For those who don't already know....

I got a JOB!!!!!


I realize that anytime there is anything remotely exciting in my life that I want to blog about, I get a really strong urge to break out the whole "I'm pregnant!" shenanigans and see who faints. Kinda like shouting "FIRE!" in a crowded place to see who screams (just kidding, I've never done that). Hence the suspenseful title and the dot dot dot sequence. Too bad you'll all have to wait a little while longer. Haha!

Anywho, I got an email on Wednesday night from a principal asking me if I was still looking for a job and we set up an interview date for Thursday afternoon. He was very congenial and casual over the phone, asking the routine interview questions interspersed with comments about how much I would get along with some of the teachers at his school. He had asked if I had interviewed anywhere else and I said yes, so by the end of the interview, he offered me a job! (For those who don't know, this is crunch time for principals to finalize their teaching staff for the upcoming year.) Less than an hour later I got a call from the HR rep who extended the "official" offer and I got my contract yesterday!

I will be teaching 5th grade in a small school in a small district about 18 minutes away from our new house (thanks to Google Maps). The school's website offers some great insight into the kind of school it is, and it appears to be a very friendly, tight-knit community. They have a community garden, before and after school activities (like scrapbooking, computer science, and other really fun things I would want to try doing without a grade), and the Accelerated Reader program that I saw in action while I was student teaching and LOVED! (The students basically pick the book they want to read, read it, and take a quiz on it for points toward a monthly contest the librarian has. It's SOOOO motivational for kids who don't normally like to read.) The principal said that he has a very young staff (great!!!) and I'd be working with a stellar 5th grade teacher to show me the ropes.

I really couldn't have planned this better! (Well, in all honesty, I tried, but some people take a little longer getting back to you than others.) I am just so grateful everything worked out so quickly! I was just barely beginning to stress about the job situation, so this saved me from a lot of grief! I'm excited for this opportunity to learn more about working with the older chillens and about Arizona.

I don't know who all reads this blog, but for those that have seriously helped me out through this process with advice, letters of recommendation, and support, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I couldn't have done it without you or without the experiences I had here in Houston. This past year has really prepared me for what is to come, I'm sure of it.

So I think this means I'm ready to move! We'll be out of here on the 15th and arrive in Mesa on the 16th so I can start orientation on the 18th before school starts on the 25th. Yay! Did you get all that? The next couple of weeks (literally) will be crazy!

Anyone want to help pack??? :)