No Budget, No Job

Yesterday I was finally convinced that I don't have a job next year. The state of Washington hasn't passed a budget and until they do at least 200-300 teachers in my district will be laid off and only those with real contracts will be recalled. In Washington your first-third year of teaching, they only issue you a non-continuing contract - which gives you no guarantee of a job next year or any right of return in case of layoffs. Principals can ask for the district to convert your contract, but you'd be hard pressed to find a district where they are doing that this year. Once a budget is passed and schools are told how many staff positions they have, they will then be required to fill those positions with any teachers that were laid off with real contracts. After that positions will be open for interviews. So even though I've taught here this year, there is no guarantee that I will get interviews for open positions in the district. The thing that sucks about all of this is that my seniority number if I wasn't on a non-continuing contract is high enough (due to my years of teaching experience) that I most likely wouldn't have lost my job. Another thing that stinks is that every district in the state is in the same boat so tons of teachers will be looking for positions. The biggest problem is that none of the rehiring/hiring can happen until the state passes a budget - so it may be the day before school starts that schools know how many positions they have available. If you know that teachers are not being laid off in your state let me know - I'm taking all suggestions and possibilities - even if the pay stinks. All kinds of jobs are scarce in Washington with all the recent layoffs at major employers in the area - so if I have to move again, then so be it.

One of those embarrassing teaching moments

When I arrived home yesterday I was in pain.
It was a hard day at work - but it wasn't my brain that hurt or even my lower back -
no it was my bum.
That's right my bottom was in pain. Why you ask? I missed my chair and fell on the floor. Not in that nice easy way - you realize the chair is missing and sit down just on your rear - no I totally surrendered to the floor and landed flat on my back. I didn't even realized I missed the chair until I hit the floor. My students were in shock even though I was laughing. I'm not laughing now. Not only is my rear sore, but my legs and one of my arms. It's almost as good as the time I had just started teaching at Sierra High School and tripped over the overhead projector cord and slid about 8 feet on my knees, got up and continued with my lesson while my knees bled for two periods.

There is no room for embarrassment as a High school teacher!

Card Slacker

For the past 10-11 years I have sent most of my relatives (if I actually have the right address) a card or postcard for their birthdays. After a particularly difficult year of lots of returned cards, I decided to take a break. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc I haven't forgotten you, I just need a year to regroup and renew my excitement! (And get correct addresses and add in all the additions). I'm hoping I'll resume next year!

We Got Snot!!!!

We've been laying low on the blogging front - not just because we've been lazy (Mel) or busy (Amy) - but mostly because we got snot! I've (Mel) have been sick it seems like forever, but it really took a toll on me last week and this past weekend. At least I had NASCAR to keep me company (Go Kyle Busch - Winner at Bristol!!!!) I've handed some of my illness to Amy who has spent the past three days sleeping and playing the XBox (Go Keflings!)