Epilogue

School Update:

The 2015-2016 school year started without an Agriculture teacher. The candidate that signed the contract at the end of the year didn't pass her Praxis exam to get her teaching license. She retook the exam over the summer, but still didn't pass. The principal called me a couple days before school started and asked if I would teach the first week of school, and maybe the first month. I declined the offer, but agreed to make curriculum plans for the long term substitute. I was given a temporary contract to make detailed lesson plans with all supporting material for any substitute to follow. I emailed these plans to the principal each week, and I didn't have to step foot in the classroom or correct any papers. I enjoyed making the lessons, and all my supporting material is electronic so it wasn't hard to find.

After a month of my lesson plans they hired a teacher. He was hired on as a substitute, but he had an Agriculture Education degree. He lasted about a month, and then quit. I think he left because he wasn't doing FFA activities, and he was only hired on as a substitute. In January, at the end of the semester, he was going to have to officially interview for the position.

After a month of a semi-permanent teacher the district went back to long term substitutes. The long term substitutes are usually retired teachers. In this case, it was the retired science teacher. This time he was expected to make his own lesson plans.

My three kiddos

In January, the district officially hired a full time teacher that had just graduated from Iowa State in December. She is currently the teacher.

Personal Life Update:

When the school year started my teacher friend needed a full time daycare provider, so I started watching her 3 year old and 6 month old. So in August I had my 3 year old son, my 2 year old son, her 3 year old daughter, her 6 month old daughter, and my growing 5 month old fetus. This was a lot of fun for the kids. The three toddlers played so nice together. I implemented a preschool structure to keep everything moving smoothly, and to help the toddlers learn. I potty trained my 2 year old son, which took some time. This lasted until December when I gave birth to our daughter. I took some maternity leave, and the girls went to another daycare provider.

Back in September I started going back to the After School Program (ASP), which was three nights a week. My husband comes home from work and stays with the kids while I go to the ASP for two hours. I continue to do this.

I'm very lucky and grateful to be able to stay home with our kids.