I found out today that I'm going to be a teacher.

[Pale Blue Dot]

I got my letter of acceptance today from the Connecticut ARC (Alternative Route to Certification) program. This program is designed to give mid-career professionals with BAs and BS's a chance to earn their teacher certification over one intensive summer session. This program has been wildly successful in CT (2 of the last 4 Teachers of the Year have been ARC program graduates), and it is very competitive - only 20% of applicants are accepted. I had to submit a lengthy application, followed by an interview with the director of the program.

I can't tell you what this means to me. I've spent the last 18 years in retail management, despite the fact that I had an English degree. I got married the same week that I graduated from college, and because I didn't know what else to do, I took a job managing the video store I had been working at parttime. My justification for doing this was because I loved movies, but years later, I was managing an office supply superstore and I was far, far away from doing anything that I loved. Worse, I didn't even feel like I was making a positive impact on society. I'm an extremely liberal guy, and being in "management", for a company that exists to help businesspeople make more money, always felt like a poor fit for me.

Now I feel like my life has a purpose. It's not that I'm blind to the challenges of teaching; as I said in my application "I'm still young enough to be idealistic, but old enough to be realistic." But now I have a chance to do something positive for other people. Plus I'm going to be, for the first time in my life, a union member.

Last year, 100% of the people who completed the program had jobs in the fall. That means in four months I'll be teaching English at a middle school somewhere in Connecticut.

I have to thank my beautiful Sarah for all of this. She believed in me from the start, and didn't hesitate when I said that I wanted to take a pay cut for something I believed in. Sarah, 3 years ago I wouldn't have done this. Thank you. Who could have known that we would both get everything we wanted? :loveya:

I'm walking on clouds. Champagne's on me.

:woohoo::party:

[Left Is Write]

1. Congratulations!

Well done. :)

(Of course you realize that in a few months' time, there will be thirteen-year-old girls mooning about campus saying, "Ooh...Mr. Finnfan is sooooooooooooooooooo cute!")

[Pale Blue Dot]

7. LOL. I'm not anxious to make the front page of "Matcom News"...

Besides, I don't think they use the word "cute" anymore. My 15-year-old stepdaughter describes her English teacher as "hot".

Thank you! :beer:

[Maddy McCall]

2. Congratulations!

It's a challenging job...sometimes disillusionment sets in, but what the public education system needs is intelligent, caring, dedicated adults like you.

Wish you the best. :toast:

[Pale Blue Dot]

8. Had I done this straight out of college, I probably would have been easily disillusioned.

I'm older now, and I know that I won't be able to reach everyone. Believe me, if 18 years in retail has taught me anything, it's that.

Thanks! :woohoo:

[SPKrazy]

3. Congrats Finnfan!

:woohoo:

sounds like a good program

similar one here in Arkansas, here's to successful completion and finding a job! :toast:

[Pale Blue Dot]

10. Thanks!

I've read up on ARC programs, and apparently many states now have them. I think it's a fantastic idea (obviously).

:woohoo:

[jonnyblitz]

4. congratulations to you!

:thumbsup:

[Pale Blue Dot]

11. Thank you!

:D

[Godhumor]

5. Congrats--I'm going the other way, heh

I'm a 6th year teacher who just found out that I'm not going ot be a teacher next year (my choice) and that a banking company is going to pay for me to go back to school. Good luck with everything and remember that students enjoy teachers who have senses of humor and can resolve classroom managment issues without blowing a gasket every time.

Congrats again, I'm sure you'll do great.

[Pale Blue Dot]

13. I have both of those qualities.

I know just enough about current popular culture to make a total ass out of myself for a laugh. And if I can survive 18 years in retail without blowing a gasket, I think I'll do OK in a classroom.

Why are you getting out, if you don't mind me asking? Anyway, good luck with your next step! :thumbsup:

[Godhumor]

16. The main reason

I never intended to teach until retirement. I want to pursue some rather high leadership positions within the business world, so I threw myself into the teaching world as a way to learn "soft" skills that I would not pick up as an MBA student. I've had the chance to teach all over the world, have worked with students from kindergarten to 11th grade, and have taught social studies for 6 years. I feel that I've proven that I can handle a wide variety of difficult situations and read rooms very quickly, now. In essence, it's time to move on.

[Pale Blue Dot]

18. Good luck!

LOL - I think you and I may really be total opposites. :D

[Godhumor]

23. Heh, I'm not sure on that

Most people who are passionate about teaching, and I am, share a lot of the same qualities. I know that some of my proudest personal achievements I'll ever have are from the classroom, and I will never forget them.

The first time you really get through to a student is magical, and I envy that you have that moment coming up.

[wildhorses]

6. congratulations

:applause:

[Pale Blue Dot]

14. Thanks!

[Ilsa]

9. Awesome. You'll never regret it! A super friend of mine that

visits DU every day but doesn't post left banking to study his love, history and politics, and now he is a teacher. He likes the kids, but he really loves studying history. No regrets.

[Pale Blue Dot]

17. I want to teach kids how to think.

I think too much time is spent having kids memorize facts and not enough time teaching them how to process those facts, and then challenge the world around them. I hate No Child Left Behind (which I know that I'll have to deal with), because I don't believe that it emphasizes what's truly important in the education of young people.

Tell your friend I said hi, and thanks!

[salin]

12. Teaching, if it is in your heart,

is one of the noblest ways of earning (not enough for those who are dictated by their hearts and give their all) a living. Because I believe this so strongly I say not "congrats" but "welcome to your life" (an old Tears for Fears song/opening line) - as it can be such an amazingly rewarding line of work - if one is led by the heart. I wish you many rewards (not monetarily, but psychically.) :D

Great news for you, and for your future students!

[Pale Blue Dot]

20. I guess we'll see, won't we?

I'm taking a pay cut because money is not the most important thing to me. I'm being led by my heart, for once (maybe twice) in my life. I hope it works out well for everybody.

Thanks for the kind words. :D

[Starbucks Anarchist]

15. Congratulations!

:toast:

[Pale Blue Dot]

21. Thank you!

... and one for you... :beer:

[Wapsie B]

19. Congratulations!

Skol!


:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

[Pale Blue Dot]

22. Thank you!

That's a lot of booze! :beer:

[bigwillq]

24. Congrats!

I am so happy for you.

Best of luck in your career.

:hi: :toast:

[Pale Blue Dot]

25. Thank you!

We still have to get together for a Giants' game next season. :beer:

[flamingyouth]

26. Congratulations!

That's awesome!

(huge congrats for getting the hell out of retail!!!) :D

[Pale Blue Dot]

27. Thank you!

And congratulations to you for (if I read it correctly) beating your cancer! :woohoo:

[flamingyouth]

30. Thanks!

And I hope so - I have check-ups every three months for two years, then every six months for three years after that. The next one is May 1, so I just keep my fingers crossed. :)

[Zomby Woof]

28. Congrats!

Now you, Catshrink and ulysses are my favorite DU teachers. :toast:

I love how your lives are coming together. :D

[Pale Blue Dot]

29. So all I have to do is knock off Catshrink and ulysses and I'll be your favorite?

I'm on it!

Thanks. We're all getting better, aren't we? :woohoo::party:

[Kat45]

31. Congratulations!

That's great. Must be the news you hinted about earlier. :toast:

[Pale Blue Dot]

37. Yep. That was it.

Thank you!

[Oeditpus Rex]

32. I envy you, man

The only thing I'd rather do than work for a newspaper is teach high school journalism.

Be a good one. :toast:

[Pale Blue Dot]

39. Thank you.

Once I set my mind to do something, I want to be the best. I was even a pretty good retail manager, and I hated it.

Journalism is another career path I should have considered way back when, so I envy you too!

Thanks!

[marzipanni]

33. I especially remember my 8th and 10th grade English teachers

because they were enthusiastic about what they were teaching us, encouraged us to express ourselves, and seemed genuinely interested in what we had to say. You seem like that kind of person, so I'm happy for you and your future students! :thumbsup:
This article is about Jane Elliott, a teacher who thought of an interesting way to teach her students about prejudice. With all this Imus stuff in the 'news', it came to mind...
http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2005/september/lesson_lifetime.php

[Pale Blue Dot]

41. I'm thinking about writing to my 10th grade English teacher.

I told him 23 years ago that I wanted to be an English teacher (because I wanted to be like him). He told me that I'd make a good one.

Thanks for the link! I definitely don't want to be a preacher. I want to get my students to think about, and talk about, their ideas.

[NC_Nurse]

34. That's wonderful!

Congrats and let us know how it's going.

My daughter is doing her internship in Special Ed, next year student teaching. She loves it. :-)

[Pale Blue Dot]

42. Thank you!

And good luck to your daughter!

[SarahB]

35. I didn't do this, you did it!

You know how to get through to people (my stubborn self, my kids, my family, and hell, I think Jim even likes you) and I know you'll be an incredible teacher. You're brilliant and you KNOW people.

I'm looking forward to that champagne tonight. :woohoo: :loveya:

[Pale Blue Dot]

43. I know how to get through to everybody except myself

...as Audrey pointed out. :D

:loveya:

[GenDem]

36. Congratulations, that's wonderful news!

:toast: :bounce: :toast: :party: :party: :toast: :bounce: :toast:

[Pale Blue Dot]

44. Thanks! nt

[MissMillie]

38. That's terrific news!

I'm very happy for you.

[Pale Blue Dot]

45. Thank you! nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

40. YAY!!!

:woohoo:

[Pale Blue Dot]

46. Thanks, darlin'.

It's a good day in the Fan/Belle household.

:woohoo:

[raccoon]

47. Best of luck to you in your teaching career!

I'm glad it worked out for you.

[Pale Blue Dot]

49. Thank you! nt

[kwassa]

48. One intensive summer session????

I don't know how they could cram the course work in, I did the same thing in about a year and a half of night and summer school, and thought that was pretty good.

Congrats, I did the same thing, and also left retail, actually. They have programs here in the DC region that do the same things. I started in 2001 in grad classes. I teach art.

Do you have to take the Praxix exams?

[Pale Blue Dot]

50. Based on my SAT scores, I was able to get a waiver on the Praxis 1

I take the Praxis 2 on the 28th.

Here's a link to the CT program, if you're interested:

http://www.ctdhe.org/ARC/default.htm

How do you like teaching?

[merh]

51. Congrats!!!

I taught a few courses at a community college, it was rewarding, yet frightening.

I couldn't handle the responsibility, I have trouble enough understanding that folks don't think like I do, it was frightening to think that I responsible to the students.

I applaud your desire to accept that responsibility and, of course, I congratulate you for the luck of marrying a woman that is so supportive.

Welcome back, SarahBelle :hi:


:grouphug:

[Pale Blue Dot]

53. All my life I've been surrounded by people who don't think like I do.

...so I'm used to it. :D

I can't wait to start, and yes, I'm a very lucky man. Thank you!

[GOPisEvil]

52. Congratulations and best wishes!

:toast:

[Pale Blue Dot]

54. Thank you!

Here's one for you: :beer:

[GOPisEvil]

55. I'll be having one of those soon!

Thanks! :D

[hellbound-liberal]

56. Congratulations on joining the teaching profession Finnfan! I did the same thing four years ago and

for much the same reasons. I had worked in foodservice for several years, then did retail for about six. During my stint in the retail industry I net someone on the school board in Tallahassee who convinced me to follow my dream of becoming a teacher. It took me a few more years to get into school and then after three years of full-time attendance, I graduated with my B.S. in Special Education and became a teacher. I am now in my 4th year of teaching and, even though it is the toughest job I have ever had, I have never regretted taking the chance. I am proud of you for your accomplishment and hope to hear many wonderful stories of how you have made a positive difference in the education of your students!

[femmocrat]

57. Congratulations, Finnfan! Welcome to the ranks!

I hope you have a very long, successful and satisfying career.