Sunday, March 31, 2013

That Time I Got a Job

Y'all read that right folks, I GOT A JOB!
Not just any job either, I got a job at my DREAM school.
I am truly humbled by the fact that the Lord chose to bless me this way. I am so, so undeserving.
I got hired at Mooreland Heights Elementary School.
Eek! I still can't believe it.
It all started over a year ago. I did my pre-internship six-week rotation in third grade at Mooreland. And LOVED it.
Naturally, I wanted to intern there. We don't get to chose our school, but we do get to choose the type of school, Title 1 or suburban. I chose Title I but got placed at UT's other Title I internship school. I loved it there. (I think I would have loved it anywhere- I just love teaching.) Unfortunately, after my pull-out in fifth grade at a different school, my original mentor had a family crisis and wisely decided to no longer have an intern. I was devastated. You may remember me crying the entire end of October- rough month.
I'm embarrassed now though, because here's the thing, through the whole thing, God was writing an incredible story. He was weaving together people and events to lead me to where I am right now. Abundantly joyful at accepting my dream job.
 I was in Memphis for a wedding when my professor (who is the BEST of all time) got the news that my original mentor could not take me back after my pull-out. She knew I was in Memphis though and wisely decided not to ruin the wedding weekend with this news. I'm so grateful for that. When I got back to Knoxville on Sunday, she called and broke the news to me, however, by this time, she had also already found a potentially new mentor for me at Mooreland Heights. She apologized for it happening and for me having to not only change grade levels, but also schools. I cried. Of course. But hearing that I was going to be at MHES soften the blow. I knew that I loved that school.
Thanks to all the awesome people who for some reason decided to accept me into a new school as an intern in the middle of the year, I got placed in second grade with a rockin' mentor teacher.
This is my mentor teacher's second year teaching so we figure out a lot of stuff together. She really is the best. I cannot say enough great things about the entire staff at MHES. They work together and help each other way more than any staff I have ever seen. It's wonderful.
I found out on Wednesday afternoon that I was going to interview on Thursday at noon. With LOTS of help from the second grade team, I pulled together a portfolio with everything I needed. I even got letters of recommendations in time! Including one from each of my kiddos! They are too funny not to share, so here's a couple of them for your enjoyment.
This one calls me "Ms. Croffert." So close. She also mentions my beautiful and funny voices. Vital teacher qualities.

:)

In this one I am "swety".

This is one of my favorites!

And this sweet boy isn't even in my class but wanted to write a letter. He's awesome (and so is his teacher!)



We had a field trip on Thursday morning, got back at 11:30, I interviewed at 12:00, and left for the beach at 4:00. To say the least, Thursday was a whirlwind!
I was excited nervous all weekend.
[Side note: Knox County schools hire May- August so I wasn't expecting a job until summer. God is good.]
At 8:20 on Monday morning I got a call. I was downstairs chatting and drinking coffee with my friends. I ran upstairs to grab my bathing suit and saw I had a call and voice mail. Being an intern for a year has made me very familiar with those "594" numbers. (Slight teacher joke there- sorry 'bout it). Cue shaking and sweaty palms here. I listened to the voice mail and called the woman back. She told me she had a job offer at Mooreland Heights for me. I think I probably told her "thank you" 467 times. She laughed at me. And said she assumed that meant I accepted. I of course told her "yes, yes, yes" and "thank you" a couple more times. I'm not really sure what else she said. Somethings about calling again after Spring Break to get the papers signed and all. I was happy crying by this point.
After I hung up I ran downstairs and announced it to my friends. They clapped and cheered and called me Ms. Crawford and made me feel so special. I ran back up stairs to call Dr. Miller (and thank him a thousand times) and my mom and my mentor teacher and my UT professor and girls who are interning with me and the second grade team and my roommates and EVERYONE was so stinkin' excited for me. It makes me want to happy cry again.
I feel so blessed to have so many people around me who truly celebrate with me. Thank you to each one of you. I don't think words can say how grateful I am for how special and loved and excited you made me feel. I feel like this is a theme in my life. I am humbled by the love and kindness of others. I hope I can be the same to y'all. Seriously, thank you.

I saw this quote on Twitter the same day I got the job at Mooreland, "The worst moment for an atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank." -Dante Gabriel Rossetti. SO thankful I have someone to thank. God's faithfulness is so evident in this part of my life. I am so undeserving of His goodness. But so grateful for it none the less.

Sorry for all the rambling, I'm just a teeny tiny bit excited. I have ZERO doubts Mooreland Heights is exactly where I am supposed to be. God is so good and so faithful. I am beyond pumped to get to start my teaching career at this incredible school!!
 Eek!!!

1 comment:

  1. Congratulations! Isn't it wonderful to have landed the job that you've wanted for a long time? I hope you enjoy your stay there. Despite how hopeless it seemed at first, you finally got a teaching post at your dream school.

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