Community Chat

[catlover]

Are you ready?

After having the summer off...............

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and the kids on Thursday!

A little anxious-but after 10 minutes it feels like you never left.......like a long weekend.

[docsgirl]

CATLOVER, (I'm a cat lover, too),

I'm 71 years of age and retired but began my teaching career in 1969 in the New York City Schools.  Received my Bachelors and Masters, as well as my late husband, at St. John's University in Queens.  Took a 2nd Masters and became a reading specialist.  WOW!!  That was eons ago. I did not retire from there.  When I got married, we moved to the South Shore of Long Island and I taught there.  If memory serves me correctly, we started the day after Labor Day.  The 3 days preceeding, we went in for meetings and to set up our classrooms.  Although I've been retired for many years, I work as a substitute teacher here in Ohio.  I work in a great district and work every day.

Have a wonderful school year.    docsgirl

[maestra]

As a retired middle school teacher I take a certain amount of sarisfaction sleeping late the day after Labor Day.

The stuff dreams are made of...

[Denise in PA]

I have a question for teachers/former teachers.

I taught elementary students in a private school for a few years (2001-2008).  I left teaching when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.  I had surgery and treatments and decided not to return to the classroom.  I was very unsure of myself after going through cancer and didn't know if I could handle a classroom setting.

Fast forward to 2017 - I applied for a teaching position last week.  I do think I will be invited to interview. 

My question is:  how do I address my decision not to return to teaching before this time?  I interviewed last year for an administrative position in county government and was unprepared when asked why I did not return to a classroom setting. 

Any input is appreciated!

[catlover]

@Denise in PA

just be completely honest....................that's the best you can do.

No one will question you after what you have been through...............

[fthunt]

When you get that interview - slide in the conversation that you are still young and have a lot to give this younger generation.  (boy, we all know kids today need all the help they can get)  Briefly explain your past medical situation - and now you want to give your knowledge and teaching abilities another go at it.   Good Luck - we need more like you.

[docsgirl]

Denise,

I heartily concur with CATLOVER...just be honest.  In the school where I substitute, we had a 6th grade teacher who had breast cancer and as soon as she could, she returned to school.  Last year, we had another 6th grade teacher with breast cancer.  She was able to finish out the school year but decided to retire as she wanted to spend as much time as she could with her family, even though she was declared cancer-free.  Everyone approaches situations in the way that is best for them.  Good luck.  I hope you get the job.               docsgirl

[Pandalady]

@catlover  Best wishes on a new school year.  I teach first grade in Georgia and our kiddos came back on July 31st.  We are on balanced calendar and have the week of Sept. 18 off.  You are right, once it begins, it does feel like you never left.

[Pandalady]

@Denise in PA  I agree with the other posters that you should be honest in the interview. If it were me, I would explain that I know now that I am excited to return to the classroom and eager to make a difference in the lives of the children I will teach.  Best wishes to you!

[haddon9]

The kids in my local school district in PA start tomorrow.

I remember several years ago I was discussing something with another poster here which was school related and it turned out that she had been a student teacher in the elementary school I attended in Brooklyn (PS152)!!  

After looking the school up online out of curiosity it seems that things are certainly different today than they were when I attended back in the early 1960s.  I think it's now a science magnet school.