[courtney.w]

Some of you may remember me posting a while back that I was worried about whether or not I'd ever be able to teach again because, as an English teacher, my job typically requires lots and lots of reading. I'm between full-time jobs right now, so this has been something weighing heavily on my mind for weeks now.

I just got off the phone with someone from a neighboring school system who has an opening for a special education teacher! I already have my special ed certification, thanks to passing the exam for it back in the spring, and I honestly think this might be a great way to transition back into full time teaching, given my current symptoms, for the following reasons:

1) no more grading papers until the wee hours of the morning (especially essays, which was my main concern, given the headaches I can get when I read at the moment).

2) no more lesson planning, unless it's for one or two classes (out here, high school special ed teachers generally spend most of their day in "inclusion" classes, where they are there to support the students while another teacher implements the bulk of the instruction.

3) I would be able to afford to quit the enrichment program I currently do in the afternoons, which would mean I would be back to working a semi-reasonable work day.

4) If I did have my own classes at any time in the day, they would be smaller groups, so even that wouldn't be a bad thing. I would have to grade their papers, but there would be far fewer of them, so it would be more manageable.

Don't get me wrong... I definitely realize this would still come with it's own set of obstacles, and special education teaching is definitely difficult in other ways. But I think this might be a good way to stay in education without having the same concerns that teaching English would bring.

My interview is Friday. Wish me luck!