A "left turn" in my path towards teaching

After student teaching in Fall '07 and teaching the second semester (both at Bremerton High School), I spent the summer looking for a teaching position within a reasonable commute. I did get ten (!) interviews, and finally was offered a position at the Kent Performance Learning Center. Tha is a "small school" for about 100 high school juniors and seniors who need a more personalized education. It's a demonstration project with participation from a non-profit (Communities in Schools) and some funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. All in all, pretty cool! KPLC is a 50-minute freeway commute from my home.

That same day, my previous employer invited me to come back to work, at a private sector salary. I decided I had to go with the economic security, so I declined Kent's offer.

However, I am determined to continue to teach, and to return to full-time teaching in the next 3-5 years. I have applied for a position at Tacoma Community College as a Mathematics Instructor (Adjunct). Teaching community college students two nights a week would give me great satisfaction, and help me continue to develop my skills as a teacher.

I intend to maintain this blog as I continue to examine teaching through private sector eyes.