The Story Behind the Move

After applying to several schools in the state of PA and not hearing much back, I decided to start applying to out-of-state schools. From what I had seen and experienced in PA, I realized that my calling appeared to be charter schools. I liked how many charter schools catered students from broken families and low income areas. These are the kids that I really have a heart for and I want to be a positive mentor in their lives.

While looking for jobs on several teaching job search engines, I came across one for a brand new charter school in Rockford, Illinois called Legacy Academy of Excellence Charter School. I was impressed with how determined the founders of this school appeared to be in regards to reaching out to the children of Rockford. It is officially the first charter school in this area. I decided to email the director my resume and cover letter. The very next day, I received a phone call asking if I would be interested in an interview. After consulting with my parents and my grandmother, I decided to try for the job.

On Tuesday, June 30th, my grandmother and I headed out for the long drive to Illinois. We drove about 10 hours that day, rested in a hotel, and drove about 5 more hours the following morning. On Wednesday, July 1st, we finally reached Rockford. We decided it would be a good idea to check out apartments, grocery stores, and local areas in case I made the move. We chose a random apartment complex name off of the list of researched apartment complexes that my grandmother had put together. Upon arrival at this complex, we met the manager who just happened to have worked in Lebanon, PA (my hometown), for several years. SMALL WORLD! This woman claimed that God had sent us to her for a reason and she wanted to help us. Because of her firm belief that God ordained her to help us, she (dressed up in her company manager uniform) took us in her car (company vehicle) and drove us around Rockford to the apartment complexes that she thought would be the safest and best places for me. She was such a blessing and was kind enough to offer her church as a place that I could attend if I moved. She also wished us good luck. Because she could get fired for what she was doing, we only grabbed brochures from each place and then after we left the manager, my grandmother and I went to inspect the apartments that she had shown us.

Each apartment was nice, but the last one we saw was the one that I really liked. On Thursday, (the day of my interview) we got up early in the morning to go and look at this place. Unfortunately, we only saw floor plans at that point in time. It had a garage that led into a nice kitchen. It also had a dining room, living room, laundry area, bathroom, and two bedrooms. The manager told us that one apartment was available for the time that I thought I would need to move (middle of August). After looking around, it was time for me to get ready for my interview.

We arrived at Legacy Academy of Excellence Charter School and took a short look around. There was already someone in one of the classrooms being interviewed. I guess here is where I should mention that when I was scheduled for an interview, the woman that I spoke to told me that she had been making interview appointments for weeks. I felt nervous and knew my chances could be very slim. It was finally time for my interview and I went in. I will never forget the dumb thing that I said right off the bat... it went something like this: I walked in and two people were sitting upright at a table in the middle of the room. The one woman said, "Sit right here in this chair [pointing to a chair opposite from them], it's the hot seat." I then, dumbly responded, "It's sure good that I'm cold then." Oh my Heavens... where that response came from I'm not sure. They giggled and the first thought that came through my mind was, "you blew it"!

The interview went smoothly and they kept complimenting the information on my resume and my responses to the questions being asked. Twenty minutes into the interview they said they had no doubt that they wanted to hire me. I told them I needed a bit of time to think about it and I was granted a few days. It wasn't that I didn't like the job or wasn't excited for the offer, but the fact was I was really interested in a charter school in York, PA as my first choice where I already had an interview and taught a 25 minute lesson. I had been waiting to get a response back about the result of my efforts.

Grandma and I drove to a local gas station right after the interview to fill up on gas with the intention of driving straight home. It was right then and there that I had to make a decision about which job I wanted. In my heart, I knew the answer almost immediately. There wasn't any possible reason why I should have met that manager who helped us find a place to live and prayed for my job, there wasn't any reason why I should have been offered a job immediately within 20 minutes of being interviewed when there were people waiting still in line for interviews, there wasn't any reason why..... wait... there was. It was there, sitting in my grandma's car that I heard it. God was calling me and pulling at my heart strings to teach these kids. To be the first of many charter school teachers in Rockford, Illinois. I told my grandma I wanted the job, talked to my mom on the phone, and then we headed off back to the apartment complex that I had been interested in.

At the apartment place, I found out that the one that was open would not be ready in time for me to arrive. What I originally thought would be a mid-August move turned out to be an end-of-July move because teacher training is going to start on August 3rd for 10 days since it is a brand new school. Luckily, the manager did have one apartment that would be ready. We had the chance to look though it and I loved it. I loved the area and how quiet it was. Across from the apartments is a senior home and a block away is a Lutheran church that I could attend. Just a few blocks further is miles of every store possible, so I wouldn't need to travel far for any of my needs. Best of all, I would only be 7 miles from my school. I set down a deposit and was informed within 24 hours that the apartment was mine!

Grandma and I started the drive home after getting the apartment. We drove about 6 hours. It was on the drive home that I got a call from my mother. A letter had come from the charter school in York that I had applied to. I did not get the job. I think I let out a huge sigh of relief because I had confirmation that I had chosen the right path. The following day, July 3rd, we drove the rest of the way home. On this last day of travel, I received a call from the school informing me that I would be teaching 4th grade and my contract would arrive shortly in the mail. Let me tell you this, I have not stopped dreaming about my future classroom and kids since that moment.

Now I am in PA, with a little less than 3 weeks to change my entire life around. I have to choose what I'm taking with to Illinois, pack, say goodbye to friends, and head out. The question that I have been getting most is, "aren't you scared to move out to an area where you know NO ONE"? The answer... No I'm not. God has shown me so much the past few days and I know that I got the job for a reason. I don't know what all will be in store for me, how long I will live in Illinois, or who/what I will encounter. All I know is that God wants me there and that's where I am going.