[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!

[Mark in Idaho]

I think you have an opportunity to develop a new empathy and understanding for special ed students. You have a need for some of the same accommodations as special ed students. I used to be very intolerant of people who did not understand something that I thought was simple to understand. Now, I know better.

Hope it works out for you.

My best to you.

[WorriedMom21]

I whish you a Great Luck! Hope things will work out for you!

[NormaW]

One thing I find that going through this experience, I have a lot more empathy for people with challenges.

Sometimes things happen for a reason.

Let us know how it goes...

[poetrymom]

This sounds like a good opportunity.

I had to leave the big classroom behind and opt for working in elementary with some smaller pull out groups and going into classrooms too like you could be doing. It is less stressful, for sure.

I sure hope you get it!

pm

[Lightrail11]

Originally Posted by courtney.w

My interview is Friday. Wish me luck!

Terrific news, best of luck with the interview.

As Mark mentions, having experienced being perceived as "being different" as a result of your injury will only increase your ability to be effective working with students with special needs.

Best to you.

[courtney.w]

Friends,

Thank you for your support in this process. Long story short, not only did I get an offer on this job, but immediately before I got that offer I had lined up another interview. I ended up having to decline the other interview, because this job that I have the offer on now is going to be better for my headaches... the other was teaching AP literature classes, and I know I'd be fooling myself to think that I'm ready to tackle that type of responsibility right now.

I'm under no delusion about the special education job being easy... I know it will have its share of challenges, but I also know those challenges will be more manageable given my current condition, and I can always pursue literature positions again for next year if I get in there and decide that I don't like this for whatever reason.

I will be signing my new contract today or tomorrow, and I get to start my new job on Tuesday! I couldn't be more excited.

Oh, AND... my husband and I had a long talk last night. We have decided that, now that I have a job again, it's time to get off the birth control and start working towards building our family. For the first time in months, I feel like my life is heading in the right direction again. Looks like 2014 may very well be my year

[courtney.w]

PS- I guess I should add that, by my current "condition" I mean that my headaches are practically gone and, when they do appear, go away within minutes of me taking ibuprofen (and sometimes I find them to be a good reminder to take my next dose of b12... for some reason that makes them go away too). I do still get tired easily, but I think being able to work 8-4 and have a consistent schedule again, where I know what I'm doing at what time and when I can eat, take meds etc, will help with that some, as will working 8-9 hour days instead of the 12 hour days that I'm coming from.

I still have a ways to go to be completely "better" but I can tell a huge difference from where I was three months ago. I think this will be my opportunity to have a less exhausting situation and still be able to make ends meet.

[Mark in Idaho]

Good for you. Being off BC may also allow your system to function better. BC can be quite an insult to bodily systems.

Don't be afraid to tell your students about your brain injury and related struggles. It can be helpful at them understanding and accepting their own struggles in a positive way.

My best to you.

[EsthersDoll]

Thanks for letting us know! Congratulations!!

At some point, maybe around the 1.5 - 2 year mark after the concussion, my Primary Care Physician asked me whether I wanted children or not. I was shocked that she was asking me about it considering the condition I was in. She said that about 50% of the time that getting pregnant will "fix" ongoing concussion symptoms. (I thought you might like to know that.)

After that, it was discovered that the reason I was getting better was because the concussion I had suffered damaged the functioning of my pituitary gland.

I am now taking three different hormones and I'm doing significantly better than I was.