7. Don't let my "visible experience" from point #6 mislead, I am not a doddering retiree embarking on a second career -- I'm still (relatively) young and (fairly) active. We walk, hike, racquetball, skateboard, challenge any number of sons plus neighborhood children to basketball, football, or dodgeball, and spend a majority of the summer at the beach. I feel an active, healthy lifestyle is beneficial on mental and scholarly levels and want my students to see me practicing what I preach -- eating fruit and veggies, getting outside and walking around during breaks, classroom stretching every once in a while to get our blood flowing... and on the middle school hoops, I can still dunk.
8. I am active in the community -- several different communities, actually. We do Cub Scouts near home, sports near the former home, and the boys' school is in a separate part if town entirely. I've coached Pop Warner football teams, taught Art lessons, made signs and hung banners, and picked up trash and folded chairs after many an event. I remember hearing a teacher complain about seeing a student and family while grocery shopping, but I think it's so cool when I hear "Coach Joel!" or "Mr. Nauton!" and see one of my kids around town. Although it's probably like the All-Star giving autographs, it gets old after a while...?
9. I have three sons, one each in high/middle/elementary school. They were my inspiration for taking this leap, my encouragement and tutors during the return to school, and my connections as I enter the world of 8-15 year olds ("what is a justin beiber again?"). Mostly through the use of the word "no" I am able to stay in touch with the modern student's world, as in "No, you may not see that movie/watch that show/play that song one more time/wear your pants like that/have a girlfriend" etc, etc. I also have a constant supply of book recommendations, pop culture questions, technology upgrade requests, and a captive audience when I want to
2 comments:
I love these list of reasons for your continued passionate reinforcement of self worth. I would hire you for sure. In fact, I plan to take your lists, turn them around, and use them as interview questions in my school next week as I join the group of teachers helping to make decisions for final interview candidates at our school.
So what time is my interview? Hmmm... what tie to wear?
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