A Tough Decision

Every once in a while, you have to make a tough decision. You have to decide between two things that pull you in two directions. Both things are good. Both make sense. Sometimes, one makes much more sense than the other, but it's still not too easy of a choice to make. But, as the famous philosopher T.H.E. Fray once said, "Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same." What was the decision I had to make, you ask? Well, keep reading and I will tell you.

There is one school in my district named after Ralph Waldo Emerson that requests me. A lot. At first it was convenient because it's only about a 15 minute drive from my house. Then I really started to like the staff and students there. It was great walking through campus and hearing so many kids say, "Hi Mr. Jefferson," or "Hi Mr. J," or "Hey, you been in our class before!" The staff saw me so much that they knew me by name and the office staff even stopped giving me a map of the school. I just got the keys and knew where to go. I've even had teachers request me that I had never subbed for before. I was kind of a big deal. People knew me.

My attendance at this school slowed down a bit over the last couple weeks. To start off the semester, I was at the junior high just north of Emerson for a full week teaching an 8th grade math class. And then back in that class twice a week for the next 3 weeks. In that last week, I thought to myself, "You know, I changed my focus from secondary math to elementary. Plus I'm really tired of this class. I should just focus more on getting elementary jobs." And so, for the 5th week of school, I was back at Emerson everyday but Wednesday (which I took off because I wasn't feeling too hot). It was great. Monday, I had band. Tuesday, I had a 5th grade that I've had before. Thursday, I was back in that 5th grade class. I was loving it. I was ready to be done with junior high and back to the younger ones who haven't developed an attitude yet.

Then Thursday, I also got a call. From a junior high. A junior high where I spent 3 weeks as a reading sub at leading up to winter break of last school year. They remembered me from those 3 weeks, plus their vice principal worked at Emerson last year. They said that they needed a long-term sub for a reading class. And they thought of me. And if I took it, I would be there until the end of the school year. And there'd be a sizable raise.

This sounds easy enough to most people. Of course you should take the job that pays more, gives you better training for when you have your own classroom, and gives you a consistent schedule to work with!

When I got the call, I wasn't thinking that way. I was thinking, "But, but... Emerson." Every time I was at the junior just north of Emerson, I would see the kids on the playground and think, "Man, I'd so rather be there than here." I even bought one of their shirts and showed up to a staff breakfast on a day that I wasn't even scheduled to sub there. I would be hanging up my shirt and saying no to the staff breakfasts for the rest of the semester. To teach a group of kids that I had grown tired of. For me, the choice wasn't that simple.

But I had to make a choice. So, on Friday, I called the junior high back and told them that I'd take it. They were really excited. My mom was really excited. The 5th grade teacher that I subbed for twice last week was really excited. Everyone seemed excited except me (and Emerson's secretary; she was trying to talk me out of it).

But I'm trying to get excited for it. It is good practice and is obviously the better choice for me financially. Plus, I figure that if I love it, I had 3/4 of a semester that I loved. If I hate it, well it's only 3/4 of a semester. I can go back to elementary next school year. It's win-win, I guess.

So, as of today, I am Mr. Jason Jefferson, reading teacher at Summit Academy. Wish me luck.

Elementary classes dismissed