DAYS FORTY SEVEN AND FORTY EIGHT: Interview-a-palooza

Things got really busy last Friday, so I am combining Friday and Monday into this one blog entry.

I had my interview Friday with Venture Academy- the Alternative School for College Station ISD.  I met with four people:  Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, and a teacher.  They asked questions like what I thought a teacher's duty was, why I felt students would act out in such a way as to be sent to this school.  They asked how I would deal with a student getting in my face and calling me names.  My general response to their questions was that often these students come from single parent homes or any home where a parent has trouble giving them attention- parents who are absent even while present.  Students want positive attention, but if they can't get that, they'll take negative attention over none.  I explained that trying to identify with them and have compassion with them were key.  And that communication between team members, and with students and their parents was the most important key to success.  When asked how to deal with an irate parent, my response was that if a parent is interested enough in their kid to fight for them, that is a good thing- we just need to find a way to work together.  They seemed to like me, so we will see.

I am supposed to know by Wednesday of this week, Friday at the latest.

After that, the girls went to Parent's Night Out  and Kristin and I went to dinner for date night.  It is a great chance for us to just be together and have fun, without a kid asking a question every ten seconds.  Plus, the kids get three hours of exercise for less than it would cost for a babysitter for less time.

This weekend we had a dress rehearsal for the girls musical, a birthday party for Leslie's BFF, and a birthday party at a Hibachi grill in Belton for Kristin's 90 year old grandmother.  It was the kids first memorable experience with a Hibachi, and the loved it.  But for you Seymour readers, it was no Samurai's.  Sunday, the girls did their musical at Hillcrest Baptist, so the moms and Mi Mi Mac came down.  When we asked the girls where they wanted to eat for lunch since they were the stars, they talked it out and came up with "CHUYS!"  They are so well trained.  That night we had our planning meeting for the re-launch of the Gate.  Just brainstorming, and now we pray over those ideas to see where God leads us.

Today, Kristin had her two interviews.  The first was at Oakwood for the Math Resource Special Ed class.  She said she seemed to really connect with the interviewers, and that several of her answers garnered a very positive response- especially her answer that compassion is the most important feature of a teacher.  She is really hoping for this one to work, as it is in the same district as the kids, and if we both got our jobs, we could drive to work together as the two schools share a campus, basically.

She just got back from her interview for Life Skills at Henderson Elementary in Bryan.  She did not feel it went as well, but she was going into it blind, only knowing it was for Special Ed in Bryan ISD somewhere.  We shall see if anything comes from it, but we're both hoping for Oakwood.

The girls are going to VBS at Hillcrest Baptist this week, so we get our evenings to ourselves.  I think tonight is a resting night, after the Interview-a-palooza of the last few days.