A New Beginning

In an effort to save myself travel time, wear & tear on my car as well as sanity and to challenge myself & earn a slightly higher wage I secured a new job much closer to home. I have known for weeks that I would now be teaching moderate/severe special needs 7th & 8th graders, that I had the transitional classroom to the high school and that the staffing ratio would be much different than what I was used to. What I didn't know was what to do when I arrived in the parking lot and stepped out of my car on the first day. I never received the orientation week schedule (probably because I couldn't make it to new staff orientation), I didn't know what time to arrive or which classroom was mine. All problematic. I E-mailed my new boss the night before I was to report and she said arrive at 8:00. 8:00-8:30 there will be pastry & coffee (typical teacher faire) would be in room 3, meeting to follow. Hmmmm....where the hell is room 3?!

So, I arrive at 7:55 (late for me) and walk confidently to the front desk. I introduced myself to the secretary, explain that I don't know where my classroom is or where room 3 is. She smiles and pages someone to come get me. The new person arrives and says oh...you must the new 1st grade teacher!...um...what?! I apologize and say, no, I have 7/8th. She responds with a quizzical look and tells me to follow her. She brings me to a classroom saying, "I think this is where you'll be. If you need anything, I'm right in this office.". I believe a mumbled a thanks. Confidence shattered, blood pressure through the roof, clinging to my coffee as it's the only real & familiar. I'm alone in a room that might be mine. Nothing looks remotely like my last job and I don't know a soul. Awesome. So I preserve my sanity by taking a deep breath, sitting in a chair and start texting the Perki's that I know are awake...as always, they respond. Calm is returning.

After texting, coffee chugging and spinning in the office chair a woman comes into the room and introduces herself, she is my assistant and instantly put me at ease. She came to this country in 1973 from the Azores, has worked in the school for 17 years and knows some of my students. She's a G0d-send so far...chatty, organized, hard worker with a great reputation and demeanor. I might survive yet.