Maybe I was meant to teach SpEd.

Here’s the progression of how I’ve ended up where I am right now:

January 2009-- I took a friend to her car and she asked what I was going to do the next year. No idea. She told me her and her husband were moving to Phoenix and were looking for a roommate. I thought about it.

February 2009- I applied for Phoenix Teaching Fellows, a teaching fellowship that requires three years of commitment, while teaching and getting a Master of Education

March 2009—PTF offered me an interview for middle school language arts and told me to start taking tests. Planned a road trip with Nate and Sarah to Phoenix to look at places and take my test.

Mid-March 2009—Got a phone call from PTF saying that all language arts positions had been filled and that I was now being considered for SpEd. I turned the position down but took the certification test anyway. It was too late to get any money back and it was an expensive test.

Next day—Started looking for something new to do. Applied for AmeriCorps.

Two days later—Heard from Sister Carmen who wanted to interview me for AmeriCorps in Phoenix.

One week later (Last week of March)—Drove with Nate and Sarah to Phoenix, took the certification test (passed), met Sister Carmen, found a place to live. I was placed at a school for AmeriCorps.

Fast forward…

July 2009- Move to Phoenix.

July 2009-September 2009-- Sorted things out. (Read: cried a lot.)

September 2009—Start volunteering at school.

September 2009- January 2010—Pull hair out due to frustration with position.

December 2009—Apply to Phoenix Teaching Fellows again.

January 2010—Apply to Teach For America because I want to really make a change and never checked the “interested in teaching special education” box. However, am now considerably less afraid of it.

February 2010—Offered a SpEd position with PTF again. Turn it down because I really wanted TFA.

February 2010- March 2010—Freak out about application and getting accepted and what if I just threw away a job?

March 2010—Got accepted to TFA. For SpEd. Happysad.

At present—I’m finally happy about it. I’m really excited to spend time with kids in SpEd classrooms. One of my friends let me lead a few lessons in her class. A few other teachers let me help them out during the day just to get more exposure. And I’m sure they wanted help. But I’m really excited. SpEd here is a little different than in other places. Given, there are a few self-contained rooms, which is where the students only have classes with each other. But there is a ridiculous amount of funding for SpEd in Phoenix. It comes out of a different fund. So there are at least two resource classes at any given elementary school in the area if they subscribe to that method. Students who are behind grade level are pulled out for four hours a day in order to be taught in a SpEd room. There is a large push toward inclusion, which is where a SpEd teacher and a general education teacher team-teach a class. I have my fingers crossed for one of these but will in no way be disappointed if I’m a resource teacher.

I guess this is what I’m meant to do. I am embracing that notion.

I’m at induction right now, which is the “fun” part of training for TFA. We’ve gone to lots of meetings and I haven’t been barefoot except for sleeping. And that one time I couldn’t handle it anymore. Today, I’m going to a round-up for the Glendale Elementary School District. Supposedly, about 90% of the people going today will get interviews and/or hired. Fingers crossed. I’ve already been chosen by the district. Now, I just need a principal to hire me.

Anyway, I think I’m going to go read that stuff I should’ve been reading since April… Or nap.

-Theresa