Now how?
When I decided I was going to teach I searched many avenues.
As an adjunct instructor, I get no tuition reimbursement so I have to pay for
school on our already tight budget. With
3 kids and already below the federal poverty level even with my income (face it
my husband’s and my combined income wasn’t high; even compared to a teacher) how
could I finance college? Not to mention,
I was going to not be working??? So…I
figured I would submit my transcripts to ODE to obtain an alternative educator’s
license. This way I could work, if I
found a job, and take classes toward my licensure. Yes! This is ideal! Except for one thing, I mean five things…2
superintendents, and 3 principals said, yeah, I don’t think that’s a good plan
‘cause if an actual licensed person comes along…bye! L
This led me to hit the Internet. Where could I find
money? Who has online education courses?
And bloop. There was a post on Facebook, a link with John Legend
talking about education. Well, I graduated
high school with John and felt compelled to visit www.teach.org.
While on the site I traveled to Ohio State University’s website, read about
Project Aspire and another program, The Woodrow Wilson Teaching fellowship (WWF).
Both programs will give you funding and a scholarship to go back to
school, get a master’s degree and teach.
Great! I won’t have to worry
about how to feed my family while I go to school. So I turn in my
application for WWF, get selected for an interview, and the answer when I’m
asked why teach? Well, OBVIOUSLY, I’m
supposed to! It’s been laid out for me.
I just need to give up everything and go for it! Well, that’s not what I said
out loud but you get the picture.
Now, to know that Ohio State isn’t offering this program
2011-2012, so I guess I’ll apply at UC. (Great outcome! Great Cohort!) That’s not so far, right? So…I have a scholarship, and I’m going
back. I had to go so far as to buy a new
car to get to UC, the 188 miles a day I decided was best suited for a Prius. I
bought a car, I drove everyday to Cincinnati, I completed my coursework,
planned lessons, worked in a “challenging” urban environment. I stayed up late, got home late, juggled
school and home life, traveled, traveled, traveled. I worked on project-based
learning, built relationships, and learned some politics. I even studied for
standardized tests. Now, I’m ready to teach.
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