About a week and a half before school was supposed to start, we were told our school is closing. I've been working in private schools for 4 years (this school was my 2nd one), and enrollment was down for this year; so they had to close the school. Bummer, right?
Not completely. Our contracts were already in effect at the time of the closing; therefore, the school has to pay us still. I get a salary and health insurance without even having a job. I could stay home all day and do nothing and get paid to do it.
That would be crazy. I'm taking full advantage of this. It's a total blessing-in-disguise! I've wanted to get into a public school since I started teaching, but the problem was that every time there was an opening, I was already in contract with a private school. Now, I've got the chance to be looking for a job while still getting paid, but without being in contract. If a public school job opens up (which probably won't be for a little while, since school just started/is starting), I'll be applying. For now, I've got my name in to sub pretty much everywhere; I'm hoping subbing will get my foot in the door at a public school. I'm also taking advantage of the time by taking extra classes for my Master's degree. Instead of only taking one class, I'm taking three. That'll put me at the halfway mark to my Master's and, because of the way class schedules fall and the order in which I have to take them, I'll be graduating in May 2012 (at the latest). Originally I was hoping to be done in fall 2011 and we would be able to start TTC (trying to conceive) and get a house; we can still do that, though, even if I don't graduate until May 2012 because the spring semester course would just be a seminar. Woo-hoo!
Anyway, I've been home every week day for the past week or so (other than going to fill out sub applications at schools) and I'm really missing having a classroom and back-to-school time (not to mention I've realized that being a stay-at-home mom would probably not be as much as I once thought it was cracked up to be...I know I'd have my kids, but I still think I'd really want contact with other adults and a place outside home). I was SO excited to be teaching first grade, and it makes me sad to see the school buses and see friends on Facebook and on The Nest talking about their classrooms and their first days. I know, though, that God has a plan, and that this particular situation really could not be any better. Who gets paid a salary without working?! It's a once-in-a-very-few-lifetimes opportunity, and I'm VERY thankful that I have it. I'll have my own classroom again at some point. =)
