I didn't go back

to teaching until we moved to Artesia, New Mexico in the summer of 2001. I had the dream job. I worked 1/2 day monitoring students who were in regular class fulltime but had special needs of some kind. I was home by noon. I enjoyed what I did very much. However we only stayed in Artesia 1 school year.

David applied for a job in Texas and was offered the position. He really wanted take it. Money was better and we had had several unpleasant experiences in Artesia...that's another post for later!

I had the privilege

of staying home after my son was born. In 2000 I took a position in the middle of the year to help supplement our income. It was a brand new ED class. This one was difficult, but nothing compares to my first year.

I had a wonderful assistant named Katie! She was such a blessing in more ways than one.

We had all boys (6) and 1 girl. The little girl ended up in inpatient before the year was up in May. The little boys ranged from 1st through 5th grade. It was very challenging to prepare lesson plans for each individual child.

I had two brothers who gave me the most grief. They were being raised by their father. One was a runner and the other had frequent bm's in his pants. I had experienced runners and hiders but the potty incidences were a new one for me. The first time I was so sad for the 5th grade boy, then I realized/learned it was a form of manipulation. At that point I got mad when he pulled this little stunt. That occured about five times from Jan-May.

I have done nothing but learn and grow from each experience I had as a teacher. There are many more to post...

That same year...

I survived the fall months, then to find out I was pregnant with our little boy Davis. The remainder of the year I was pregnant and sick half the time. These two do not mix when teaching a class full of emotionally disturbed boys. I counted the days until I would finish my first year of teaching. During those months I also had a student bring marijuana to class, another brought a knife, and I got a few calls from a dad concerned that his son had brought his pistol to class. I also had 3 students who were in inpatient at a psychiatric hospital in the city. I made several visits to see them. This all has a happy ending...I survived!

I believe that God put me in that place to prepare me for the worst. Each job I have had since does not compare. I am a stronger teacher because of that long year in 1997.

A list of things that occurred my first year

1. Had a student threaten to jump from the second story window of my classroom
2. Had 10 students who were emotionally disturbed in a very small classroom
3. Had a student get shot over the Christmas holiday; he lived
4. Became good buddies with the computer teacher
5. Coached cheerleading...started w/ nothing
6. Found out one of my cheerleaders lived in a homeless shelter
7. Got pregnant that year
8. Ate more saltines than ever
9. Handwrote more IEP's than I care to remember
10. Learned the CAPE hold, and used it once w/ a dress on!

There are more...

The first week of teaching...

I had the police in my room before the week was over :( Little did I know it is not wise to allow emotionally disturbed boys to go on a bathroom break w/o an adult present. One of my boys made it down stairs, bashed out a teachers car window, and back to my classroom before the tardy bell rang! How does one do that??? He denied it the entire school year. He became one of my favorites needless to say.

It all started in 1997

I took my first teaching position at Jackson Middle School in OKC. I was desperate to find a job. I walked in to the school to drop off my resume' and I was hired on the spot! I was so excited! I was going to change the world. I must mention that I was hired to teach Emotionally Disturbed children...perhaps this is why I was hired on the spot. The remainder of the summer I prepared for my first teaching job. I painted my room, cleaned out cabinets, and scavenged furniture for my students. Yes, that's what you have to do sometimes. I literally went to the OKC schools salvage yard to get an office chair and a cabinet for my tiny room, that at one time served as a janitor closet...it was about the size of a large laundry room. The few cabinets that I had had been infested w/ mice. Those mice made apperances throughout the school year by the way. I also cleaned off the cobwebs of the bars that covered my two windows as I gazed at the courtyard and street below. I was physically ready that first day of school. More to come of what unfolded as my first year of teaching began.