Drumroll please.......

I know it's been a super long time since I blogged. But I finally have a reason to get my tail on this computer and share something very exciting.

Three weeks ago, I approached the principal about coming to watch me teach. I told him I'd love for him to share any feedback with me, good or bad, to make me a better teacher. He came into my classroom three days later wanting to set up a time to come watch me teach. We decided on Friday during math. So, I worked extremely hard on developing my BEST lesson. I spent around 3 hours making a PowerPoint, a game, and an interactive review to cover what we'd learned so far that week as an introduction to my lesson.

I had threatened encouraged my children to be on their best behavior and if they would be angels, I'd give them a prize. They love prizes from Ms. Newman. So, five minutes until the principal is going to arrive, I pull my interactive game and PowerPoint up and it isn't connecting with the SmartBoard. My heart DROPPED! I freaked immediately. What was I going to do? My entire lesson was based on technology and now, of course, it fails on me. Thankfully, another teacher rushes to my side to rescue me. Got everything up and working two minutes AFTER the principal was supossed to arrive. I go ahead and begin my review game. My eyes are fixed on the clock while we're reviewing and I got a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I said to myself, "He isn't coming." Four minutes later, the phone rings and it's someone letting me know he isn't going to make it. I wanted to squall my eyes out. I had worked so hard on this lesson so that I could show him how serious I was about teaching and how much I loved what I do. And now he wasn't coming. I held it together. Barely. When he returned  to campus, he came to my room and sincerly  apologized. More than once. When I got in my car that afternoon, I cried the whole way home. I felt sure my chance of showing my ability was over. Crushed. Done.

The next week was state testing so I knew that he would be busy and probably forget to come watch me.  But, I remained hopeful and knew that if he did show up, I'd be ready to go. Again.

Friday, one week later, he and the assistant principal approached me in the library while I was progress monitoring my students one-on-one and said they wanted  to watch me. My heart dropped. My other students were in the classroom already doing math (which is the subject he wanted to see me teach). I finished with my student, and RAN returned to my classroom. They followed and I announced to the class we were going to be switching gears. I asked the administrators to give us 10 minutes to get ready. (In the meantime, I am waking a student up that is asleep SITTING AT MY DESK!!!!!!!!!!! WHOA!) They stepped out and I pulled my heart from my stomach back to my chest. And woke the student up at my desk.

The lesson went GREAT. Besides the fact the sleepy head, was sleeping SITTING UP on the floor in front of me. I said his name so many times, it sounded like I was using his name as punctuation. It was that bad.

The principal had to step out to take care of something, and before the assistant principal left she asked me, "Could you stay after school Monday for an interview?" Instant response- ABSOLUTELY. If you all know me, you know this would be my dream job. I am obsessed with this school. I love it. I love the staff. I love the administrators. And I love the kids. And I love Auburn:)

Monday afternoon comes and I really am NOT even that nervous. I didn't know what was wrong with me? I was more excited than anything. The interview went EXCELLENT and afterwards I was so "at peace" with the situation. I knew that if it was God's plan for me to teach there, it would happen. But the anticipation set in Monday night. I could hardly sleep. Tuesday comes. Hear nothing. And, honestly, I didn't expect to. But I was still hoping to. Tuesday comes. NOTHING. Ahhhh....

Wednesday comes and I have a sweet little student that just can't get it together. He can't stay in his seat, do his work, follow directions, stay awake, and my teacher had really gotten outdone with him. So, I got the pleasure of escorting him to the principal's office and discussing what a difficult day he was having. When I knocked on the door, the principal says, "Oh hey Ms. Newman, so glad you stopped by." I began to explain my reason for coming and we all 3 sat down to talk about what the plan of action was for my student. When I was getting ready to leave him in the office with the principal, he asked my student to step into another office and sit while we chatted. I really didn't think anything of it because we have been discussing this student on a weekly basis.

He begins, "Well, we were really impressed with your teaching and your interview. And it is my pleasure to offer you a teaching position here next year if that would be something you'd like to accept." Literally, I thought I was hearing things. The pause apparently startled him because he said, "Ms. Newman?" I was, in the meantime, fighting back tears. He explained that he is torn between placing me in a 3rd grade classroom and a 4th grade classroom because a 4th grade teacher sat in on the interview and really wanted me in 4th grade. And a 3rd grade teacher observed me a month ago, and approached him about hiring me for the 3rd grade position. And there is going to be some moving around of teachers next year so he didn't want to tell me I'd be a 3rd grade teacher and then next month decide he'd like me in 4th. He assured me that it was okay to share this information, that I will be employed in August, and he wanted to hire me before someone else did.

REGARDLESS, I WILL BE EMPLOYED BY AUBURN CITY SCHOOLS AS A 3RD or 4TH GRADE TEACHER FOR THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR!

I am absolutely BESIDE MYSELF. It still hasn't hit me yet that this is real life. That my prayers have been answered. That He is in charge and will always provide.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has been praying for me, encouraging me, and supporting me. I know that this is where I am meant to be, what I am meant to be doing, and it would NOT have happenned if it wasn't God's plan for me. Looks like my home will continue to be on the plains. Who could complain about that anyway?!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY,