Oh. My. God. You GUYS! I got the job! I landed ONE interview in Idaho, in Pocatello, where they had like 12 openings in primary (K-3) and I applied for all of them. I had also applied in Nampa and Meridian, and I had gotten some reference checks for those districts, but never got any calls. Then at random I got a call on my cell phone from a 208 area code, which is the same as my parents’. When I looked at it, it said “Pocatello, ID” under the number, so I snatched it up and answered the call. It was a principal from the Pocatello School District, telling me that he had arranged several Skype interviews for that week and at the last minute someone backed out from California, so he had rifled through applications over at the district office and really liked mine. I did NOT apply for the position he was interviewing for, and it was for a 5th grade class. He asked if I would be interested in interviewing the next morning, at 9am (for me, 11am for them.) so of course I said yes.
I fretted over it NON STOP until the interview started. I wore something loose and flowy, casual, tan and brown with polks dots all over it and cream trim, box neckline. Something I knew I wouldn’t have any cleavage in. I downloaded Skype on my work computer and tested it obsessively to make sure it would work. I was packing my laptop down to the conference room, which I reserved for the interview the day before, and piled up some thick text books to set it on top of so the built in camera wouldnt be staring right at my boobs/double chin.
Mr Johnson, the principal, is a younger guy (Under 40) and has blond spiky hair and an easy, casual way about him. He says things like “Sweet!” and “That’s awesome!” He also had their public relations person there for the interview, and another one of the 5th grade teachers. The questions were fairly vague, and while I had researched the school the day before and made notes of their policies and preferred practices so I could reference them, I never needed my notes. All of the questions were open ended and just fantastic ones that I had great answers for without trying to formulate something. They asked me about a lot of things I’m already pretty passionate about, things I have had to explain for every interview with a school I’ve ever had, and things that really let me show my enthusiasm for kids and for teaching and education.
It was a fabulous interview, and every time I would stop and ask “Does that answer the question completely?” He or one of the ladies in the room would say “Oh, YES! You hit the nail right on the head.” or “Absolutely, that was brilliant.” Etc… just really nice, encouraging comments to everything I said. However, I’ve had a LOT of school district interviews and I was not feeling like this meant for sure I had the job by any means. I’ve heard these things before. Every principal that’s interviewed me has really liked me, but chose someone else. SO, I wasn’t expecting much, but I texted my dad and everyone close to me and gave them he update anyways.
Right after lunch, at about 1pm that same day, my phone rang at my desk. All of my coworkers knew I had interviewed and we’d been talking about it since it was scheduled, they knew how nervous and excited I was, and they were all telling me not to freak out and so forth. So, everyone’s head snapped up and they all turned to me. My eyes bulged out of my head when I saw the number on my caller ID. I nodded slowly to everyone and answered the call. All my coworkers are staring at me and grinning, and I keep saying “Yes!” “Uh-huh!” “Well thank you!!” “OF COURSE!” and so on. Everyone is grinning around me and smiling and waiting.
Mr. Johnson tells me how impressed he was with my interview, how all of my answers aligned perfectly with their mission statement, that everyone in the interview loved me and thought I’d be perfect for the job. He told me “I know this is really fast, but I wanted to call you right away before someone else snapped you up, because we want you in Pocatello!”
THE SAME DAY AS THE INTERVIEW, he offered me the job. At the end of the interview, he had asked if I had any other interviews lined up. I didn’t and still don’t, but I lied and said that I had one in a couple of days with Nampa. He made sure to check with me after offering me the position as to whether I would still interview with Nampa or cancel it. I assured him that I would go ahead and cancel that interview, because I preferred the Pocatello area.
He told me that he was not even supposed to be having the conversation because I wasn’t cleared with HR yet. He had to have me scramble around and get some original reference letters scanned and submitted, and I had to hustle to do my Idaho State Teaching Certificate application. I already have signed and returned my letter of intent to accept the job, and I will receive a contract in a couple of days.
Moving expenses are going to be the death of me. IF YOU WANT TO HELP OUT, feel free to donate on my Go Fund Me:
I’m not sure how we are going to make it work, at this point, but Ross and I are going to go talk to a loan officer at a credit union this afternoon to see about taking out a small personal loan. Wish us luck. We are supposed to be out of our rental by the end of the month, but we don;t have anywhere to STAY for July yet… I’m hoping to rent/borrow an RV from someone and live out of it. But so far I can’t find one. We could, potentially, tent camp. Ross is vehemently against it, though.
Kasin was really upset initially, but is dealing better now and getting excited. He was crying last night because his grandma is so upset that we are leaving. (Dad’s mom)
Alright. Now I just need to expedite passports and order my birth certificate so I can apply, etc etc.. good lord. It’s going to be so expensive to get out of here. WISH US LUCK.
And money.
Loading comments...