Looping

  I saw Courtney's name on the caller ID and was concerned. It was summer and if she was doing some sort of get together it was usually communicated via email. She rarely CALLED. Text sometimes, but never a phone call. 'Hey Courtney! How are you?' I spoke immediately upon answering the phone. Her tone was warm and friendly, 'I'm well. How are you?' We exchanged pleasantries, spoke about families and the summer...then came the ask. 'I've got an idea...' she continued. She spoke about the fifth grade team being a mess (retirement, movement, long term substitute, etc.) and asked if I would like to anchor the fifth grade team. There were many compliments and a lot of promises (choosing my own students, choosing my classroom, helping with fifth grade graduation, staying away from a certain grade of students an extra year, etc.) She left me to think about it and told me to get back to her in a few days to let her know. This was before year six of teaching ...

  I didn't know what imposter syndrome was until I spent some time teaching. My first job as a teacher was as a long term substitute with Providence Public School Department. I received a call just a day before orientation. 'Is Brian Colton there?' said the female voice on the other side of the phone. 'Yes, this is he.' I responded. 'This is...from Human Resources at PPSD. I was calling because we have a job for you. We know you aren't qualified, but we need a body.' WTH does that mean?! 'We need you at Martin Luther King Elementary in a Third through Fifth Grade Autism room.' she explained. Autism? New school? Students? Teaching assistants? This was all completely new to me. I had no idea how I was going to do any of this. That said, all I could do was put one foot in front of the other and go into the school the next day for orientation. Long term substitutes do not 'own' a teaching position. They are paid directly by the district, but ...