Hi everyone. Its been awhile since I've posted anything, so here goes.

A lot has happened since my last post. I quit my teaching position at the end of the 2005-2006 school year because the stress level over there was literally killing me. I had put on a LOT of weight, not sleeping, and losing my temper over anything. Since then, I've managed to lose about 50 lbs (still lots to go), sleeping better, and a much cheerier person in general. I doubt that I would have survived (ie heart attack or stroke) another year there, so I don't regret my decision one bit.

The bad side is that I have not been able to secure a teaching position since then. I've been substituting in local districts during the past year, but it doesn't make ends meet and there's no benefits. I can't just pack up and move for several reasons. The biggest reasons are that my wife loves her job and I wouldn't ask her to give it up and my parents live on our property and I'm the only person on my side of the family responsible (capable) enough to help them when they need it.

I understand the reasons preventing me from getting hired. The biggest one is that I have 15 years of experience and they can pay a lot less and get someone with less experience. I also suspect that my previous boss hasn't been giving me the best references. I parted on friendly terms with him and still sub in his school from time to time, but the reasons I left probably rubbed him the wrong way. There were several other teachers who quit at the same time I did so the Board President called us up to get the real reason we were leaving. While I did not get to speak with him, the ones that did were promptly chewed out by the Superintendant for violating the 'chain of command'. I did speak to his wife later however...

My plans for the upcoming school year are to continue subbing as much as possible. My family has put up the money to get a high-speed internet connection so I can pursue getting affiliated with one or two online tutoring services to earn a bit more. I am also considering trying my hand at some freelance writing if the opportunity presents itself. I'm so fortunate to have a wife that loves me more than my paycheck and doesn't hold anything against me.

If anyone has any suggestions about any of this mess, feel free to put them out there. I need all the ideas I can get.


Thanks,
David

How close are you to Columbia? I might be going to school there..

I had to leave a teaching position too-health reasons that are healing finally. I can't find another job yet so am applying for unemployment tomorrow. Looking into teaching in prisons, community college work, and training for retail companies. I have a MSED in workforce education. It is tough mentally and emotionally, hang in there. I really do know what you are going through. I signed up to sub too.

pm me if you like-I live not to far from you-

Move to a bigger city? Move to a place that pays teachers more? sounds like life might be telling you that you need a change...

You mention tutoring, but will that make you happy? Will it fulfill your goals? (ADDers have to be careful not to get stuck in boredom and ruts of less-than careers: it really kills us.)

What teaching ideas or career goals or jobs get you excited or actually feeling passionate?

How close are you to Columbia? I might be going to school there..

I'm about two hours out of Columbia. If I get back on my feet, I may be heading that direction to get my masters finished.

Move to a bigger city? Move to a place that pays teachers more? sounds like life might be telling you that you need a change...


If you read my post you'd realize that moving is out of the picture. Perhaps I was vague about the situation with my family. My parents are both disabled - Dad has a neuromuscular condition that prevents him from moving very well and Mom has spinal stenosis, a condition in which the nerves in the spine are slowly being pinched off. She has lost feeling in her lower extremities and is in constant pain. They went bankrupt when Mom could no longer work and moved in with us. Since then we've put a mobile home on our property for them to live in. If we move, they have to move too as they don't have the financial means to buy a house and stuff. Besides that, they rely on me to help them with things that they shouldn't be physically doing.

Both my sisters have the same neuromuscular condition that my Dad has are unable to drive and live in nearby towns. Mom helps get them where they need to go to the store and stuff. If Mom moves, then they are left without some essential services that they could not afford to get on their own. My brother lives and hour or so away, but he has problems of his own and is not capable of making the trip up here everytime Mom and Dad need help.

As for tutoring and subbing - it will do until I get back into the classroom. You see, I've been pondering my career choice for the last year or so and I discovered something - I can't think of anything else I want more than to teach. I've done career personality test after career personality test and they all come back the same. I am a natural mentor. Giving up teaching, in some ways, upsets me more than the idea that I can't find a full time position.

pm me if you like-I live not to far from you-

I'll do that. Thanks.

Sorry about the long post everyone. My situation is so complicated that I sometimes yearn for the days when the wife and I could just pack up and find someplace else to go. Time has a way of adding responsibilities that make you look at the bigger picture. I'm remided of what Mr. Spock said at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - Sometimes the needs of the many outweigh the needs of one. My family is really great and have proven the opposite true too: Sometimes the needs of one outweigh the needs of many.

David