Ta Daah!

Drum roll please..................................................................................



I am the new Orchestra Director at Williamsburg Middle School and Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA!

Jobs

So yesterday I went and recorded a lesson at the middle school to send as part of my interview in VA. I showed up at the school and the teacher gave me a score to look at that the kids have started playing. He then left to bring stuff to the high school for a concert. I prepared a lesson off of the score, and started with my warm-up. After that, I told the kids to take out their music - but they didnt' have it! So everything I prepared went out the window. I ended up having to teach a lesson on a song that I had never seen before, and didn't know how it sounded.

I sent in my tape, and they will be reviewing it today. Perhaps they will see how cool I can be when something unexpected happens, and I will get points for that. I should know by today (or Monday at the latest) if I get the job. If I do, I will have to decide which district and which position to take. If I don't, then I already have a nice job offer!!

Last weekend

So last weekend was a busy one. It started on Thursday when I had my second and last concert. The second it was over, Nathan and I sped to the airport to catch our flight to Baltimore. Our plane ended up being late, so we got a rental car and drove to VA. Friday morning I woke up early and was SICK. Everything about me was sick. I pushed back my interview two hours, but was still feeling crummy. Yet, they still liked me. They wanted me to do a demo lesson on Tuesday, but I had to get back to CT. So I told them that I would record myself teaching a class and send it to them (more later). Nathan did well at his interview too. Now he just has to wait for the job posting to expire.

I was sick all weekend - but on Saturday Nathan and I went to get an idea of the area where we might be living. We didn't find much, but just because it is too early. They told us that we need to be looking in July.

Sunday we took the train home. It took 6 hours, but at least we could watch movies on our laptops!

Monday we had a cookout with two friends and relaxed, played a board game and played Wii. We took Talkee out on a leash while we ate, and she absolutely loved it. She honestly thinks she's a dog sometimes.

I was

officially offered a job! Now I'm just waiting for HR to send me a contract. It will be elementary strings, exact location TBA per placement in late June.

On Friday I have an interview and demo class in another district. We'll see what happens with that! Nathan also has additional interviews on Friday.

Jobs

Hi Katie,
I wanted to let you know that we are very interested in hiring you for a position with ....... County Public Schools. I am in the process of checking references and wanted to know if it was okay to contact your principal? It’s most likely that we’ll have combination middle school/elementary positions or elementary assignments.

interviews

So far I have been offered 2 interviews! Now, just to set them up...

recap

Today I:

1. Got up early to go attend an Orff music workshop with Nathan and Amanda
2. Got A LOT of music books for very very cheap
3. Went to RED ROBIN (yummm....)
4. Went to Sams Club
5. Took a short nap (tired from getting up early on a Saturday
6. Went and played a gig as background music with two others at an auction gala
7. Updated my blog

Friday I:

1. Taught a lesson
2.Went to school
3. Taught three lessons
4. Went to a meeting
5. Relaxed with Nathan and Amanda, playing Frederick and Mario Party

Thursday I:
1. Went to school
2. Taught three lessons
3. Raked some leaves
4. Cleaned out a flower bed
5. Did job search stuff
6. Went on a search for a lost Talkee
7. Found a lost Talkee
7. Bathed a Talkee

Wednesday I:
1. Went to school
2. Taught three lessons
3. Did job search stuff

Tuesday I:
1. Taught a lesson
2. Went to school
3. Taught four lessons
4. Did job search stuff

Monday I:
1. Went to school
2. Taught two lessons (the third was sick)
3. Did job search stuff


Very exciting week, huh?



In other news, Nathan and I have interviews! Now we just have to find times to go down to actually do them. It's tough because he is on break this week, I'm on break next week, and it would totally be cheaper if we could go down together.... we'll see!

Today

So I heard back from the music director from one of the districts that I applied to. Basically he said that they are waiting to hear about the final budget for next year before they can do any hiring. That makes sense, and I'm sure other districts are in the same position. The district I'm in right now is still in that position - we don't even know if my position will exist next year!
So I guess I just have to wait wait wait, which I am very bad at doing. So we will keep looking for openings and applying until we find something! I'm almost done with another application-I just have to upload my resume and cover letter.

So at my school I decided to start a chamber orchestra. I picked the 14 kids that practice hard, and we are going to have an extra rehearsal every week with actual orchestra music! So far they have two songs to practice before our first rehearsal next week. The kids that I chose were so excited! It should be a fun time for all of us.

Today after school I am going to one lesson, then off to a reading session at the music conference that was this week (though my school district didn't allow me to attend). Then Nathan and I might go to Borders because it is educators week and we get 25% off of anything! Tomorrow we might go to the outlets.

It is a rainy beginning to this April, but I see tulips poking through the ground everywhere. Now I'm kicking myself that I never got around to planting my bulbs - I won't have pretty flowers in my yard :( Maybe I will be surprised if anything pops up from the last people who lived in the house. Maybe they have old bulbs in the ground. Probably not though...

finally

Finally - after 2 days of trying (with problems with their system) I am applied to Fairfax County.
Also with Loudoun County I have submitted all my letters of recommendation.

Hopefully I will hear something from someone soon!

More job stuff

So I emailed a million and one (ok maybe not that many) school districts today to see if they have any anticipated strings openings for next year. Hopefully I will get some emails back and then can send in my applications. I have a meeting with my principal tomorrow to go over my two classes that she observed, and then I can ask her for a recommendation letter. I'm just not looking forward to continue writing cover letters and philosophies...blah blah blah.
Ok, now I know you are bored....it's been sleeting/raining all day. I didn't even go out to get the mail. But at least I got to relax...

Searching...

So the job search is officially started. We are looking for jobs in a few states...Connecticut, New York, New Jersey (maybe..it smells there) and Virginia. I have started a few applications, but have to wait for my letters of recommendation be written before I can submit anything. My goal is to find a full time strings job in one school..wish me luck.

There was an assembly at school today about nothing in particular and I had to miss all my string classes. Not my fault that they were missed, but I know the fourth grade teachers aren't happy about it, though I can't make it up anytime. I don't know why they don't like me....

If your life is boring, mine must be worse. All I do is work work work with a million students (19 to be exact....) and that's on top of my full time job, my certification project, planning a wedding, and finding a new job! I'm very mundane...

I'm ready for vacation....