Pityfest: I am about 1 interview away from fleeing secondary ed after 1 yr

[iconoclastic cat]

That's right. I was a first-year high school English teacher last year, and I was fired in the first wave of the Great Chicago Teacher Massacre. I am not alone: the firings continue, and to date only 25% of teachers who have been in "the system" for less than four years have been "reappointed." I suppose that is why I have sent out 67 resumes and not received more than two interviews since the beginning of May. English teachers are not exactly scarce.

Today, however, I was told that I am in the final cut for a job as an assistant editor for an educational publisher. If I am offered the job, I absolutely must take it, since in a few weeks my daughter will be born. I can't wait around for these schools to call. Taking the editorial gig will mean, of course, that I lasted one whole year as a teacher.

I'm not sure why I'm posting this. I suppose that I feel like I have been defeated by Chicago's public education system itself. Damn, that was quick.

Edited to add: Bloody typos!

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Good luck to you....the jobs sounds interesting.

The really sad thing is that the CPS' teacher massacre isn't doing the kids they are supposed to teach any good.

[iconoclastic cat]

2. No kidding!

Yeah, I'll tell you something: most administrators in the CPS are more concerned with the way the students' performance reflects on their leadership and reputation.

[eyesroll]

3. Good luck to you -- my path sounds remarkably similar

I was laid off from the Racine Unified School District after my first year (1997-98) as a high-school English teacher; I would have quit anyway, although not necessarily that quickly.

The layoff came too late to apply to other schools -- it came late July, two weeks after the state-mandated deadline, with a backdated letter.

So, I ended up as the associate editor on a trade publication. Now, some years later, I'm the editor of it. I'm looking at possibly trading that in and returning to school. Still, this has been a good path for me.

It'll be OK.

[iconoclastic cat]

4. Oh, I'm not saying that I'm doomed or something.

Hey, eyesroll! Long time, no see! :hi:

I must say, I'm not feeling some shade of despair over this; I just cannot believe that I had my ass kicked so quickly!

Edited to add: BTW, the CPS is *still* sacking people this week! They are just asking for chaos.

[eyesroll]

6. Yeah, it was sobering for me, too.

I made a bunch of rookie mistakes, and even got called into the vice principal's office to "explain my conduct" (another teacher was concerned that I wanted to steal all of her higher-level cool electives from her; I think what I said was, "ooh, I love to read science fiction; what's in your curriculum?"). I really was fed up by the end of the year, and I wanted out. But it was unsettling to leave nonetheless -- it's weird. Someone leaves an accounting job after a year, and it's all, "ah, well, it wasn't right, best of luck." Someone leaves a teaching job after -- whenever, really -- and it's "ooh, couldn't cut it, could ya?" or "why would you want to abandon your calling like that?" (as though everyone who teaches feels it's a calling).

They say teaching is a profession that eats its young.

[Marnieworld]

5. Good luck with the job

Don't beat yourself up about something that you had no control over. If teaching is your destiny then you'll find your way back somehow. Having a child will certainly give you an opportunity to teach. Congrats on that.

Also, I have always loved your drinking Kitty. I think I will download that picture for my hubby who loves Bass. :D