when I could really commit myself to a post. Even now, it's nearing 1am and I'm completely exhausted, but I feel I owe you something about the recent happenings.

We'll make this the short version...

As you all know, I'm currently student teaching in my dream school. It's in the district that I graduated in with teachers and administration that I think genuinely care about student success. About 8 weeks ago, they hosted a job fair, where I was able to go and have a quick on the spot get-to-know-you interview and turn in my resume. I wasn't really sure how it had gone because the principal who interviewed me didn't really give a whole lot of visual cues on whether or not he liked what I was saying. Luckily, I was then called back for a screening interview and that was about a month ago. This one was at their administration building and it was videotaped!!! Not gonna lie, I was a little freaked out. As I began talking though, I pretty much forgot the camera was there. I thought this one went well, this principal was a little easier to read and he seemed to like my ideas. So, I've been anxiously awaiting anything from them. The school that I student teach at has been holding interviews for employees already in the district looking to transfer but I wasn't really sure when or if they were going to look outside of those people...until yesterday.

So I arrive at the school around 8 and start getting things ready, when one of the secretaries (C) buzzes down...

C: D, do you have any students in the room right now?
D (immediately thinking I am in trouble and did something horribly wrong): Um, no.
C: Ok, good, I just wanted to let you know that Ms. ___ and Mr. ___ would like to schedule an interview with you today.
D: OMG!!! Really?!?! No Way!!! Me? This is what I've always wanted!

Okay, I didn't really do that. But that's what I did on the inside :)

D: Oh, ok, great! I'll come down and set up a time.

At this point, I'm practically giddy but obviously can't act how I'm really feeling. That whole walking in the hallways rule.

C: Ok, we have a few times available. 2pm today, 3pm today, or tomorrow after school.

D: Well, I have plan time at 2 if that works.

C: That would be great. I'll put you on the schedule.

Ok, so yes, I just signed up for an interview in less than 6 hours. Now, it takes a lot for me to feel stressed, but I have to admit...this did it! First, I take a look at what I'm wearing, appropriate for typical teaching day, not so much for an interview. I race back to class and call my mom to bring me clothes (thank God I'm on Spring Break from college and am staying at her house and had just gone shopping and bought a suit, and she lives less than 5 miles from the school) Ok, now to prepare, oh wait, students are arriving...I have no idea what I'm going to do!!!

So the longest yet quickest 6 hours of my life go by. I was dressed for the interview and just sitting, shaking in the office. I swear, even now as I'm typing this, just thinking about it makes my hands start shaking. Did I mention I hadn't eaten anything all day because I was so nervous? Seriously, I had something a lot bigger than butterflies in my stomach.

Now, I knew that there was going to be a 3rd grade position and my cooperating teacher had been sitting in on the interviews. She came out and said that there's really no reason for her to be in there so she was going to go work on something. In some ways, I was glad for this because really, I think knowing the people in there made me even more nervous. So, the asst. principal comes to get me and we walk back (at this point, my legs feel so much like jelly that I'm surprised I can stand).

I get in there and there's one other 3rd grade teacher, 2 5th grade teachers, the principal, and the asst principal. I was a little surprised to see the 5th grade teachers because I thought that position had been filled. So we start and in my head I'm thinking that it's going well, it's obviously still an interview but we're also talking and laughing (a lot, surprisingly, I mean, we were cracking up) So, it's over and they ask if I would prefer a 3rd or a 5th grade spot, that's when I drop the ball and tell them I'm actually not even certified for 5th but would be more than happy to take the Praxis (the teaching license test in MO) and get certified! And I swear as I say this, one of the 5th grade teachers faces drops, and she really does seem upset that I'm not certified, which gives me a little boost. So we say our goodbyes and I express my thank yous and I'm out.

At the end of the day, the principal comes in and asks me to please bring in my resume, letters of recommendation, etc tomorrow. Then, later I have the chance to talk to my cooperating teacher and she said that I had done well, then the other 3rd grade teacher who was in there said that I did well. So, at this point, I'm feeling pretty good about myself. Last night I came home, got all of my stuff together, wrote my Thank You's, blah, blah, blah. Oh, and I signed up for the elementary Praxis, I figure I may as well take it. It's not going to hurt me to have a 4th certification, even if I don't get this job.

This morning I go in, actually at 7 because I just want to make sure I'm ready for anything and have everything prepared and ready to go. So, I'm headed to the mail room and I see my cooperating teacher from my first eight weeks in SpEd. She pulls me aside and tells me that 5th grade teacher #1 actually came and found her this morning to tell her what an amazing job I did yesterday during the interview. I seriously got goosebumps! So, then I head to the mail room and begin stuffing my resume into boxes. When 5th grade teacher #2 walks in, so I hand her all of my stuff, plus my thank you, and make sure to mention to her that I signed up for the Praxis and will take it at the end of the month. Then I head to 5th grade teacher #1's room to hand over everything, but she's not in there so I turn around and actually meet up with her in the hall. She stops me and before I can even say anything, tells me that I did so well and she was blown away.

BLOWN AWAY! Can you even believe it?

So, I was so sidetracked that I forgot to even tell her about the Praxis. So, she heads back to her room and I head to the office to give the Principal (P) and Asst Principal (AP) their stuff. P's not there so I speak with AP for approximately 5-7 minutes just about everything. He said that I did very well and that if I needed any help studying for the Praxis, surely there would be people in the building to help. He even mentioned one in particular who just took it like 6 months ago as a resource. Now, maybe I'm over thinking, but would he be so willing to help if he didn't want me to definitely pass?

Ok, so remember how I had forgotten to tell 5th grade teacher #1 about the Praxis? Well, after I'm finished talking with AP, I am headed back her way to tell her, when again, she stops me and says "I hear you're going to take the Praxis?" OMG! So, I had told the other 5th grade teacher and she ran and told this one! To me, if she wasn't glad that I was taking it, it wouldn't be good enough news to travel that fast, right? So, I tell her that yes, I am and I was actually headed her way to tell her that, when she says again how well I did and how they were all really impressed and blew her out of the water and that I've got what it takes.

Later, when P got back from her meetings, I gave her everything and I think she was really happy that I took the initiative to hand out my resumes on my own and she didn't have to worry about it. She said that I did well. She seemed glad too, that I was taking the Praxis, I just think she's a little harder to read.

Unfortunately, I don't have an ending to this story yet. I won't know for another few weeks and hopefully it will have a happy ending! I will say that there are A LOT of people interviewing, really a lot of GOOD people interviewing, some who are already teachers and have more experience than I do. I am so thankful that they gave me the opportunity though and it was a really great experience, so now I just wait and pray a lot about it, because I know there's a plan and hopefully this will work out, but if not, I'm meant somewhere else. Please keep me in your thoughts and send some good vibes my way!

Oh, and about this being the "short" version...sorry, I really don't think any story I tell is ever short, but at least I tried! And you're awesome if you made it the whole way through!

To Be Continued...