Open Season/New Goals

It is a new month, a new year and a new semester.  Evaluation of goals set and met in 2009 is taking place, and new goals and resolutions for 2010 are being created.  Ambitions are high and follow through is of great concern.

The holiday season has passed and schools are back in session.  Thoughts on the minds of teachers and students have changed from winter break to spring break, summer, and – for some – graduation.  Teachers are beginning to prepare for year-end state standardized tests and lessons plans that prepare students for such assessments.  Administrators are looking ahead to the next academic year, considering their staffing needs and budgets.  New professionals entering the education field are readying their resumes.  It’s now open season for teaching positions – may the job hunt begin!

For a second year, I find myself a player in the search for a classroom position.  I, too, have set high goals and ambitions for 2010 along these lines.  In setting these goals, I first compared the education environment in which I resided last year with that of this year.  Last year, I lived in New York City and was entering my second of three semesters at Fordham University.  I began creating my graduate thesis and formulating a resume for use in my upcoming job search. To enhance this resume, I was about to embark on a student teaching internship that would allow me much classroom and planning experience, as well as the eventual invitation to two academic honor societies, a professional association membership, and two teaching certificates. Despite these achievements, I hit a major roadblock.  During that semester, I attended a recruiting session for the local public school district, but soon after learned that strict hiring restrictions were to be established – greatly prohibiting me from achieving my goal of becoming a classroom educator in New York.  This year, I note the much improved situation in which I reside here in the Virginia/DC area.  First, there are no hiring restrictions in effect.  Second, there are several school districts that are growing due to the population explosion in Northern Virginia and Maryland.  Finally, I have a larger network of educators and people with resources that can help me achieve my goals than in New York.

Next in setting my professional goals for 2010, I am able to assess what experience I have gained since applying for

teaching position in early 2009.  I have added to my classroom experience by substituting for two school districts in Northern Virginia, and the site coordinator and elementary reading teacher for a Saturday supplemental education program, and am helping teach two Sunday school classes of children ranging from ages 3-18.  In addition to providing much enjoyment to my life, my hope is that the added experience will make me more well rounded and intriguing to administrators seeking teachers.

Finally, in setting and attempting to achieve my professional goals for 2010, I need to explore next steps.  I have picked 10 public school districts in the area, and a plethora of private/parochial/Christian schools, with which to pursue a position.  I am keeping alert to job fairs, employment offerings, and word of mouth for the 2010-2011 year, in addition to posting my resume online through Monster.com and a state employment agency.  Additionally, I am applying to schools and districts, so as to be added to applicant pools – knowing that not all teaching vacancies are advertised to the public.  All in all, I feel that last year was an intense learning experience and this year is a chance to better and more effectively apply that learning.  I’ve traded feelings of being overwhelmed with feelings of being eager and excited.

In conclusion, open season for filling teaching vacancies has begun.  Through experience, achievements and wisdom gained in 2009, I feel confident and ready for my goals to be achieved in 2010.  Though I’ve alluded to my goals for 2010, they are really the same as 2009 (achieving a classroom teaching position for next year).  In 2010, I am better prepared for the challenge of the hunt and more confident that I will come home with the prize.  Let the adventure begin!

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