I Understand That You Have A Curriculum To Follow, But “Sarah Plain and Tall” Sucks As Much Ass Now As It Did 20 Years Ago

Here’s what: I’m not going to make it in the public schools. I love that I decided to work in one right after grad school. There are a lot of things to like about this kind of work. It’s grassroots, in a way; you’re in the trenches and here’s a kid and he needs help right now. A lot of people who do my job and work for hospitals or clinics spend all their time diagnosing kids and writing twenty page reports that the parents then slide across the table to me, palms upturned, because they don’t know what the hell any of it means. I like that there’s no ivory tower in my job. And of course, the kids are awesome and hilarious every day. But most importantly, I can wear hoodies to work.

At the same time, schools are schools. The great teachers are, well, great, and make anything seem possible. The bad ones still complain incessantly, use photocopied workbook pages to “teach,” and run out the door at 3. I’m lucky enough to have amazingly fantastically smart coworkers, who are hysterical and lots of fun to boot. But none of that stuff is even a factor anymore, really. At the end of the day I’m just stretched too thin and I’m not able to do my job the way that I want to. Trust me, I know everyone’s stretched too thin at work; I’m not one of those “I’m just SO BUSY” bellyachers. In general I’m one to just get ‘er done and not complain about my caseload, which is why my boss reacted with wide eyes today when I told her that I’m maxed out.

The past couple months have just helped me realize that it’s time to move onto something else. For awhile I was thinking that I’d eventually be an elementary school principal, but that would require teaching regular ed for awhile and I’m not sure I want to do that. As much as I love the kids, I don’t really see myself as a classroom teacher. Now I’m leaning more toward being a director of an early education program somewhere. And I’d like to teach some grad school classes in speech pathology, which is really where my heart is (and my master’s). What can I say, I love talking.

Of course, I’m still in my school job until June. I’m starting to consider other options, but I’ll never regret starting where I did. Especially when I leave and that $15,000 pension goes right into Sephora my savings account.