I Got a Job!

So I kind of lied to you.  If you look back to some of my first announcements of our move to Texas, I told you that both Reid and I are going back the classroom - Reid to the U of H classroom and me to the public school.  From the beginning something told me I wasn't going to be in the classroom in the way that I had first imagined, but I dutifully filled out the forms (and paid the big bucks!) to get my teaching license transferred to TX.  After all we were moving across the country for Reid's school, and I needed to have all my options open.

Over the past two years working at a great ministry in Wake Forest, I learned a lot about my work style and the type of work that excites me. I love the organization part of it all, creating efficiency structures, and managing time to increase effectiveness.  Always an avid to-do list maker, I've finally discovered what I should have realized all along: I love to plan (and the feeling of checking things off that list!)! When I think back to teaching, I remember how much fun I would have lesson planning for the week (strange, I know) and thinking through all my plans for the first day of school.  So I think it makes sense that my next career move would push me further into this area of strength. I decided to pursue jobs that would allow me to use and improve on these qualities.

As I engaged in the job search process, I got some genius advice from my dad who helped me to use my network of friends and acquaintances from my past work experiences and Teach for America to connect with potential opportunities here in Texas.  Within a week of reaching out to some folks, I had filled out four applications for four jobs in which I had personally connected with the key decision makers.  None of these jobs were directly in the classroom.  All of them were office support/project management positions within the world of education and education reform.

So the process has finally come to an end, and I'm happy to announce I have a job! Yours truly is the new Teaching Excellence Alternative Certification Program Coordinator at YES Prep Public Schools! In the end, I had a total of four interviews and two job offers.  I took the job at YES, and I start on Monday! Reid and I are so thankful for how the Lord provided this great opportunity in such a short time after we've arrived here!

Just so you know what I'm getting into, YES Prep is a charter school network that exists to increase the number of low-income Houstonians who graduate from a four-year college prepared to compete in the global marketplace and committed to improving disadvantaged communities. YES Prep was the first public school system in the country to make college acceptance a graduation requirement, and what they require, they work really hard to help their students achieve! Currently 80% of Yes Prep graduates are  enrolled or have already graduated from college, compared to 25% of low-income students nationwide who enroll as freshman.

YES Prep seeks out highly qualified individuals to teach in their schools including many Teach for America teachers.  They support their teachers with the Teaching Excellence program which provides initial and on-going training. My role in the organization will be to help coordinate the Alternative Certification Program within Teaching Excellence to help first year teachers who majored in subjects other than education to  complete the necessary coursework and tests to obtain a Texas teaching license by the end of that first year.  The Teaching Excellence program is top rated in the state, and we will be working to make it top in the nation! I'm excited!

So in the end, I do get to be a part of the classroom.  I'll be supporting new teachers and helping them serve their students! I'm looking forward to this, and am so thankful that God has allowed me to do something that I enjoy and believe in!

Thanks to all our friends and family who have been praying! We realize that moving to Texas with no job seemed a little crazy! But our God is faithful, and He has provided!

Exploring

We have been out do some exploring.  This weekend we traveled to Dallas/Fort Worth area about 4.5 hours away for a friend's wedding.

It was beautiful and fun! Amy is a friend from way back, and we're excited for her and Rob! They are moving to Minnesota, far away from their home state of TX.  We understand a little of what they might be going through.

We've also explored more than our fair share of this city.  We've been lost a time or two - once on the way to an interview.  There are SEVERAL major highways that intersect here, and all of them have feeder roads that you use to access everything.  CONFUSING! Here's a nice shot of one little part of the city.  It does not do the 104 degree temperature justice. And the traffic is never this sparse!

We also visited Houston's large and fancy mall, the Galleria.  It seemed as though every designer had their own store in this place.  There was even an indoor ice skating rink.   We saw two different girls dressed in brightly colored dresses for their 15th birthday celebrations (I know this event has a beautiful sounding name, but I don't know how to spell it.  I definitely need to work on my Spanish.  German is not exactly useful here.).  I also saw three women at different times dressed in a full burkha.  There is so much diversity here.  And SO many people.  The world is here in Houston!

In the midst of all the new things we're experiencing, our apartment feels like a home and a refuge.  We were able to have our one and only friends here, Will and Jenn, over this week.  They've been in the city for a year and gave us the skinny on all things Houston!

We've been doing lots of little errands this week, and I have had some job interviews.  We're hoping to do some more touristy things later this week including a trip to the zoo and to Pearland (for some more shopping with less people hopefully!).  We may even throw in a trip to the National Funeral History Museum.  Some interesting stuff they've got going on here!

Home Sweet Home

For curious family and friends, here are a few pics of our new home:

Kitchen

Dining/Office (including Reid hard at work.  He's still working part time for his company.)

Living Room (from the Kitchen)

Bathroom

Bedroom (Including unmade bed.  I had just woken up.  This is the Real Housewives of Houston, folks)

Gigantic Closet (which we have filled to the TOP)

 All of this, including the nicely organized closet is thanks to our moving help: Jamie, Mom, and Dad. They stayed for a week helping us get settled.  They are a well-oiled machine.  The house was moved in and COMPLETELY unpacked in about 1.5 days.  Dad hung pictures and other fixtures.  Mom cleaned and unpacked boxes.  Jamie organized and put things away.  We are so thankful for their help!

A little Rest and Relaxation on the couch!