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57 days

Well, it has been 57 days since my last post. I apologize. Many, many things have been going on. Other than the usual filling of my time with reading, researching, writing lesson notes, I now have another job. Many of you remember a couple of years ago when I battled the state about my non-certifiable status. Because that issue has never been resolved positively, I still can't teach at any private school that receives the TOPS scholarship (even though it's a private scholarship fund, it's managed by the state at the state's discretion, and schools whose graduates receive it have to meet state standards). Last year, at the classical school, I didn't have that problem as they don't receive TOPS. Of course, for various reasons, my contract wasn't renewed there for this year, causing me to substitute and launch my homeschool co-ops. Well, near the beginning of March, I started looking around to see what I was going to do after this school year. Several people suggested I look into college-level teaching, so I was working on cover letters for my curriculum vitae when a job dropped into my lap. Not a teaching job.
I can't remember what I've written about my dad looking to sue the company that owned the oil rig, but he is. He had called and talked with several different lawyers, some old classmates of my uncle, and one of them happened to be old friends with another homeschool family we know. Mom and Dad were at physical therapy one morning when he (the lawyer) called. I answered the phone, and we had a brief conversation about why I wasn't in school, that I was teaching part-time, that I went to a Christian college in Florida (he went to Abilene Christian College), and then I took a message and hung up. I didn't think much of it until the end of the week. I came home from substituting and Mom said she had news for me. They had met with the lawyer that morning and had gotten into a conversation about why it was so hard for me to teach in Louisiana. He was flabbergasted ( I like that word) and said that I seemed nice and intelligent, did I want a job? Apparently, he had just lost his assistant, would I like the job. So, I took it. So, on the side from my co-op teaching, I am learning to run someone's else's life, mostly, and also how to work with some legal stuff. It's very interesting--not teaching--but interesting. I'm kind of accepting it as an interim. It will give me a couple of years to maybe pursue some more schooling, maybe get a little house, we'll see. So, that is why I haven't been posting as much as I ought. Once school is over, I'll have more time to post--I won't be trying to squish in my lesson work. :) At any rate, that's my brief update.
My dad is doing well. He saw the shoulder surgeon yesterday, and he said he ought to regain about half the strength in that shoulder--that the muscles are strengthening well and will make up for the loss of bone. He won't ever get full rotation, though, because the socket is gone. He also had the first couple of surgeries to rebuild his ear. They seem to be going well. I haven't seen the result as it is bandaged and I have no desire to see what's underneath right now. :p My sister had her 18th birthday last weekend. We threw a luau--it was really great. Everything went well. I made chicken and pork and this really great punch. We had pineapple and melons and sweet potatoe chips. It was a lot of fun. I can't believe my baby sister is 18. It's a very strange feeling. Sigh.
On another very brief and final note: having watched the musical of recent controversy (of which I may write more on a later date), I have a couple of things to mention: that Jesse L. Martin can really sing and I would never have guessed, that some of the most amazing and intriguing harmonies are in this film, and finally, why are those of us who have the most reason so afraid to live as though there is "no day but today"?

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Maybe this is an option that you do not want to consider, but have you ever considered moving back to FL to teach. Your problems with certification would be noexistant, and because of FLs dire need for teachers, you could pretty much pick out where you'd like to live. From there, maybe you could pursue National Certification, and then the LA problems would be solved.

That is a very good question, Ren, dear. Congratulations on the job! Hope I can find one as well in the near future. Glad you and yours are doing well!

I have thought of moving. I was actually considering it when this job came around. I've decided to give this job a year and see what happens. I'd like to move to the Miami area, I think. It's actually a very good suggestion, but at this point, I think I'm going to wait--Oscar's lost 2 assistants in the last six months, so...I'm going to plan on a year. We'll see. Did you get certified in Fla.?

I have my temporary certificate and I will have my five-year probably by the end of the school year.

Hi Ren!

Your post struck me as good timing... I have the possibility of teaching Class 5 Language Arts at a prep/classical/Christian scool here in town. It's exciting to think about getting to teach, but I just hate the thought of it being a dead end because I can't get certified! How did you go about checking on it in your state?

BTW... congrats on your new job!

Thanks!
Usually, the state dep. of ed. website will tell you. In most states it doesn't even matter if you teach at a private school. The only reason it matters here is because the state has requirements for what schools' graduates can receive the TOPS scholarship. It's really very ridiculous (esp. considering the condition of the public ed system in this state). Also, many states have an appeal process for certification if it's in question. Here, though, what seems to be most important is whether or not you went to college in Louisiana--if not, they really don't even really bother to help you. At any rate, I would check on the state's department of education website for info about requirements in your state.

RYC: He graduates the 10th. He's headed to NC after that.

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