Art Teacher's Dream

I can honestly say, that my first week, teaching art, at my new campus has been nothing less than amazing.  I have always dreamed of teaching an elementary art class.   And here it is, my chance!

When I graduated college, I graduated in December.  It's a hard time of the year for a teaching candidate to hope for a job--no less, an art teaching job.  Face it, art teachers don't leave very often!  There's just too much to move/pack/take with them!  *grin*
I quickly contacted my local school district and happily stated "I'm now available to teach art, just let me know how I can go about getting an application turned in and some hopeful interviews!"
Of course, they laughed at me and responded "oh honey, we don't start that process until the end of March!  You get your portfolio and resume's together and get back in contact with us then, alright?"
I was crushed.  What was I going to do until then?
Well, three days later, I got THE call.  "Ms. Neumann?  I remembered you called the other day about an art teacher position.  We had an unexpected thing happen and an art teacher's husband has just been transferred to Africa and, she's going with him.  Would you be interested in interviewing for an art teacher position at a middle school?"
Well, uh, yes!!!
So, four days later, I was in the office of a familiar middle school, interviewing with a principal who happened to have been an assistant principal at the high school I had graduated from.  Kinda neat, I thought.  I sat, with my portfolio of beautiful projects, hand written notes from kids, and letters of recommendation from anyone and everyone I could think of.  Nervous as could be.  She shook my hand, sat down at her desk and stared at me.  I smiled at her as she turned and faced her computer.  She said "for some reason, your name sounds familiar.  Are you from here?"  So, I made my introduction and explained to her, that a few years earlier, she was a high school principal at my high school that I graduated from.  She asked, "what experience do you have?"  I reached in for my binder of stuff, so thoughtfully prepared, and started to talk.  She cut me off and said "do you have any experience with decorations for dances?  art auctions? or teaching?"  Strange questions I thought... but "why yes, I have been a party planner for the past seven years doing large events all over Houston, including doing auctions and decorations, balloon arches, and centerpieces.  I'm not afraid of tools, and I am always up for a challenge."
"Great!" was her response, as she typed again on her computer.  Can you start on the 17th?  (that was about 4 days later!  "um, yes, sure, YES I CAN!"  And there you have it.  The beginnings of 13 years of middle school art teacher fun.  New graduate, full of dreams, BRAND NEW..... but oh what fun!

Jump forward 13 years.....

Four days ago,  in January, in the middle of the year, I was able to transfer to a dream job.  I mean, what are the odds, of getting a teaching job, in the middle of the year?  I was really wanting something new.  I was aching for a new challenge which made me happy, which kept me busy and on my toes, and kept me smiling.  I wanted new stories to share, new projects to teach, new people to please.  My interview went much differently this time.

I started my interview with a "pre-screening" interview by an assistant principal and counselor on the morning I was to leave for art teacher convention 5 hours away!  Oh, did I mention, my husband was in surgery at that very time too?!  Nothing like a little stress to add to everything, right?!
I showed up again, with my portfolio of goodies, my hand written letters from kids, and my letters of recommendation from everyone I knew!  This time, I actually had an online portfolio, too!   It went well.  They were so nice.  I felt good about the interview.
I ended up having another "walk through" observation, a short question/answer between classes, a phone interview afterwards, and then going to the school to meet with the art teacher who was retiring before I got THE phone call.  I was offered the position of the new elementary art teacher!  I can't be more excited!

Up for the challenge?  You bet!  Happy New Year!  Let 2014 be amazing!