Lindblom Math & Science Academy

I just heard from the principal of Lindblom and I accepted a teaching position with them. I'll likely also be coaching their debate team. Lindblom is a selective enrollment, college prep high school. I'm really excited about this position and this school. I'll be teaching Honors World History and Honors US History. All of the classes at LMSA are either honors or Advanced Placement.

This school also is very unique because it is the only high school in CPS that is on the "year round" distributed schedule. That means I start in early August and we have school for three months and are off for one. Basically I'll be off the entire months of November, March, and July. The school is also on what's called block scheduling. Instead of having seven or eight 45-minute classes every day, we have 100-minute classes two days a week. The fifth day, Wednesday, we have what are called colloquiums. These are sort of seminar courses not related to other academic courses.

I am really excited about this new school and the challenge it offers.

Going for a second interview!

Yesterday's interview went very well. So well in fact that I have a follow-on interview with the principal Monday morning. I've read and heard a lot of great things about the this guy and the teachers in his school. The more I read, the more I want to be a part of it. This school seems to be one where innovation is encouraged and nurtured. I think this might be a fantastic place for me. I'm way more excited about this opportunity than the previous school. The history teachers alone are very impressive and I'll have a lot to live up to but man would I love to be a part of their team.

A new interview tomorrow

Tomorrow at noon I have a new job interview. It is a selective enrollment school on the south side and I am very excited about the opportunity. From everything I've read about this school it seems as though they are doing some very cool things in and out of the classroom. Unfortunately I will be going to the interview not long after a morning dentist appointment but hopefully I won't be too numb for the intervieww.

Had a great time today at the White Sox game. Happy birthday Paul Welsh! Welcome to the 30something club!

First Week of Summer

So its the first week of summer and the first time in 4 years that I don't know where I'll be teaching in September. I've been very conflicted lately; riding a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Saying goodbye to my colleagues at Farragut was very difficult. Many tearful hugs and promises to keep in touch. I want to clear something up though.

I wasn't fired.

It sure feels like it but the reality is that my principal chose not to renew me for the upcoming school year. As a principal, that's her right. Since I am still a probationary teacher, she can do that to me. The reasons she made that choice are still unclear. No one I have spoken to at Farragut can make any sense of it. However since she has chosen not to renew my appointment as a teacher, there's not much I can do about it. Its time to move on.

I've gone through the entire range of emotions in this. I've gone from shock to anger to sadness and back again. I've been a bit depressed lately as well. The good news is though that I have another job interview later this week and there is another job fair in 2 weeks. There are many openings across the city and I feel confident something will break soon.

Now its time to get some work done around the house.

Last Day

Today is the last day of school. It's 6:30 and I'm getting ready to leave. I'm going to stop and get some coffee for my students. They've been bugging me all year and I invited them to come back today for coffee now that they graduated. It should be nice.

I'm going through wide range of emotion. I'm happy to be leaving given the hostile atmosphere that has been pervasive at Farragut these last few weeks. I'm incredibly sad since I will be saying goodbye to some amazing teachers who I consider good friends. I have already said goodbye to my students, especially the debate team. That was tough. I'm apprehensive because I don't yet know where I will be teaching in September.

This afternoo will be fun hanging out at the end of the year party and the year will officially end on a high note with the opening of the Intuit Teacher Fellowship art exhibit at Gallery 37. I'm really looking forward to that.

Graduation 2008

Last night, the Class of 2008 graduated in a wonderful ceremony at the Arie Crown Theater. It was a very special event for me since so many of my students received their diplomas. Many of the students I had in my classesmwhen they were freshmen; my first year as a teacher. Many of them were again in my classes as seniors. I feel like I am, in a sense, graduating with them since tomorrow is my last day as a Farragut teacher.

It was very emotional for me watching my students march, strut, diddy bop, and glide across the stage to receive their diplomas. I got to watch several of my students receive awards, scholarships, and perhaps most moving for me, deliver the valedictorian address. Ermelinda's speech was very good and when she thanked me for being her mentor, I cried. I believe quite a few others did as well.

When it was over, my wife and I spent the next 45 minutes congratulating students, taking pictures, hugging, meeting parents, and it was wonderful. They have turned into amazing young men and women and I find it very hard to say goodbye but I know they will do amazing things with their lives.

Yesterday morning was also good. I had a great job interview at a performance school. It seems like a great place and I was very impressed with the principal. I am very hopeful that they will offer me the job and I think the school would be a great fit for me. Fingers crossed.

Final Monday

Today is the last Monday for being a teacher at Farragut. It's a bit surreal. Today is supposed to be final exams, but since I have all seniors I don't have to give any. Grades are due for most teachers on Wednesday. But again, since I have seniors my grades were all in last week. I doubt I'll see very many of my students until later this afternoon when they all come in for graduation practice. Graduation is this Wednesday at 7:00pm at the Arie Crown Theater. I'm very excited since I have so many of my students, and students I know, graduating.

On the job front, I received a phone call last night from one of the two schools I was hoping to hear from. I will be meeting with the Principal on Wednesday. I'm very excited because it seems like a very cool school and one that I think would be a very interesting challenge professionally. Also this Friday is the opening of the Teacher Fellowship art exhibit at Gallery 37. The art project my History of Chicago students worked on will be exhibited for 2 weeks along with the scultptures from Kate Adams' class and work from other teachers in the program. I'm very excited and I'll post some photos after.

One Week Left

After today, there is only one week left of school and only one week remaining for my time at Farragut. It has been difficult packing up all my things knowing I won't be back. It has also be difficult gettibg ready to say goodbye to my students and many of my colleagues. I know it will be difficult to remain in touch with some of them, especially those outside the history department. Next week will likely be harder than this week but the high point will be seeing so many of my students graduate on Wednesday. I have known many of them for four years and I am exceptionally proud to see them receive their diplomas. Unfortunately, the next day will be as low and Wednesday will be high.

No movement on the job search as yet. Have not heard back from the charter school so that does not appear to be happening. I do expect a couple of phone calls and they likley will come some time next week when school is about out.

Job fair went well

I didn't spend too much time at the job fair. There were not that many schools looking for history teachers overall and a few that I'm not even considering at this point. The good news is that I have at least two interviews likely this week, both at new performance schools. I think they are both strong possibilities. It was cool to see a friend I went to school with at one of those schools. That tells me the school should be a cool place to work.

I feel pretty confident that I'll have a new job before June is over.

As for the rest of my time at Farragut. My students have their final exams Tuesday and Wednesday and then we're just waiting for graduation. School is officially out in two weeks. Time to pack up all my crap.