Taking it day by day…

That is the best way I can take this whole new role, or should I say blow, that has been dealt to me.

I will be brutally honest here.  I have been completely depressed this last week since I haven’t had to report everyday to the same classroom.  In other words, I have been completely depressed because I am no longer teaching full-time, teaching every day to the same students.

I wish I could say I am completely elated to be home with my kids more because I am subbing day to day.  I can pick and choose which days I want to work.  Take a week off if I need to.  But I am really not happy with this situation.  At this point, it is the only option I have other than picking up some kind of other work.  I am still debating on getting a part-time job to help supplement.  I have lost $20 a day in pay because I am no longer long-term subbing. 

I’ve been so depressed mainly because I feel like I have failed another part of my life.  I am unable to secure a contract right now mainly because we are still in a hiring freeze pattern.  Contracted teachers still have another week of surplus shifting.  Once that settles, I was told positions will start opening up.  However, no one will truly be honest with me when it comes down the question of if the positions will stay on the long-term vacancy list or will they actually contract them out.

I did get one decent answer from the assistant principal I was working with at the beginning of this school year.  She did say that if schools are given approval to interview and hire, then a contract is possible.  But many will stay on the long-term vacancy list until the next school year.

So, my next plan of action is to look into those long-term vacancy positions.  I have been given a big tip about a possible maternity leave of one English teacher that will be taking time off for the rest of the year in the spring semester.  So, I am planning to stay on top of that particular position.  I have found out a couple of other teachers will be retiring or leaving after this school year, and I am keeping my eye on those positions as well.

It comes down to who you know, not just what you know.  I have always detested the thought of using those who I know in order to move ahead, but I am quickly learning that I will have to bend a little on this particular point in life.  I have my boundaries on how far I will bend, but it definitely helps to know people in higher places, especially in this economy where a job is hard to come by!  It not only takes who you know, but definitely what you know as well, to give you that edge in getting the position over others.

What else can I say?  I am down on my luck, once again.

When will this cycle change?