Back to School

In January 2019, I earned my California Preliminary K-8 Teaching Credential. I chose to pursue my second career in elementary education through the CalState TEACH program. This is a university-based, alternative teaching program. I was drawn to the program because we had to spend time in schools each semester of the program. I worked on college campuses from 2002 - 2014, so I needed to broaden my experiences instead of going back to traditional college classes. 

I attended the CalState TEACH program from 2016 - 2018 because I took maternity leave from the program when my daughter was born. My teaching journey has been the circuitous route, but each experience contributes to who I am today. I landed my ideal job and started teaching fourth grade in August 2019 in our school district. And then a global pandemic began, so I did not pursue another teaching contract in California. 

We moved to Ohio in the summer of 2020 to be closer to our families. I stayed home with my own two children while they settled into their new schools. I knew that there were discrepancies between my teacher preparation in California and the Ohio requirements for a teaching license, but the differences were larger than I expected. 

As with many aspects of life, it's beneficial to take things step-by-step. I am slowly completing 12 credit hours of reading instruction coursework and studying for two state tests. I am a graduate student again at the University of Dayton (Go Flyers!). I completed a master's degree in College Student Personnel (higher education administration) in 2004, and many things have changed on campus in 17 years. I try to stay grateful for the slow path as it allows me to learn more and spend more time with my own children, who are growing quickly. I may be able to line up a full-time teaching position with the time my youngest begins kindergarten. 

My craft desk has been taken over by stacks of books as I take a children's literature class and study for exams. My next post will be sharing about one of the outstanding authors that I have read this semester. I am using Goodreads to track my reading, and I am on track to read over 50 books this year (which includes picture books). I want my children and students to be life-long readers, so it's important for me to also stay on this path.