Life is Good

Well, I had my interview at the LAUSD Corporate Offices today.  I qualify to teach, which is a good thing.  They want to place me in a music teaching position, which makes me a wee bit nervous.  They don’t have elementary music teachers – only high school – which makes me even more nervous.  The REAL anxiety-causing news is that, in the whole of LA County and the Unified School District (the second largest school system in the country), there are only TWO, count ’em TWO (2), teaching positions available.  So, being the proactive (desperate and not wanting to wait any longer) person I am, I called the two schools immediately upon leaving the LAUSD building on Beaudry.

The first school asked me to fax in my resume.  So, I did.  The second school, I talked with the Vice Principal and he originally wanted to interview me this afternoon.  But then asked if tomorrow morning would be better.  I said yes, it would.  I asked him what the position actually was (guaranteeing to myself that it was probably for a band teacher and not to get my hopes up), and he replied, "Well, do you have any choral experience?  We need a choral teacher."  And I said (actually, it was more like squealed), "YES!!!  That’s what my credential is in!  Vocal/General music!"  And then he said the magic words, "Well, the deal is this: since we’re a brand new school, if you got the position, you would essentially be responsible for creating and developing the vocal/general music program." 

Hole.  Ee.  Crap. 

If I have to be put in a scary position teaching something I’m apprehensive about teaching, the best…the ABSOLUTE BEST…thing you could offer me is the chance to build the program from the ground up in my own way.  I can use my own organizational skills and create the program to fit my style.  Of course, they’ll have guidelines and things that they want me to adhere to, but I’m sure I’ll get a really big say in creative authority in building the program.  And, upon going to the school’s website, I’ve discovered that they place a strong emphasis on the arts and want musical theater and other things available to the students, so YAY!!!  AND…the school is brand new, just opened in September, with brand new facilities…so, DOUBLE YAY!!!

All that to say this:  if you’ve been praying for me (I know I haven’t really mentioned this whole situation much) or sending good wishes and thoughts my way, PLEASE DON’T STOP!!!!  If you haven’t, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO START!!!!    I’m really ready to start teaching, even if it’s in music.  Granted, it’s not my first choice, but it’s definitely a situation that I would LOVE to be a part of.  And the best part about all of it is that with my first paycheck will come my benefits, which are included completely (I pay NOTHING out of my checks) and include medical, dental, vision and mental (whatever that’s supposed to be).  This means that I could, as soon as the end of December, have medical insurance once again!!!!  PRAISE HIM, SAINTS!

So…update tomorrow as to whether I’ll be teaching.  And on one last note, if I am, it’s quite likely I’ll be teaching as of December 10ish…and if so, that means I’ll actually get Christmas break off!!!  I’ll get more than a day or two!!  And that means that I can go out during my time off over Christmas and do stuff instead of come to a job that has nothing for me and go home to a house that has no one welcoming me (Matt’ll be gone the 19th – 2nd, so I’ll be alone during that time except for Christmas Day weekend).  I would LOVE to be able to go to the beach or walk around Hollywood for a day or do some of the touristy things that I didn’t get to do when I moved here because I was trying to find a job.  It’ll actually be a vacation for me and I’m really excited about it.  And on that note, if you’re gonna be in the LA area, hit me up and we’ll go sightseeing together!!!

Seacrest out.