Summer of Interviews

I have decided to summarize my experience this summer with all of my interviews and the experiences I have gained from them. The word that best describes my summer with finding a teaching job is "perseverance". I was blessed enough to interview for 8 (yes 8) different school districts this summer to try to acquire a teaching position. With every interview that had passed with no job attained, I became more and more accepting to substitute for a year at home. In order are the school districts / I.U's I interviewed for
1.) Mercer
2.) Crawford Central
3.) Grove City Intermediate Unit
4.) Riverside Intermediate Unit
5.) Keystone School District
6.) Lakeview
7.) Wilmington School District
8.) Warren School District
I had many good interviews, bad interviews, 2nd interviews, twice I was one of the final 3 who were in contention for positions, ext. I had questions asked to me such as "Name me 10 things you can do with a pencil besides writing or drawing", "Do you like kids", "Who is your hero", and many other off the wall questions. I was a few spots away from teaching where I went to school at, from teaching with one of my closest friends, and to teaching 10 minute away at a very great school district.
What I have learned this summer though is to be patient, trust in God's plan no matter where it leads you, and to persevere no matter what circumstance is placed before you. I have acquired an emotional support teaching position that I have no experience in, but I am very excited to get my feet wet and to dive into the deep pool of education. I can not wait to start my new life in Warren at an amazing school district.
To all my friends from Mercer, I am going to miss you all more than I can describe. I was actually beating myself up a little bit for leaving because I have grown so close with so many people in the area. I now understand though that God has a special plan for me whether I see it yet or not. To end this post, a quote I heard on the Wonder Years that best fits my recent decision and all of those who I will leave behind but never forget or lose contact with:

"Growing up is never easy. You hold onto things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days, news days, days to come."

Hagerstown Trip

I recently just got back from a weekend trip to Hagerstown, Maryland to visit by friend who is interning with the Hagerstown Suns minor league team; the single A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. I always seem to enjoy myself no matter where I am at, and this was no exception. A good friend of mine EJ and I decided to make the 4 hour trip down to Hagerstown. Within an hour in Maryland I was getting kicked out of a bar for wearing a backwards hat and having a vertical PA license. Besides this incident, I realized how amazing the game of baseball is. This game can touch so many people's lives in various ways that are hard to put into words. Here is my attempt to do so.

1.) The first night we sit behind an elderly couple in their mid 70's. Quickly I learned that the man was completely blind. I started a conversation with him that I was from around the Erie area and he then asked a series of questions about the Erie Seawolves. I soon realized that his vision had no effect on his sharp mind, and his love for this beautiful game. As the game started, he had a radio in one hand against his ear, and his wife would give a pitch by pitch summary of the game. Is there any other game that has such distinctive sounds as baseball? The crack of the bat, the sound of a ball hitting the mitt, the 7th inning stretch, and the call 3rd strike by the home plate umpire. This man, who once watched so many greats play, can now envision them in his head as he listens to the game from his 1970's Emerson Portable Radio.

2.) Although I did not think anything would top my love of baseball as meeting the elderly couple in front of EJ and myself, we got talking to a man who sat in front of us in the VIP section on Saturday. The man looked to be in his late 40s, and he was at the game with his wife who had both traveled from California. There son Jeff Kobernus was the starting 2nd baseman for the Suns. EJ and I didn't really mention him, but instead talked about other sport's topics such as the abysmal Pittsburgh Pirates, the NFL, and how stinkin' hot it was that day! Jeff's father was a very mild mannered, polite, and non-boastful man. He never bragged once about his son and was very intrigued with our story on why we were in Hagerstown being from Mercer, Pennsylvania. As Jeff's dad and his mom went a section over to film in the 3rd inning, EJ and I went over after the game and wished them a safe trip back and good luck to their son.
Now I know this does not sound out of the ordinary, but it was 2 days later that the story turned to be very special. EJ sent me a link on facebook to a baseball reference site with Jeff Kobernus' stats on it. As I scrolled down the message EJ posted another link with the caption "How about this one too" and low and behold his dad (also named Jeff Kobernus) was a minor league baseball player for the Oakland A's system for 4 years. He once made it to AA but never got any big league experience. A man, who is now following his son and watching him try to obtain a goal that was always just out of his reach. To Jeff Kobernus Sr. I commend you on playing a game that you loved with all your heart, and teaching it to your son. When your son steps on the Major League Baseball field, he will be doing it not just for himself, but for the family and for the love of the game.

Today's word is: Buster

TLC's song "No Scrubs" came on the radio and there is a specific line that goes as following: "A scrub is a guy who thinks he's fine and is also known as a buster". So M@ Kulka and myself have decided that the word of the summer is going to be buster. Anytime we see someone embarrassing themselves unknowingly, they are a buster. You might be asking yourself, "Well Phil, how do i protect myself from being a buster?" Well that is why this post will save you from ever being defined a buster, here are the top 10 ways you can spot a buster:

1. Jean Shorts - Your JNCO jean shorts that come down to your shins are not "cool" they're an eye sore.

2. Non-Situational Bandana Wearing - If you are not mowing or playing tennis...take off the bandana

3. Ear Gauges - The real world called, no one is hiring you with your golf ball sized holes in your ears.

4. Vanity License Plates- Congratulations GETOSAMA, every person who drives behind you knows you are a true blue American and will never question you....buster!

5. Shirt wrapped around your head (Cousin of the Situational Bandana)- Yes you are tan, but your stomach needs covered.

6. Walking your bike up a hill- Your doing it wrong!

7. Riding your bike in general- Get a car!

8. Listening to Country Music- Let me ruin every song you will listen to this summer "America is #1, drinking is good, and hick's love their families"

9. Water- We get it your "healthy", give me a beer, pop, juice, anything but water.

10. Not watching the World Cup- Don't be a buster, enjoy the best sporting event in the world and cheer on the United States.

These 10 hints will help you from your friends whispering the word "buster" behind your back this summer.

SRU Job Fair

Today I had a job fair at Slippery Rock University (I....Rock). There were around 30 schools that attended the job fair and very few of those schools were in the state of Pennsylvania. From 9:00-10:00 we scheduled interviews and handed our resumes to certain school districts (this process could have lasted 15 minutes). Once those were complete, we were to have interviews with the different schools that asked us and signed us up for times. I had two seperate interviews with the Intermediate Unit IV and The Academy Schools in Butler Pennsylvania. I was very interested with the Intermediate Unit and I fel that I made a great first impression. They will be in contact with me at the beginning of June for a second interview.
The Academy School is a delinquent youth school based in Butler, Pennsylvania. I felt very comfortable talking to the people at the desk and during the interview. Depending on pay, I would be interested in also relocating to Butler and becomming a teacher in the area.
Of course the best part of any trip to Slippery Rock is eating at Bob's Subs where I housed a Sr. Roast Beef sub! Overall, it was an excellent experience and it just might have led me into my first professional job. More updates to follow!

Reminisce

In January I started my long 4 month student teaching journey. Through these months I had many peaks, and I had many valleys. Sitting on my couch today on my first "day off" I have decided to reflect on the experience I had at Asbury Elementary.
First, the school district, school building, staff, administration and teachers were nothing less than the absolute bet. They were considerate, flexible with my schedule and always willing to help me as I grew as a professional. My first placement was in a 4th and 5th grade learning support class. My cooperating teacher that I was with was very knowledgeable and gave me a ton of excellent suggestions and really showed me how to balance the hectic schedule of a special educator.
My second placement as in a 4th grade elementary class. Out of any experience I have had, this was probably the most rewarding experience I have had in a classroom. My cooperating teacher gave me full control of the class as soon as I walked in and the relationships I built with every kiddo in that class will never be forgotten. I learned more about myself, my teaching ability, and my personality in the class just by having the full responsibility of a regular education teacher.
For today, I am hoping this experience paid off and I can get a call from one of two school districts that I have already had one interview with. I am very open-minded to any outcome that might result. I am not in control of my life; I will let God lead me to where he wants me to start my life.

Crawford Central

My second interview was today at Crawford Central School district in Crawford County. This school district includes Meadville High school, Meadville Middle School, East End Elementary, West End Elementary, Cochranton Elementary, and Cochranton High School. I was very excited for this opportunity because I knew that location was ideal for me and I could really envision myself in this area.

I was interviewed by two different panels of teachers and principals for about 15 minutes each. Overall I got a very good impression of the school district and hope that I impressed at least one principal on the panel that wants me as a teacher at their school.

Rating of interview 1 9/10
Rating of interview 2 4/10

I felt that one interview was incredible as the other I fumbled over my words a bit and did not get to represent myself accurately as a facilitator of education. But, the panel understands how nerve wrenching it is to sit down in front of a distinguished panel of educators. I will find out at the end of the week if I have a second interview or not with the school district. I will update my readers on any news pertaining to any 2nd interviews!

Mercer Elementary School

One of my goals this summer is to find a teaching job anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania. Yesterday was the first big step in doing so, I had my first interview at Mercer Elementary School where I graduated from in 1999. As soon as i stepped on the property, everything was completely different in the ten year span I had been inside of the building. It was newly renovated and from the outside looked like a completely different school.

As I waited in the office and was reading an automated letter they give to all interviewees, a little girl to be around the age of 4 comes into the office with her mom. She immediately took the seat right next to me and took an immediate interest in me. Before long, she was sitting on the chair beside me as I was going over a flip chart of fractions that I had in my portfolio. In all honesty, I was looking through a large glass window expecting there to be 3 adults with a clipboard taking notes on me as if I was getting interviewed without even knowing.

Overall, the interview I felt was very successful for being my very first one. I answered most questions very well and gave the school district a good idea of what kind of teacher and person they would be hiring if they selected me. Like any interview, there were things I wished I would have explained in more details, but overall it was successful.

I have very mixed feelings about going back to my home town to teach, but I think it is an amazing place to start at. I could see myself teaching here for a very long time if I do acquire the job, but time will tell.