Another Potential Interview Coming Up (2nd Update!)

hannikan

I say potential because it the school is potentially in a dangerous area. DH and I are going to drive down tomorrow together to check it out before I actually do it on Wed. If it's not in a scary area, it would be a good opportunity. I haven't had many interview offers (I've applied for literally 60 positions since April). It would be to fill in for the rest of the year for a FT social studies teacher. So I'd appreciate any good vibes/thoughts, etc... you can muster that it's a) in a decent area and if so b) I get the job!

Update: So it is a pretty nice area actually. We drove around the town (it's quite small) and didn't see any sign of it being a problem. It's not Beverly Hills, but that's fine with me. Traffic should be fine when I go (not too different time than when we went today). But it could be awful during commute time. Anyway, hopefully the interview will go well at least!

2nd Update: It's funny that that was my reaction because... Beverly Hills Unified called me afterward and offered me an interview for next week! Not sure if it would be just to be put in their substitute bank or if it would be full time. But it would be closer/easier commute. Anyway, at least I'm getting some bites now!

Rock-n-Voll

Sending lots of good thoughts your way.

Can I suggest that even if it doesn't seem like the best area that you interview anyway?  I always think it helps to practice interviewing as much as possible, and given how difficult your search has been so far I feel like you shouldn't be passing up interviews on first glance.

Not that you should work in an area where bullets fly regularly or anything, but going on the interview can't hurt.  And, honestly, barring the aforementioned bullets, I'd probably take the job if offered.  You could always quit, right, and it's only for about seven months?

hannikan

Rock-n-Voll:

Sending lots of good thoughts your way.

Can I suggest that even if it doesn't seem like the best area that you interview anyway?  I always think it helps to practice interviewing as much as possible, and given how difficult your search has been so far I feel like you shouldn't be passing up interviews on first glance.

Not that you should work in an area where bullets fly regularly or anything, but going on the interview can't hurt.  And, honestly, barring the aforementioned bullets, I'd probably take the job if offered.  You could always quit, right, and it's only for about seven months?

LOL, no I wouldn't work there if I was afraid for my safety. We're talking very scary (possibly). I've worked with students/lived in areas many wouldn't feel comfortable working with/living in, so I have a pretty high threshold. But I'm not going to be stupid. Yeah, barring the bullets, I probably would take it. It also has the potential for me to be commuting for hours in traffic (even though w/o traffic it is 30 mins away). I have several applications still waiting for the job listing to close (when they'll start contacting about interviews). So there other possibilities, too. And I can still sub in a closer district.

kouiii

I'm crossing my fingers for you! GL!

Rock-n-Voll

hannikan:

LOL, no I wouldn't work there if I was afraid for my safety. We're talking very scary (possibly). I've worked with students/lived in areas many wouldn't feel comfortable working with/living in, so I have a pretty high threshold. But I'm not going to be stupid. Yeah, barring the bullets, I probably would take it. It also has the potential for me to be commuting for hours in traffic (even though w/o traffic it is 30 mins away). I have several applications still waiting for the job listing to close (when they'll start contacting about interviews). So there other possibilities, too. And I can still sub in a closer district.

Oh good, glad you have a few other options!

Good thoughts, good thoughts, good thoughts!

StumpyG

Lots of good thoughts for you!

melgrady

I hope the area is okay. Sending you lots of job dust!

dani2480

Fingers crossed that it's a decent enough neighborhood! I'm sure those kids can use a great teacher like you. But, you definitely have to look out for your safety too.

leolyns

Good luck, hope it's a decent enough area and you get the job.

EmmieB

fingers crossed!!!!!

Mrs.BoomBoom

Hope it goes well

andrea3122

Best of luck tomorrow...My fingers are crossed.

kouiii

Glad to hear it seems to be a safe area. GL tomorrow!

cheryl2006

Glad you were able to drive there and take a look! It will probably make you feel more confident knowing the area before going into your interview. Good luck!

Rock-n-Voll

So glad to see both updates! Best of luck, Hannah!

pink.dutch.tulips

hoping that something good comes your way soon .. LAUSD is a huge district w/ hopefully TONS of opportunities. fingers crossed that one of these is THE one !

hannikan

pink.dutch.tulips:

hoping that something good comes your way soon .. LAUSD is a huge district w/ hopefully TONS of opportunities. fingers crossed that one of these is THE one !

LAUSD is huge (most of L.A. is part of it) but they have had a hiring freeze-only hiring people who already work in the district. So nothing I've applied for is in LAUSD.

pink.dutch.tulips

hannikan:

pink.dutch.tulips:

hoping that something good comes your way soon .. LAUSD is a huge district w/ hopefully TONS of opportunities. fingers crossed that one of these is THE one !

LAUSD is huge (most of L.A. is part of it) but they have had a hiring freeze-only hiring people who already work in the district. So nothing I've applied for is in LAUSD.

that has GOT to hurt prospects .... best of luck to you . where is the the so-so school location ?  i used to live in OC and have tons of family in so cal.

hannikan

pink.dutch.tulips:

hannikan:

pink.dutch.tulips:

hoping that something good comes your way soon .. LAUSD is a huge district w/ hopefully TONS of opportunities. fingers crossed that one of these is THE one !

LAUSD is huge (most of L.A. is part of it) but they have had a hiring freeze-only hiring people who already work in the district. So nothing I've applied for is in LAUSD.

that has GOT to hurt prospects .... best of luck to you . where is the the so-so school location ?  i used to live in OC and have tons of family in so cal.

It does! There are a lot of charter schools here (way more than in the Bay Area). So I've mostly applied for jobs in those and had 3 interviews with charter schools. I was actually offered one more but it was right in Watts. More recently (like the last month) there have started to be more jobs in public school districts that are small. Most of those are in the south. We live near Hollywood, pretty far north, so this place is quite a bit south of us. Not as far south as OC though. That would really be too far unfortunately (there have been quite a few job openings there). The town this school is in is Lynwood, which is not far from Compton. That was why I wanted to check it out first. It's got enough of a cushion that it's fine and the community is pretty nice. It would be to start immediately and work at least until Jan. It could end up being all year though. I think it well so we'll have to see.

pink.dutch.tulips

hannikan:

pink.dutch.tulips:

hannikan:

pink.dutch.tulips:

hoping that something good comes your way soon .. LAUSD is a huge district w/ hopefully TONS of opportunities. fingers crossed that one of these is THE one !

LAUSD is huge (most of L.A. is part of it) but they have had a hiring freeze-only hiring people who already work in the district. So nothing I've applied for is in LAUSD.

that has GOT to hurt prospects .... best of luck to you . where is the the so-so school location ?  i used to live in OC and have tons of family in so cal.

It does! There are a lot of charter schools here (way more than in the Bay Area). So I've mostly applied for jobs in those and had 3 interviews with charter schools. I was actually offered one more but it was right in Watts. More recently (like the last month) there have started to be more jobs in public school districts that are small. Most of those are in the south. We live near Hollywood, pretty far north, so this place is quite a bit south of us. Not as far south as OC though. That would really be too far unfortunately (there have been quite a few job openings there). The town this school is in is Lynwood, which is not far from Compton. That was why I wanted to check it out first. It's got enough of a cushion that it's fine and the community is pretty nice. It would be to start immediately and work at least until Jan. It could end up being all year though. I think it well so we'll have to see.

hee hee funny you mention Watts. my mom did her student teaching there 5-6 years after the riots. 

hannikan

pink.dutch.tulips:

hee hee funny you mention Watts. my mom did her student teaching there 5-6 years after the riots. 

Brave girl! I considered it but it was also when DH needed to be cared for round the clock with his sore. It would have been too hard to go and I probably wouldn't have felt safe. I'm sure teaching in Lynwood I'd have some students from Watts and Compton and that's fine with me. I had students from rough parts of Oakland when I taught in SL and from Richmond when I stu taught in El Cerrito. I just don't want to work right in the middle of the ghetto. The students were at lunch when I got there for the interview and they looked so much like my old students. So I felt at home.