Mojo Me! Please? As of tomorrow afternoon, I will be out of a job :-(

[Whoa_Nelly]

Some of you know I was finally able to get a teaching position in late January this year here in the little town where I moved to to be near my son and grandkids.
The contract was a temporary until the end of the school year (that will be tomorrow).

I took the SpEd Algebra classes, grades 9-12, that had a reputation of being kids you don't turn your back on. I took over for a teacher who had been fired because he treated the kids like dirt, called them foul names, and generally didn't know his way around SpEd law, basically screwing up the IEPs (Individual Education Plans) and making poor lesson plans, among other things he did (such as stealing form the school, including a computer, and more.)

I fixed the screwed up IEPs, got the kids to behave, had many of them tell me that for the first time Math made sense...and it shows...many are ending the year with As and Bs...even had one girl that went from an F to an A, and cried and hugged me when I gave her her end of the year grade today...she earned it! And I am very proud of her and all the other kids.

Anyway, apparently, no matter how many hoops I have jumped through, no matter how professional I have been, no matter re-applying over a month ago to teach again for next year on a regular contract, no matter that this high school is currently now three SpEd teachers short for the 2008-09 school year, (two are leaving, and my "no return" makes three), I have not been offered a job.

I feel like a Scab called in to cover for the Union striker. :(

I have applied to several other districts here, but so far, no bites. I've also applied to and have been interviewed by Clark County School District, Las Vegas, NV, and I may have to move AGAIN this summer just to be able to work. I so don't want to move away from my babies :cry:

The area here is not overly friendly, and even though I have also jumped through all the teacher credentialing hoops (will have clear credential after June 28...not bad considering I've had my CA credential less than a year...many tests, lots of money to the state), seems you have to be one of the long-termers of living around here to be hired.
All along it's felt like a big secret, and I'm not part of the clique... x(

Anyway...mojo me please, dear Loungies :hug:

I need a job! (not to mention health insurance, too!)

Meanwhile, am holding a couple of yard sales, going to do some eBay selling, and hope like hell I can make it through and maybe be working in August...working Somewhere! :o

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Whoa_Nelly!

Tons of mojo heading north for you, sweetie!

How can they not hire you????

Are they all idiots????

They must be!

I pray the scales fall from their eyes, and they rehire you at once!

The kids really need you too!

:hug:

:loveya:

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. Call'em and tell'em, Peggy!

And, thanks! That's what others have said, including those with whom I've been teaching.


Thanks for the mojo boost! :hug: :loveya: :hi:

[some guy]

3. good, good

good vibrations. :hug:

:hi:

{{{{{{{{{{good mojo}}}}}}}}}}

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Awwwww... some guy! Where ya been?

So good to see you!

And, thanks! :hug: :loveya: :hi:

[some guy]

6. well,

your question bumped a Bob Dylan song to the front of my thoughts, as a response, but that song isn't appropriate to this thread, so I'll skip that. We're wishing you sun shine, and glad tidings - not hard rains. :)

I've been around here occasionally, but not posting, just reading. Otherwise, just doing the day-to-day life thing.

{{{{{{{{{{{{ mo' good mojo}}}}}}}}}}}}

:loveya:

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. A Dylan Song?

You can always PM me the lyrics! ;)


(Have loved Dylan ever since his Blonde on Blonde album came out waaaaaaaaay back when!...or maybe it was even the Highway 61 album :o )

[Ptah]

5. If you had been my childrens' teacher

life would be much better for all of us.

[Whoa_Nelly]

9. Thanks, dear friend!

:hug: :love: :hi:

[Ptah]

11. .

and

[Whoa_Nelly]

12. Brownie!

You should see Seneca! She got a summer cut,(1/4 in. buzz) and instead of being black under all that haie, she;s actually a blind! (with a black saddle)

[Whoa_Nelly]

13. PS...ever notice that in that pic

is a pic of me holding my boy when he was just a year old AND a silhouette of me at age 6 ? :rofl:

You captured'em all! (Hedda is hiding in the gilt frame behind me....)

[SeattleGirl]

7. Mojo, mojo, mojo Nelly!

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. My sweet SG RubyGal!

(that's how I always think of you! ) :loveya:

Thank you! :hug: :pals: :hi:

[SeattleGirl]

18. You know it!

:loveya: :hug:

[1]

14. all i can tell you is... in the moment, you can never tell what is great and what is awful...

what you might think is fantastic might turn out to be the worst thing that ever happened to you.

what you might think is truly awful might become the greatset thing that ever happened to you.

right now. in the moment. without the benefit of hindsight, you don't know.



i'm not going to suggest that you be all cheery about current events. but in the same light, do not be down. you don't know.

you appear to be competent in what you do. and remember that confidence is a most important attribute, in love and in work...

hold your head high. be flexible about where you live. be flexible about what you do.

mostly be bold.

don't think you are qualified for that job? apply anyway. they probably can't find the "exact" person they are looking for. maybe your resume hits their desk, and they have to hire someone like today before their budget for the position runs out, and you seem interesting... and confident...

you don't know.

i have landed jobs i was in no way exactly perfect for. i had some qualifications, sometimes a very few qualifications, but sometimes its just your personality that gets you the job. your connection to the person you are interviewing with. it happens.


be open and you will be amazed at the opportunities...

[Whoa_Nelly]

16. Thanks

At age 54 have learned much, and have a lot of hindsight.

As for "qualifications"...the district is looking for those who they can pay less. Am already at the top of level II pay scale and headed into level III. Arnold has taken over $1.5m from this tiny district alone to try and balance the state budget. (it's only two high schools as a district.)

But I appreciate your thoughts. Meanwhile, I need a teaching position and health insurance.

I also have a degree in Interior Design, as well as a business license for the same, but around here there ain't much in the design department...


Thanks for the optimism :hi: :loveya:

[khashka]

15. Mucho mojo!

As a temporary hire, they may not ask you back until just before the beginning of the school year. Since you will have your creds then, that may help.
Sounds like you have an excellent record. SpEd isn't easy and not every teacher can do it. But I've seen you here and know how patient, kind, and involved you can be.

Best of luck!

Khash.

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. khash!

Thank you! :hug: :loveya: :hi: :need a tears of ever lovin' joy good to see you smiley here:

[JCMach1]

19. Best Wishes

I am sure you will end up with a job...

[Whoa_Nelly]

20. I like your assuredness!

:D

Thanks, JC! :loveya: :hi:

[Guava Jelly]

21. My mojo isn't that great

But I'll send it.
Big hugs. I hope you find a job :hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

28. No, but your butt is nice

:P

Seriously...your mojo is ALWAYS good!

Thanks, GoPsUx! :hug: :loveya:

[Lady Freedom]

22. Just remember that you got it going on and...

:yourock:

[Whoa_Nelly]

29. LadyFreedom!

Thank you so much!

Hope things are going well now in your life! :hug: :loveya:

[Callalily]

23. Sending tons of mojo

your way. Hope that your job hunt is short lived.

Math is an exceedingly difficult subject to teach effectively. I only had a few good math teacher throughout my school years.

Kudos to you for bringing your class to a higher level of excellence. Too bad the school district is so close minded.

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

30. Thank you for your kind words

and your encouragement!

Many :hug: :hug: back at'cha, Simply Fugue!

[Maestro]

24. Wishing you the best....

And congrats on turning that class around. I know how difficult it can be. It's all about developing a relationship with expectations with those kids. You obviously did that. Have you contacted the personnel department of the district? Have you spoken with the principal?

[Whoa_Nelly]

31. Have done all of the above and more

including the assistant superintendent.

It's a small district...just two high schools.
(Districts here are not by county, just be some strange type of sectioning off that has more to do with old agricultural boundary lines than town or county)

Thanks for your sweet words, Maestro!
(every time I see the hummers at the flowers in my yard, I think of you) :loveya: :hi:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

25. Mojo on!

Heaps of it Whoa Nelly, you have a talent for teaching. I hope the district gets it collective brains out of park and keeps you on. What you did with those children was wonderful, and schools need more of that.

:hi: :hug: :loveya: :pals:

[Whoa_Nelly]

33. SCE!

So good to see you here!

Thank you so much for your kind words. :loveya: :hug: :hi:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

43. A pleasure dear lady :) Now say AWW

[PeaceNikki]

26. Sending massive amounts of mojo in your general direction.

Hang in there! :hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

34. Nikki!

Thank you! :loveya: :hug:

[lightningandsnow]

27. ...

You are an amazing teacher.

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

35. Hey, Grrl!

Thank you!

You are an amazing person, too! :pals: :hi: :hug:

[BarenakedLady]

32. Bummer

I hope you find something soon. You totally rock, any school system would be lucky to have you.

Good Luck!

:yourock: :hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

36. BNL!

Thank you so much! :hug: :loveya: :hi:

[raccoon]

37. Hope something works out for you, Nelly!

:hug: :hi:

You sound like a great teacher. My hat's off to you for that.

[Whoa_Nelly]

39. Thanks!

Am home for a quick lunch, then back to the school for another hour or so...kids are already out for the day, for the summer.

So many asked again today if I would be back so I could tutor them next year in their General Ed. Algebra 1 classes. I told them again I would probably not be back due to not getting a contract. So, they took themselves to the office to demand that I remain!

:tears of love for these kids: What a wonderful group! :D

[applegrove]

38. Sounds like you did an excellent job. Sorry for your loss.

[Whoa_Nelly]

40. Thank you, applegrove!

:hug: :loveya: :hi:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

41. Vibes to you Nelly --

:hug:

I quit my teaching asst. job. Long story short. I had an issue with my supervisor playing favorites. I went to the head of the program with it...and she was worse !!

I have found another job with better hours, better pay and closer to home. I wish the same for you.

[Whoa_Nelly]

45. TA!

You are always there when I need you!

Thank you! :hug: :loveya: :pals: :hi:

[Elidor]

42. The very best of Mojo to you, Nelly

I hope you're able to stay.

[Whoa_Nelly]

46. Thanks, Hardhead!

I hope so, too. This month will tell. :hi:

[NJmaverick]

44. I am very sorry to hear that

have you asked your current supervisor why he/she thinks you didn't get an offer? It might offer some useful insights.

[Whoa_Nelly]

47. It's not really about me

The district, which is comprised of just two high schools, had to give back just over $1.5m to the state of CA...all money that was already for the 2008-09 school year budget. A little snag set up by Arnold, the he-man gubenator, to try and fix the current CA deficit crisis. Am sure the district is looking to hire people in that will be on a beginning salary rather than the step 11, Level 2 that I am on.

So, while not taking it personally, being on the beginning of broke is a bit personal.

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[NJmaverick]

48. sorry

:hug:

[Dangerously Amused]

49. Best vibes ALWAYS to you GF.

:hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

53. DA!

You know I love you!

Thanks!

:hig: :loveya: :hi:

[Canuckistanian]

50. Viele MoJo für dich

{It sounds better in the original German.)

Good luck to you. Hope you REALLY don't have to move to keep the job you love.

[Whoa_Nelly]

54. Thanks, Canuki !

I mostly just want a job to be able to stay here near my dear ones.

Thanks so much!

:hug: :loveya: :hi:

[Haole Girl]

51. Sending as much mojo as I can muster!

You deserve good luck... a lot of it... and soon!! :hi: :hug:

[Whoa_Nelly]

55. Awww, KC2!

As always, you are so sweet!

Thank you very much! :pals: :loveya: :hi: :hug:

[yellowdogintexas]

52. mojo for you, mojo for me, mojo for DTBK, mojo for Crispini

I know I left someone out who just got laid off/fired/or otherwise unemployed

[Whoa_Nelly]

56. Yellowdog, you are the mojo Guru!

Thank you! :hug: :loveya: :hi:

[Shine]

57. I hope it all works out for you, honey.

I hope you can find something close by to your family. I'll send some good ju ju your way. I'm sure you're a fantastic teacher. :hug:

Hang in there, babe.

[Whoa_Nelly]

58. Thank you, Shine!

Your care, affection and good ju ju goes a long way...I know this personally!

Thanks so much! :hug: :loveya: :pals: :hi:

[auntAgonist]

59. their not hiring you back is a tremendous loss to the

kids and to the community. I'm sorry:(

I am sending lots of good vibes your way and I sincerely hope you find a position that suits your every need.

:hug:

aA
kesha

[Whoa_Nelly]

60. aA!

Thank you so much!

I adore you! :hug: :loveya: :pals: