What's Goin' On?

Okay, most of you know this already, but I have been MIA for a very good reason. I got a teaching job!! Hooray! And, it's not just any teaching job, it's at a GREAT school in a good district just MILES from my house! I don't have to go through Austin traffic anymore and I can leave my house later and get home earlier (when I'm not staying at school till 5:00 to get ready for the next day, haha). Here's what went down exactly two weeks ago:

-Applied for another teaching job at Hays CISD (after I had already applied for many many more previously) on a Wednesday

- By Friday, I got an email stating that I was a semi-finalist for the job and I needed to fill out a questionnaire about my teaching styles, etc.

- Monday, I drove to Dahlstrom Middle School (where the job was located) and personally handed in my answers to the questions. It turns out I was the only one that did not email them, so I definitely think that helped!

-Wednesday, I was contacted for an interview for the next day. I was elated, but when I found out there were 8 total that they interviewed, I knew the "odds" were against me.

- I quickly reminded myself that if God is for me, who can really be against me?

- Also on Wednesday, I had to take my 4-8 Generalist test so that I could be certified for the position. Remember the test debacle the previous week? Well, I actually took the test this time and felt pretty good about it. I also knew that a lot could be riding on my results to this test, which added more pressure.

- I had to ask to schedule the interview for Thursday morning instead of the afternoon like all other candidates. I was having my LASIK eye surgery touched up that morning (my hormones changed my eyesight since the last procedure), so I would not be able to interview on Vicodin, haha. They were so nice to accept and I had an interview at 8:30am on Thursday.

- The interview was AWESOME and I felt that I really connected with the principal and AP. They were super positive people with great enthusiasm for the school. The principal is new to the school, so her excitement for the school really made me want to be a member of her team. Though the interview went well, I knew they were interviewing others with more experience and qualifications, so I didn't get my hopes up. Also, they wanted to make a decision by noon on Friday and I still did not have my test results back.

- Thursday afternoon, as I am recovering from the procedure, I get a call from the AP asking about my test scores. I still had not received them (they are usually available 24 hours after taking the test), so I thought it was a good sign they were so concerned about my scores, but that made me stressed that I wouldn't get them in time. I called the test agency and they said they had no control over when the scores would be available. This did not sound right to me, but I could only wait....

- Friday morning, I wake up early and check for my results, they are still not available. I know I only have a few hours before they offer the job to someone, so I call the testing agency again and tell them the same thing and this time they agree to let me know if I passed or failed. I was excited that I'd find out but nervous at the same time. This was VERY important!! I PASSED!! We all did a happy dance in the living room and I got on the phone to call the AP to tell him the news.

- I call the school, they put me on speakerphone and I tell them I passed. I hear a bunch of excitement and I knew that meant something good was about to happen. The principal offers me the job, I accepted, and I did another (bigger) happy dance! Finally!!
I am the new 6th and 7th grade science teacher at Dahlstrom Middle School in Hays CISD. This has been such a rollercoaster ride the past few years, but I am reminded yet again that God's plan is perfect and I would never dream that I could work at a school this great! I have definitely learned a new lesson in faith an patience.

- I immediately notify the UIL of my new job, submit my resignation effective the following Monday and we are on the road for an already-planned mini-vacation to Houston (I'll include pics from that later).

- The UIL graciously accepts my abrupt resignation and wishes me the best, they were wonderful!

- I started in-service at the school the following Monday, then headed to the UIL to wrap up a few loose ends. They surprise me with a reception in my honor and give me gifts and a sweet farewell. I was overwhelmed with emotion of leaving this home where I had experienced so many great moments. These were the people that encouraged me through graduate school full-time while working full-time. These were the people that helped me and made me laugh while I was pregnant. These were the people that believed in a college student to give me a shot as an intern and later as a full-time employee. I loved my job but I felt God calling me to teach and spend more time serving in the youth ministry with Travis and being with Hudson in the summers.

- I completed the week-long in-service, decorated my room (with the help of awesome family and friends) and started school this past Monday.

- After two days of being "Mrs. Hogg" I am learning new things by the minute, but also loving every moment of this new opportunity to serve students and positively impact their futures through a 53-minute science class.

-Thank you for praying for me and encouraging me on this journey. Please continue to pray that I will become an excellent teacher for these kids and they will see Jesus through me. :)

- I'll post more later, because I need to go to bed. Yes, I know it's only 8:53 pm, but did I mention that on Monday, I also started my 5AM running regimen to prepare for my half-marathon in November. :)