School Daze

This is the conversation in the back seat while we were driving home today (Feb. 1):

• Nathan: I'm going to be a teacher when I get bigger.
• Me: Oh yeah? Are you going to teach big kids or little kids?
• Nathan: Big kids. I'm going to teach big kids.
• Andrew: My teach big kids too!
• Nathan: Andrew, we have to wait until we get bigger, then we can teach big kids. And I'm going to get bigger first. 

The end of August was the start of a new school year, but also a new school for me. It has always been my goal to teach high school, but like most things in life, the journey was not as straight as planned. 

When I first started at middle school in the fall of 2008, I was very appreciative for the full time position that would be my foot in the door. I became even more appreciative as the economy changed and school districts starting laying off teachers and reducing their teacher populations. For years, I heard about how my incoming "class" of teachers was "the last big group" in my district. Only the occasional SPED, language, or math/science teacher was being hired.  If you've followed our blog for any length of time, you have heard Jeff tell of his long journey into teaching full time. 

Then, we decided to start our family and the idea of switching schools just felt too complicated as I planned maternity leaves and the need to pump during my prep periods, etc. I was becoming more confident and skilled as I settled into life as a 7th grade teacher. 

Most importantly, I had come to love the community of teachers with whom I worked each day. We loved our work with students, and loved the time together as much. We could commiserate with one another over the hardest days. I saw many get married or suffer loss. These were the friends who had babies when I did and we celebrated each additional little one. The desire to switch to high school continued to haunt me, but there were always reasons to wait. 

Until there wasn't. 

You know how in hindsight, you can see all the pieces fall into place? How every obstacle we endure helps us grow or learn or find a different path? I can name a handful of times where this has been the case for me. And I can see it again in the not-too-distant past. 

The 2014-2015 school year was the hardest year of my teaching career. I cried more than I did my first year. I went on school vacations and absolutely dreaded returning to school. Sure, there were students who I enjoyed and my friends who worked there. But there were also too many students that made teaching difficult, too many days with administrative decisions that didn't help, and too many days where I wanted to just stay home in bed. I knew this was going to be my last year at middle school. 

When the time came, I applied for a transfer to three of the five district high schools. I sent emails to admin friends at two of those schools and received encouraging words back from both. The wait between my application, in January, and the time principals can make calls, in May, was nearly unbearable. Finally, I was thrilled when I discovered an email asking me to interview at one high school, with an admin who I briefly taught with. 

Everything is bigger in high school.

While I'm heading into a longer story, I'm going to get to the point. I'm now teaching English 9 and 10 at the biggest high school in our district (~2100 students). English isn't my first choice, but it's a foot in the door, on the way to teaching high school history. As the new teacher in town, I travel to four different, but nearby, classrooms over the six period day. I have my own desk in a teacher work space, but the rest of the time, I operate out of this sweet ride:

No, I didn't steal if from Fred Meyer. But I can't speak for the teacher who used it before me. But it handles well around corners and navigates the crowded halls easily. All in all, I love the vibrant energy of high school and I look forward to each day more than I have in years. There has been plenty to adjust and learn already this year, but I can't complain about any of it. I dearly miss my friends from my previous school, but don't regret making this change. Now, I'm trying to recruit students for more history classes, so I can teach history next year. 

Obligatory first day of school picture. 

Grandpa Murray was a patient care giver for the boys' teacher inservice week (Jeff and my district started a week earlier). Nathan and Andrew both loved the extra time with Grandpa and we appreciated his help! Hopefully, everyone is looking forward to another chance (maybe when they're both potty trained). 

Shaved ice at Back to School night. 

Summer coloring sessions winding down.

My afternoon commuting companions!

Jeff and Nathan opted to skip the third day of school in order to catch the Huskies playing at Boise State. Honestly, if I wasn't at a new building, I would have done the same. But the boys had a great time at the game, with Uncle Jesse and Cousin J.D., and they even attended a minor league baseball game.

This was probably Nathan's first real fireworks experience (since we spent the 4th in the ER). 

First day of school!

I'm settling into my school, but that doesn't mean our "school daze" is over. Jeff is currently weighing the pros and cons of staying in middle school or moving back to high school. And Nathan is nearing that age when he is eligible to enroll in kindergarten, if that's the best fit for him. Which is still undecided. There will be more updates coming about schools for our Davolt family.