fall break started today.

but there was also a music-educators convention today. i decided to go. i was very active in this organization in college and even though i’ve yet to join since i became involved in this field, it was free for first-years, so i says yeah, man.

i ran into old friends. so after sitting by them to listen to some giant high school string ensemble play lady gaga hits, i went to the sessions that were more catered to them: secondary choral. the elementary ones looked lame and i missed friends and i was acting like a little lost lamb.

on the way to this first session, i got stopped by a mom/choir director from a small town around me. i have her kid. “Mr. Maxwell! My son So-and-so talks about you all the time. He loves you and says you’re great! I just wanted to say hi!”

(i have 470 kids. even 9 wks in, i still don’t have all the names down solid.)

i texted a colleague to ask about this kid: who he was and about his mom.

apparently, she—a seasoned educator—applied for my job.

but i got it.

and, i’m sure, weird cattiness from that mom. i wonder if she’s spying on me through her child.

BUT

i went to the choir sessions and a bunch of educators just ran through and talked about some literature for different size/ability levels. i haven’t made group music in so long. so even if i didn’t learn how to be a better professional, i got to refuel. and that’s nifty.

i sobbed today. i cried in front of a lot of kids and co-workers.
i was informed some upsetting news concerning a child. this was the first of, i’m sure, many many times that i will have to deal with crises that are totally unrelated to my job description. and my probability of dealing with personal crises is exponentially higher than a classroom teacher’s since i see every child in the school.

and i just had a rough time with it. not at first. but after a few minutes when i had to start dealing with it and making decisions.

this is an instance where i’m grateful for my workplace culture. i work in a school that has a very structured model—and as such, i’m allowed to be human in front of the kids. we are allowed to joke about the mistakes we make or the loss of composure if we learn from them. the children see that teachers are actual people. all the children in the school are like “teacher’s kids.”

i like that.

but i’m still very sad.

but glad that i’m allowed to be. 

“vocal specialist”

is the title that HR is putting down on a lot of my paperwork. i’m gonna show them specialist—as i change keys 12 times and miss all of the important intervals during the a cappella falsetto i’ll be using for my kids.

things to do before the 21st:

• find a place to live.
• make up a physical classroom.
• finish my last few daze of catering, which includes projects and training and writing left undone.
• inservice/seminars at my new job.
• create an entire curriculum.
• pick up keys for school/room.
• learn 422 names.
• plan 5 cheap awful unmusical musical programs that are opposed to my teaching philosophy but will satisfy my requirements as a teacher.
• lesson plans. a lot of them. they are my fuel.
• have some resolve with my budding boyf.
• create a budget that works with my meager salary.
• somehow learn all of the kodály method, become a handsign expert. get better at orff shiz.
• move.
• thank you notes.
• a wedding in KC MO.
• HR paperwork. 
• drive to the capitol and back 18 times to get my certification expedited.
• spend all the money i have on all this so that my cushion is depleted.
• tumblr.

there’s probably more. 

i. just. can’t. 
especially while i’m trying to spend all my time a’kissin’ my boyf before i move an hour and a half away. 

and this is the boyf’s to-do list. i’m jealous. (i’m also “sexytime”):

LET ME TEACH YOUR CHILDREN

i have an interview on sunday: K-5 music.
it’s in a ‘burb halfway between where i went to school and OKC; ‘tis prime spot for resources. 

applications completed for 2 teaching jobs today. a grade school and a MS/HS band slot.
gurls i ain’t done yet.

hope.

round four

the hiring process is getting ridiculous at this school. tomorrow i have to do a teaching demo an hour and a half away with a fourth grade class, debrief with the principal and an HRer afterwards, and hand in A HOMEWORK assignment for a teaching job—a prompted essay. if there are anymore rounds to land this job, so help me i’ll…go through them and win, of course. but not without grumbling.

the expectations are so very high. when i get this job…mmmemmm…just…it’s gonna/gotta be worth it.