Here I am, a highly qualified Social Studies Teacher, with excellent references and multiple awards for my teaching, including two in the last year. I have taught Middle and High School. I am qualified to teach AP Govt and AP Econ. I have taught Government, US History, World History, Social Issues, Comparative Religion as well as Language Arts (that only at the middle school level). I have coached Boys and Girls Soccer, been musical director of musical theater, coached Mock Trial, advised the Muslims Students Association, etc.
And apparently I am now apparently unemployable as a teacher.
I explored independent schools. Many are reluctant to consider someone who has been in public education as long as I have. And of course as open as I have been writing here (and elsewhere) on education, politics, and other topics, that can make independent schools very nervous.
My vocal opposition to Common Core and the Associated Tests probably eliminates me from any serious consideration in DC Public Schools, which is why i have not filed an application there.
I have applied for every opening in four local jurisdictions in Virginia. I have managed to get about a dozen interviews. I got a followup interview with one principal as one of three finalists, all of whose references had been checked, and then they decided to junk the pool and go out again. In another school the principal called to apologize for not hiring me, telling me how wonderfully qualified I was, but she found someone well qualified fluent in Spanish and she has a Spanish immersion program. Another school contacted me and asked me to come in - I had not even applied. I believe I was the last one interviewed. Then after all that they posted the job, and when I inquired what was going on was told that they wanted to do some more interviews before they decided, but that they would let me know one way or the other. That was ten days ago. In one district there are three two schools in which I was interviewed, where they said very nice things to me. But they are not allowed to say anything directly, it gets forwarded to personnel who has to make the offer. Once someone has accepted, then the other candidates can and will be notified. One of those interviewed me 2.5 weeks ago, the other about ten days ago. Still no word on either.
And then there is the charter school . . .
