Done with Student Teaching

Whew, so I'm done with my 11 week student teaching stint at Santee Education Complex, a Los Angeles Unified School District high school on Maple and Washington just south of downtown. The experience was great; I really lucked out with my master teacher, as I probably said already. I was really able to make a bond with the kids, and leaving yesterday was not easy. Each class ended up giving me a big thank you letter that everyone had signed, and Frank, my master teacher, had everyone give me a standing ovation at the end of each class. That really did it, I got choked up each time.

Thing is, I didn't expect how I would grow to care for my students, and wish for them to do well beyond my classroom. Many students said they hoped I got a job at Santee, and I definitely wouldn't mind working there full-time...in this job market I can't afford not to.

Now the fun part starts. I should receive my official California Credential in 2-3 weeks from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and then I can circulate online applications to all the local school districts, charter schools and private schools. It'll be interesting to see if I end up in a tony Valley private school for Armenian kids, or a lower income charter school in south-central LA. I'll take either, I just want a paycheck and some benefits.