Here I am, a highly qualified Social Studies Teacher, with excellent references and multiple awards for my teaching, including two in the last year. I have taught Middle and High School. I am qualified to teach AP Govt and AP Econ. I have taught Government, US History, World History, Social Issues, Comparative Religion as well as Language Arts (that only at the middle school level). I have coached Boys and Girls Soccer, been musical director of musical theater, coached Mock Trial, advised the Muslims Students Association, etc.
And apparently I am now apparently unemployable as a teacher.
I explored independent schools. Many are reluctant to consider someone who has been in public education as long as I have. And of course as open as I have been writing here (and elsewhere) on education, politics, and other topics, that can make independent schools very nervous.
My vocal opposition to Common Core and the Associated Tests probably eliminates me from any serious consideration in DC Public Schools, which is why i have not filed an application there.
I have applied for every opening in four local jurisdictions in Virginia. I have managed to get about a dozen interviews. I got a followup interview with one principal as one of three finalists, all of whose references had been checked, and then they decided to junk the pool and go out again. In another school the principal called to apologize for not hiring me, telling me how wonderfully qualified I was, but she found someone well qualified fluent in Spanish and she has a Spanish immersion program. Another school contacted me and asked me to come in - I had not even applied. I believe I was the last one interviewed. Then after all that they posted the job, and when I inquired what was going on was told that they wanted to do some more interviews before they decided, but that they would let me know one way or the other. That was ten days ago. In one district there are three two schools in which I was interviewed, where they said very nice things to me. But they are not allowed to say anything directly, it gets forwarded to personnel who has to make the offer. Once someone has accepted, then the other candidates can and will be notified. One of those interviewed me 2.5 weeks ago, the other about ten days ago. Still no word on either.
And then there is the charter school . . .
... for which I taught a sample lesson and the students gave me an ovation at the end. But there are all kinds of other dynamics going on, even though more than two months ago I was told it was their intent to hire me. First the principal was let go, then the executive director stepped aside for health reasons, then the assistant principal left. The earliest a new principal will be in place is Monday, and I have been assured that my resume will be on the top of the pile.
But as of Monday I am unavailable to visit schools, because I have what now looks like it might be my last teaching gig, 3 weeks of teaching Macro Economics and the Global Economy to preternaturally brilliant 7-10th graders at Dickinson College on behalf of Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. That job is also why I neither volunteered this year at the RAM Clinic in Wise nor signed up for NN15 in Phoenix.
Could one of the places where I have interviewed in theory offer me a job in next two days and I could sign? Perhaps. Could one of them decide to offer me while I am in Carlisle PA and I could do paperwork by fax or mail? Certainly.
Could a school now decide they were interested in me, and then be willing to do the interview via phone or skype? Theoretically.
But here's the reality.
1. I am 69 years old.
2. I have been in four different schools in the last four years. I retired at the end of 2012, then came out of retirement at the request of a former principal to fill a vacancy but my wife got sick. I then was hired by an old acquaintance for a position shaped largely for my talents, but he left that school after I accepted the position. When the position was changed for the following year he hired me again for where he was. But for two years I commuted 45 miles each way, including having to go home through DC evening rush hour traffic, from near Baltimore to Virginia.
3. There is a surplus of certified social studies teachers.
4. Even though I would not get paid for all my experience, I am still more expensive than someone with far less experience. That keeps me from a number of situations.
It is not YET a crisis. When I am back from my summer work, as of Monday August 10 I will again be available for interviewing, and there are often late openings.
We think we have successfully refinanced our mortgage such that we are able to skip two payments, and then be paying about 600/mo less.
There is really nothing I can do about it at this point. One of the four positions in which I am theoretically under consideration could come through. One of half dozen or so that are open to which I have applied might decide to interview me.
But as of now, I am reluctantly coming to the conclusion that I will have to find some other source of income come the Fall. If I can.
It is frustrating.
At times it can be depressing.
But I had a good run of 19 years in the classroom, coming to it late in life.
I recognize that as a teacher I am somewhat of an odd bird. And I tend to be myself in interviews, because there is not much point going into a situation where I could not be myself, is there?
When I came out of retirement I realized how much I had missed being in the classroom. That is why I would really like to continue teaching if I could.
But if not, life will go on.
At least, I hope so.
Peace.