Everything Happens for a Reason

Last week almost 30,000 teachers in California received notice that they would be laid-off at the end of the school year. Several of my good friends and co-workers back in MoVal were part of this "pink slip" pool. My thoughts and prayers are with them and I know in my heart of hearts that everything happens for a reason and that something better is going to come out of all of this political nonsense and money mismanagement.....It is a SAD, SAD, SAD day in the world when the profession that molds our future is undervalued to this extent!!!!

I am so concerned for the well-being of our youth. Our public education system is CONSTANTLY being ridiculed and judged... Society needs to open their eyes and wake up!!!! Open your eyes and see what the real problem is....we have TOO MANY INCOMPETENT PEOPLE IN OFFICE WHO ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH THEIR 6-FIGURE SALARIES THAN THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN!!!!

Laying off recently educated, energetic, motivated teachers who are new/newer to the profession is NOT the answer to make our schools better! Making classes bigger is NOT the answer! Getting rid of counseling for our troubled youth is NOT the answer!

Accountability needs to be brought back into the classroom and teachers that are NOT doing their jobs need to get the "boot." I don't care how many years of tenure they have....if they are not doing what they are supposed to, then they need to be the ones getting RIF'd...

And as a hard-working citizen of this "great nation," you should be thinking about whose salaries your tax dollars are really going toward....

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! MONEY NEEDS TO STAY IN OUR SCHOOLS!!!!

Teacher layoffs were the worst in California, but Indiana was hit as well. Because Ryan and I are both new teachers to our districts, we were on the "chopping block" too. For the last month, we have both been concerned with the possibility that one or both of us would be jobless for the 09-10 school year.

Ryan remained very calm about it; but I FLIPPED OUT!!!! I went into "money lockdown" mode and it was BAD!!! I wanted to IMMEDIATELY cancel our cable, cell phones and Internet, but Ryan said I was being irrational and to wait until we got the official word about teacher layoffs.

So instead of canceling things, I did any and everything I could to save money. I didn't buy anything or go out anywhere that cost money this past month. We hung out with our friends, and played board games...we took the dogs to the lake and enjoyed the outdoors. I went to happy hour with my girlfriends and drank water (seriously, I did). We did our grocery shopping at ALDI (an off brand grocery store) and I made it a point to only have one light on in our home in the evenings.

We sat down and made a couple "budget scenarios" as well. Regardless of the outcome of our employment we would receive paychecks through the end of August per this year's contract, so together we devised an in-depth plan for our money...Scenario 1- If Brooke gets laid off...Scenario 2-If Ryan gets laid off...Scenario 3- If we both get laid off... Scenario 4- if we remain employed.

I love, love, love having a plan.... all of you know this!!! I know that this may seem a little over the top since layoffs were only a possibility- but with this horrid economy you can never be too careful...

So I guess you want to know if we got laid off????

The answer is no- we both get to keep our jobs...but we know it is only because we have Specialized Licenses (ESL and Physics). If I would have been in a Gen. Ed class teaching first grade like I had originally wanted to, I would have been a goner....if Ryan wasn't a Brainiac Science Freak and taught something more popular like Remedial Math or Social Studies he would have been laid off too.....

Everything happens for a reason, huh????

I know this is way corny---but after all that has happened, I one million percent believe we were supposed to move here and take the positions that we did...

To celebrate our employment, I held a mini-party at my house with my co-workers Carol, Alissa and Erin (I know that is TOTALLY random that they all share the same names as family members).
Our district was going to RIF first year teachers-There were four new teacher hires at the school we work at. All four of us got to keep our jobs because we work in specialized areas. Alissa and I teach ESL and Carol teaches Special Ed. "Thumbs up to being employed!"

My beautiful teaching partner Alissa and her son, Ty. We are so opposite....LOL! I was crying in our office almost everyday freaking out about layoffs and this girl was as cool as a cucumber. We were both stressed though- I couldn't eat anything and homegirl was stress eating like crazy-putting any and everything in her mouth....LOLHere are Carol and Hazel. Hazel is our school's facility dog. Hazel lives with Carol and comes to school with her everyday (they even took a yearbook picture together). She is an Australian Labradoodle. She is hypo-allergenic and does not shed. She can be seen running up and down the halls of our school and in our classrooms. She has really been a beneficial in reaching some of our students with learning disabilities and behavior problems. She also brings a smile to everyone's face! The students and staff love her!!!On Saturday, Ryan and I woke up and drove down to help with my school's new garden! In previous posts, you have seen the "Butterfly Garden," which has a small pond and several types of flowers....this garden however is much larger and is going to produce all kinds of wonderful vegetables- I can't wait!!!

The sections of the garden were staked out, and the ground freshly 'tilled... we had to rake and scoop dirt to create elevated beds for planting.I was on rake patrol. My back is KILLING me today! Grandma Helen and Genie...I thought of you both while working on this garden....my two beautiful Grannies definitely have green thumbs....wish I could say the same about your granddaughter....we'll see!!!

It was a really productive morning. School staff, students and community volunteers all helped with the project. We will meet again to start planting in a few weeks. I can't wait until things begin to "pop up" out of the soil....so fun!!!

Here is Kim (our front office secretary) hard at work.

Sharon (our other secretary and a volunteer) about to break ground.

The best hubby in the world sweating it out... Thanks, Ryan!!!!

I can't wait for Spring!!! It gets so green and beautiful here...the trees are beginning to bud and the weather is slowly but surely warming up!

This is my friend, Lori. She teaches 3rd grade. She asked me to be the co-facilitator of this new group she is putting together at our school called "Inspire." It is an after school drill team for our 4th and 5th grade girls. It will focus on academics, community service and of course dancing! I am so excited to part of the project...I love to be involved with my school community and am flattered that she asked me! I wanted to let everyone know that our good friends and neighbors, Liz and Eric are expecting their first baby in October!!! We love them so much and are very excited for them. Congrats!!!

Next week is our much needed Spring Break!!! We are very excited- especially since my mom is flying out and staying with us!!! I haven't seen her since June and I cannot wait to give her the BIGGEST HUG in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!!

This picture was taken out our back slider 2 days ago....such a beautiful day!! I am hoping we have decent weather next week as well...we'll see!!!

I would like to wish my dad a happy belated birthday!!! It was his 54th birthday on March 15th. He spent it in Mexico with his friends! I love and miss you dad!!! Can't wait to see you this summer!!!Until next time...xo

P.S. We are flying out to Cali this summer- dates TBA...probably the 2nd and 3rd weeks of July. Can't wait to see everyone!!!