[LM_NET] HIT: Job in Elementary School

[Angela Williams <spartangirl68@YAHOO.COM>]

I've had several requests to post any hits about getting a job in an elementary 
school. Below are some of the answers I've received.

My situation was a little different, but I went from
working in a 7-12 school and a k-6 school to workin in
a k-6 school and a k-8 school.  It took me a couple
years to get the transfer.  I think my principal at
the high school nixed my requests for the transfer. He
retired. The new principal said he would honor my
request.  Is it political in your school district?  I
would find out the school needs and then decide what
you could do to meet those needs.  I put together a
portfolio that I think convinced the new elementary
principal  to hire me.

I also talked to the human resources director the year
I was successful.


I wish you the best.  I left a high school and moved
up to Northern VA, where I am in an "elemiddle"
school--Grades 5-7.  I started out as a Teacher of
Visually Impaired prek-12, but worked with Elementary
and Middle School kids in various summer school
experiences.  When the principal here told me that
this was a very special age group and asked how I'd
handle them, coming from high school, my response was
"kids are kids" and I love them all. I also told her
that I could foster the love of reading more with this
age group, which I missed in high school. Also, I
raised three of my own and got through middle school
years.  I also read up on this age group before the
interview!  I am so much happier now!


I have been in elementary school almost all of my 22 years.  I have one
year of HS and student teaching in MS.  Next year I'm going to a new
middle school that will begin with grades 5 and 6.

Things you need to convince a principal:
1.  You are willing to teach!  Many elementary schools have fixed
schedules, although in my area of SC (Rock Hill) they don't.  My partner and
I teach 55 classes a week K-5. Even in a flex schedule you must know
the curriculum and how to integrate information skills into it.
2.  You are willing to do extra duties.  Carpool, coverage for clubs,
bus duty, and administering and monitoring EOG tests are all expected.
There are three of us in my current media center.  I have vanpool duty
five days a week (in the media center).  The other LMS has sidewalk,
carpool and club duty seven times a month.  Our assistant has carpool
duty and class and club coverage eleven times a month.
3.  You need to know the collection and literature so you can make
recommendations to students and teachers.  You also need to know
Accelerated Reader or Reading Counts.
4.  You need to make the media center welcoming, with lots of
decoration, plenty of smiles and a sincere want to help -- students, teachers,
and parents.
5.  You have to be willing to work overtime, whether working on orders
and lesson plans at home or ataying late for the faculty meeting or
attending evening functions and PTA events.

Elementary school is tough.  Kids sneeze on you, but also want hugs.
You have to try to fit two days' work into one.  I will miss the hugs
and the kindergarten students, but I'm excitedly looking forward to
middle school.



Angela Williams
Media Specialist
Southside High School
Greenville, SC
acwillia@greenville.k12.sc.us







Angela Williams
spartangirl68@yahoo.com

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