This is the phase I'm calling Project Liquidation.
I've secured a room in the city, and I'll be schlepping what's left of my belongings to my new home in 2.5 weeks. It's approaching fast, kids.
In that time frame, I need to figure out exactly what I'll be doing with all of my possessions. I plan on selling most of my furniture and giving away the rest, and I'll be transporting a carload of odds and ends to my parents' house this weekend. Friends have already claimed most of what's in my kitchen, so now I'm making Craigslist ads and putting little dots on claimed items and trying to figure out exactly how much can fit in a Corolla with two people and two cats in tow.
Still no news on a classroom observation--supposedly in years past the Fellows posted a couple of videos for those who weren't able to observe in person, and although that would be a welcome backup plan I'm still hoping I won't have to resort to it. Otherwise, the work is coming along. I'm almost done with my online courses and reading, and I signed my commitment form yesterday. I'm not even sure why I waited over the weekend to do it. I think it was somehow comforting for a few days to at least ponder the idea of changing my mind before I locked myself into the program, even if I know well and good I made up my mind the second I got in.
One bit of information in the commitment letter was unexpected but welcome. After last year's debacle in which a (disputed) number of Fellows weren't able to find teaching positions by the deadline at the start of the fall semester, they've added another period of training, to be accompanied by a stipend, for anyone in the same position this year. It's a bit of a relief to know we have a little bit of a safety net should the worst case scenario happen, especially since the webinar for accepted applicants that I attended recently did nothing to quell my fears. This is to say nothing negative about the folks from NYCTF who put on the webinar -- I'm definitely glad I attended the session. There were some questions I hadn't even really articulated yet that were asked by other attendees and answered by the hosts. What made me nervous was the party line I heard repeatedly throughout the hour-long event, something along the lines of "the right number of the right people in the right burrows." I don't envy the task the Fellows had this year, everything considered, and I'm glad they made the decisions they did to ensure we all have a good chance of getting hired by mid-September. I'm glad that the program was upfront about the forecasted reduced need for new teachers this upcoming school year, I'm just nervous that it's bad enough to neccesitate such a small Cohort this year.
So, my theme of the month is: nerves.
I should know my university assignment sometime soon, which will be useful if only so I can have more fodder for my compulsive google map route making. I'll keep you posted.
4 comments:
I don't know if you've heard, but there's a hiring freeze on new teachers in the city - indefinitely.
yep, I heard when the email was sent out. fingers crossed for new schools opening, as they can fill up to half their spots with new teachers. it's going to be an interesting summer...
Boroughs.
Good luck with that. The stipend, &c, is that still on now with the current (temporary we hope) hiring freeze?
Jonathan
Hi jd, yes, the Fellows have assured us that our place in the program (including stipend) are safe. This year's cohort is going ahead (unless they make some last-minute alteration to that plan, that is), job prospects or not.
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