Forget I Said That

I took the elementary education AEPA today. It was significantly easier than the middle grades science test, and I thought that I did well. I don't want to have to take another one of those tests for a long time.

Never have I witnessed a staff reiterate and reiterate and reiterate the "no cell phone" policy as much as I witnessed today. The policy is printed on our admission tickets, and everyone is warned at least 3 times before the test that if they are caught with a cell phone, there will be consequences. It's ridiculous really. Cell phones can be silenced, rather than left in hot cars. Regardless, I left my cell phone in my car and was happy I did upon hearing the terrifying warnings before the test. Still, a cell phone went off mid-test, and everybody looked up in sheer terror. Nobody owned up to the catastrophically embarrassing blunder, so the cell phone was left to ring. 2 minutes later it rang again. The test-proctor screamed, "Alright, whose cell phone is it??", and a middle-aged woman reluctantly raised her hand and handed over her purse. I felt sick, and so unbelievably sorry for her, in the same way that I feel sick and overwhelmingly sympathetic while watching "To Catch a Predator". She did something really dumb, but I don't want to watch her squirm!

So, the $155 I spent on this test, as well as the 4 excruciating hours I spent taking this test may prove to be completely worthless. Last Thursday I was contacted by the director of Phoenix Teaching Fellows and asked to interview for a 7th and 8th grade science position. I was confused as to why I was being asked to interview for a job when I already had one, but got the impression that my gifted teaching position was less than amenable to the Phoenix Teaching Fellows program, and that they would like me to be placed in a more mainstream position. I went on the interview, not expecting much to come of it, but ended up being offered the job. Now I have to make a decision by Monday; do I want to teach 7th and 8th grade science in the Murphy School District, or K-8 gifted education in the Phoenix Elementary School District? The PTF program is pushing for the science position, for reasons that I am not completely sure of, but I am really excited about the gifted position. There are pros and cons for each job, the biggest con being that if I took the gifted position, I would be on a substitute certificate and substitute pay ($80 a day, no benefits) until August 12th, when my AEPA scores come in. This isn't horrible, but it's definitely a drawback. I still don't know what I'm going to do, but need to make up my mind by the end of tomorrow. I don't think I've ever had to make a decision this important in my entire life. Growing up is stupid.