today i had two job interviews. let me start with the second one because it won't take long. it was crappy. it was with a charter school (i won't give the name) and they were disorganized and unprofessional. the principal got a call on her cell phone and left the room. she didn't hear one single answer. the woman who was doing most of the talking was very abrasive. she kept asking me negative questions and if i was sure i wanted to work for a charter school. i finally told her that i am not sure what i'm looking for other than a good fit. i want to find a school i would be happy at and that i could contribute to in a positive way. i want a place where i want to wake up and go everyday. after my short experience with them today, i know this charter school is not where i want to be.
so we will rewind and go to my first interview of the day. it was with a brand new child care facility opening in the pasadena area. i know the woman who is opening it. we taught together. her and her mom have bought a building and are turning it into a school for ages 6 weeks to 5 years. the position i interviewed for was the teacher for the 4s and 5s (so the oldest in the school). they are writing (or have written) the curriculum they want the teachers to follow. i'll have planning to do, but not to the extent that i would have in a setting with older children. the interview went well. i was honest with my answers. they told me on the spot, that they wanted to hire me. i was shocked (mostly because my luck lately has been shitty). i was also honored because i finally felt wanted by someone and not disappointed. i told them to give me until the end of the week to think about it. i had that interview today and a possible one later this week so i wanted to see where those took me.
the reason i need to think about it? the pay and lack of benefits... the pay is more than i'm making now and it is a full time position. i would gross $400/week. right now i bring home right around (maybe a little more) $500/month (this is from my retail job, which is the only one i have right now). so it would be a significant difference, but i think i would still fall short with my expenses. i haven't crunched the numbers yet.
i need to be insured because i have to take my meds. i can't go without my meds. i could keep my retail job, which is where my insurance coverage is coming from now (it's crappy, but better than nothing). but i have to crunch those numbers too to see how many hours a week i would have to work there. i don't want to over extend myself.
one other minor concern is the age group. i only have one year experience working with four year olds. i do have my masters in early childhood so that gives me a strong foundation in developmentally appropriate practices, etc. i need to figure out if i really want to work with twenty-two fours and fives. it will be challenging work, but i think it would be fun, and i wouldn't have all the pressure that i would face in public school.
that gets me to why i would take the job. i was seriously stressed my last few years of teaching. everything seemed difficult and i felt unsuccessful. now, with this year off i'm feeling better about most of that, but i do worry about going back into a public school classroom with all the stresses and pressures. plus, since i suffer from serious depression from time-to-time it interferes with my job performance (which i know could affect my performance at the center, but the pressure wouldn't be the same). i think the job would be more fun and relaxed and that may be what i need.
i'm struggling so much because my family wants to see me in a public school classroom making $50K. i don't know if they would settle for me making $20K. not that it is really any of their business, but i don't like to disappoint others. i just don't think $50K is enough to deal with all the bullshit that has to be dealt with in a public school. not that i'm not seriously considering going back. i am. i'm exploring my options and not turning now any interviews right now. i just want to do what is best for me and that will make me happy. that is the most important thing to me. a happy kimberly means a happy mommy, which benefits alex. i've gotta think about him too during this time.
i will keep you updated on what i decide to do...
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