UncategorizedAnnouncement July 5, 2011I hope you all had a great 4th of July! We definitely did. The lake was so refreshing and it was great to spend time with family. I’ve been sitting on a little announcement around here waiting for a few things to be worked out. So, here goes…I’m going to be a teacher!!!! It feels so weird to write that. I really can’t believe it’s true! The last month has been a whirlwind around here. Yes, it has all happened in one month. Here’s the story… As some of you know, my graduate program is a writing, as well as a teaching degree for college level writing. Growing up, I always said I would NEVER be a teacher. And when I entered the program, I just viewed teaching as a practical option to have if writing didn’t work out. Well, this past term in school has taught me many things. First of all, as I’ve said on the blog, I LOVE to write, I NEED to write, I am BORN to write. Okay, you get the picture. But, another thing I’ve learned is that you can’t just write. All writers do something else until they make it big and no longer have to or want to. Yes, we need me to work. But, I also realized that I want to work in a field that fosters and develops my writing ability. After talking with some professors who are novelists, as well as teachers, I realized that teaching writing would really help my own writing. Be immersed in the world, so to speak. I started looking at college openings since that’s what my degree is in. I was really looking very casually, just seeing what was out there. But, let’s face it, a 23-year old writer with no teaching experience, regardless of her degree, is not a prime candidate for a university job! So, Chris and I started praying about other options. Right after this, several people asked if I’d ever considered teaching high school. I hadn’t. I began thinking over that possibility and we began praying about that specifically. About one month ago (almost exactly), we decided that was something to pursue. I looked into how I could get certified and found a neat program South Carolina has for Master’s degree holders to teach in a public school without an education degree. I applied to be certified in secondary English, because let’s face it, high school writing jobs don’t really exist. A few days later, I set up an interview with Greenville County School District. Everyone, including the lady I interviewed with at the District, let me know that I was coming to the game pretty late in the year to get a job. But, Chris and I had prayed that God’s will for not only me, but our family, be done. We prayed if I was supposed to teach, there would be the perfect opportunity and that would be clear. If I wasn’t, there would be NOTHING. In my District interview, she said that a local high school had listed an English opening just before my interview. Was I interested? I said yes. My job was to walk through doors and let God keep them open or close them. The next day, that principal, having heard about me from her, requested my information. I sent it. The following day, his secretary called for an interview. Two days later, I went to my interview with him. After a few long days of trying to get my certification status worked out, it all came through and he offered me the job. Sound like a God thing? Sure, but you haven’t heard it all… Nearly ever writing teacher I know started out as an English teacher. But, I will be teaching Journalism, Creative Writing, Yearbook, and Newspaper. This isn’t just a normal high school. It is a fine arts and writing magnet school. Every other school I looked at and applied to were around an hour, in different directions, from our house. This fine arts and writing magnet school with the perfect job for my interests and experience is less than ten minutes away. I heard recently that our problem as Christians is that we don’t ask God for things and expect Him to show up. I asked Him to provide the perfect opportunity if I was meant to do this. I was filled with doubt and didn’t expect Him to come through and THIS is what He provides: a better and more perfect opportunity than I could’ve hoped for. So, now I’m in full swing trying to get ready. I have so much to learn and prepare! It is overwhelming, but I know that just as God provided this amazing opportunity, He will see me through. One thing I am really excited about is decorating my classroom! I have some ideas already and will be back with those this week. But, what suggestions do you guys have? Any cute ideas for a high school classroom? I really want it to feel homey instead of a cold, hospital-like room. What do you think?
Sara Caulder says July 5, 2011 at 9:19 pm a TEACHER!?! whoa big news…so happy for you, welcome to the profession! You will love it! Reply
Kristina says July 6, 2011 at 12:42 pm So excited for you! You’re going to be so good! Maybe if you cut letters out of book pages and used them to spell something (Mrs. Jackman? Learning? Writing?) on one of the walls. That could be cute… I’ll have to get back to you on that! Reply
Cheryl Russell says July 7, 2011 at 9:31 am Congratulations on the job! Jake landed a full-time teaching job as well. The Converse workshop group must by a good luck charm. 😉 Reply
admin says July 7, 2011 at 4:47 pm Thanks, Cheryl! I hadn’t heard about Jake, that’s awesome!!!! Reply
Emily Ondish says July 8, 2011 at 10:17 am Hey Lindsey! Just wanted you to know that it has been such a blessing to read your posts throughout the last few months. Your heart for the Lord and passion to pursue writing is a true encouragement and I look forward to continuing to hear all about how God uses this time in teaching to grow you!!! Thanks for sharing your artsy inspirations and your love for Christ~! (Don’t know if you will remember me better by my maiden name: Emily Roberts?! :o)) Reply