Big Changes: Praise the Lord

BGSU! BGSYOU? BGSME!!! I'm the luckiest gal in the world!! What I failed to mention in my blog post about returning to BGSU (where I'm an alum!) to teach and to present my research to faculty was that it was all part of a job interview for a full time (tenure-track) professor position (beginning in late August). I applied for it in January......my dream job - Middle Childhood Reading & Literacy Education.

While my Superintendent and both Principals knew of all of this (and were very sweet and supportive) I didn't want any other pressure on me so I kept it "under wraps". I also didn't want to worry Shayla as she knew if I got the job she would have to switch to a different school in a different school district. In addition to teaching and presenting, I had many interviews (large and small group and one-on-one with many different people. I also went to lunch and dinner; it was so much fun). I felt really good about it all, but I put it in God's hands and tried to block it out of my mind.

I was told that they would select one of the candidates and that person would be notified before Easter. I was also told that if I didn't hear by the end of next week (now), not to worry because the search committee would give the name to the Director of the School of Teaching and Learning and then it would go to the Dean and if she approved it would go to the University Provost to approve and then back to the Dean who would call the candidate and offer the position. Driving home from school Thursday afternoon my phone rang. When I glanced down I saw it was a "372" number - BOWLING GREEN, ON CAMPUS! Therefore, I answered it. It was the Dean who asked if I could talk. I knew it had to be good news and that I'd want to write things down so I asked if I could call her back in about five minutes when I got home and I did. What a blessing!!

Approximately 50% of responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate and graduate level reading and literacy courses. The remaining 50% is to be split pursing my research interests and providing service. I knew I didn't want to be at a Research I institution because I want to teach, but I also want to pursue my scholarly work so I think BG will be an ideal fit, allowing me to do both. BGSU, home to more than 20,000 students, is one of the country's largest producers of teachers with over 4,000 students in the educator preparation programs. I will be one of the 100 tenure-track faculty members in the College of Education. And another great thing....I don't have to drive past the cemetery to get to work! That always makes me sad and brings me down. Thank you, Lord! You think of everything!

When I interviewed with the Dean last week she asked me what would the hardest thing if I got the position. I told her two things. One, leaving my students because my school has the greatest kids and I've been able to have many of them multiple years - as a kindergarten teacher and as a jr. high school teacher. And two, knowing it would mean my daughter would have to go to a different school district because we open enroll her to where I teach, as a convenience for child care, but it's located 12 miles in the opposite direction of BGSU. I also told her that if offered the position, I would not accept it until I read the NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) report. I thought things might be heading my way on Tuesday because I received their NCATE report electronically and that is a confidential document. (The report is glowing too; I understand why there are soooooo proud of their unit! I am very honored and humbled to be joining their esteemed faculty!) Regardless, I was still pleasantly surprised when the phone rang with "372" today because just getting the NCATE report did not mean I was going to get a job offer!

Shayla, Shayla, Shayla.......She knew if I got the job it would mean a change of schools for her. I've been reading her "sent mail" in her email box and she's been quite worried. "If mom gets the job, what will happen to me?" I know God's hand has been in all of this, ever since I saw the job posted Thanksgiving weekend on my laptop when I sat on the couch and screamed, "Oh! Shayne! This is my dream job! This job description has my name written all over it!" (And when he didn't come running into the living room, I hustled out with my laptop to the kitchen to show him!)

I can't believe God's hand won't continue to guide us and to help her adjust to her new school. It's the Tiffin bus that drives by our house each day. Even though I won't have to go to campus five days a week and my academic year is shorter than hers, I cannot drive her 12 miles in the opposite direction and pick her up too. It simply will not work. Thursday afternoon she sat on the couch and cried for 30 minutes only saying one thing to me, "Mom, you don't understand. The kids are all mean to the new girl, even before she shows up for the first day." I could only hold her tight and cry with her. I am not worried, but I do feel bad for her, terrible actually. I know God is with us, but my heart breaks for her. She loves her school, friends and teachers and EVERYONE knows Shayla Thomas. What a traumatic change this will be for her. As Shayne said to me last night after he arrived back home from Houston, "Right after Christi died, it was important for us to keep Shayla in a stable environment, but in the fall it will be three years." We do believe Shayla will have a lot more opportunities being at a larger school, (and getting free tuition at BGSU if she decides to go to college there) but for right now - our hearts are heavy for what I'm doing to her.

Thursday I went to the cemetery, on my way to a teachers' meeting and visited with Christi. Strangely enough, I actually forgot about my dad buried right beside her as I was having an intense "conversation" with Christi about my new job. For whatever reason I glanced over and I had a very strong image of my dad sitting on his cemetery plaque with a HUGE grin saying one thing, "I'm so proud of you Ang!" (It wasn't like an image I'd ever had before. I actually jumped because it was like he was there in person, wearing his jeans, boots and a plaid shirt. I cannot even explain how odd it was, eerie actually.) That was all it took, tears gushed out of me as I thought, "I bet he really is proud." I miss him so much too! Why can't he be here in person so I could take him to campus and show him my very first office?!! I then prayed, walked to my van and called Mom and Joe. (And to my sweet friends who texted me back, 'Are you out celebrating?' they'd be laughing to know I went to a teachers' meeting....some things never change, hee hee!) Gooooooooo, Falcons! Thank you, God!