Things are looking up!

I had high hopes that a change of season would bring about some positive changes in my life and it seems like that has actually been the case!! The summer was rough for me this year and I was very happy to see it be over. Now that fall has arrived, I'm feeling like my luck/karma/destiny/fate/whatever you want to call it is changing for the better. The job situation is slowly getting resolved, which I am very happy about. I've started teaching part time at Foxcroft Academy, a local private/public high school. I contacted their music teacher, Shane, a few weeks ago and asked if there was any opportunity for me to become involved in the music department. He immediately emailed me back and offered me a job! Because it is a small school with lots going on, many of the music ensembles meet at night from 6-8. I'm now directing a percussion ensemble on Thursday nights and the select choir on Tuesday night. I've had my first rehearsals with both groups and I love it!! The kids are great and they are very enthusiastic and dedicated. It is a big music department and Shane is obviously doing great things with them. I'm so happy to be able to be a part of it. In addition to directing these two ensembles, I'm also going to be accompanying the full choir that meets during the school day and Shane wants me to play piano in the pit for the musical in the spring. I'm really thankful that he is willing to have me do so much and that there is such an active, exciting music department so close by that I can be a part of. I didn't realize how much I missed teaching until I started working with these kids. I'll definitely be ready to have my own gig somewhere next year!

In addition to my work at FA, I've been slowly getting some subbing work as well. I've subbed for the vocal/general music teacher here in Corinth twice, which has gone well. Given the state of their music classrooms, or lack there of, it is pretty obvious that Corinth as a district doesn't put much emphasis on the arts and music. The music classrooms are shared with health and social studies and the choir has to meet in the cafeteria. And none of the elementary schools even have music rooms. It is sad to see and really makes me think about the kind of place I want to be teaching in in the future. But for subbing it is fine - it is easy and close by, so I'm fine if they keep calling me. Yesterday I had the chance to sub in Hampden, a suburb of Bangor. It was completely the opposite of Corinth - I was subbing MS choir and the music room was amazing!!! The MS itself is beautiful and fairly new and I just couldn't get over the facilities. It was the absolute other end of the spectrum from Corinth. I wouldn't mind teaching in a district like Hampden, that's for sure!

So, things are moving along in the right direction for me, which feels very nice. I still don't have anything full time, but I'm okay with that at this point. I'm committed to the work I'm doing at FA and I would hate to have to give it up for another job. I'm coming to terms with what this year is going to look like for me and am accepting it as it is, while also looking forward to finding a great teaching job somewhere for next year.

Retraction

Thanks to those of you who read my previous post about Sarah Palin banning books and made comments. After some further research, I found that the information was not completely accurate and I apologize for posting it as fact. Hearing anything about banning books gets me pretty riled up and seeing my favorite author, Madeline L'Engle, on the list was enough to set me over the edge. Thanks to whoever wrote the following comment:

The source (of the list, in response to Sean's question about who was the source) is the librarian releasing the list, which may not be accurate. It is accurate, however, that she asked the librarian if she would support a ban on books if a list were provided. The answer was no and the librarian was later fired along with other public officials who did not support Palin during her campaign. A little fishy, and we can come to our own conclusion as to her motive for asking the question and the subsequent firing. That's what's so wonderful about living in a democracy!

I agree with the author of the comment - it is wonderful that we live in a democracy where we can question others and form our own opinions. The internet is a powerful tool, especially in these heated political times, and it provides us with incredible access to information. It is important to be smart and to ask questions and to be sure the information is correct before we believe it as fact.

And, while Sarah Palin may not have banned books, there are still plenty of other things that make her a very scary candidate to me. I'll be using my precious vote on Obama and will be very proud to cast it.