Yes, one and all, that's right: I have signed a letter of intent with the Bering Strait School District for the 2009-2010 school year!
The BSSD Personnel Director called me tonight and said that he had a good conversation with my references, and had only one more question for me. Here's how the conversation went after that:
My thoughts: what else could they possibly ask that could make a difference in this phase of the process?
His question: "Are you ready to move to Alaska?"
For a brief moment I was feeling a little overwhelmed and panicky, and so my response was the first thing that came to my mind.
My response: "That depends."
His question: *surprised pause* "On what?"
My response: "Will I have a job when I get there?" *aka Are you offering me the job?*
Perhaps not the most eloquent thing to say when accepting a job, but he laughed and said YES. BSSD sent me a PDF letter of intent within minutes, I have signed it, and tomorrow it is going to the post office.
An official contract will follow in March once the school district knows which specific positions are open, and I will negotiate the village and 'grade' level assignment at that time. However, the letter of intent is binding, so I have a job with BSSD no matter what.
This has been a few months in the making, and I am excited to begin my career with such an amazing district. Though I have a small fluttering in my stomach which I suspect is apprehension, I look forward to learning more about my Inupiat/Yu'pik students. I feel like the luckiest student teacher alive: not only do I already have a binding commitment from an incredible district, I will get to travel and live in a land of superlatives as a first teacher!
It has been a long day, and I am going to sleep pronto. I will post some information about the district tomorrow for those that are interested.
-Megan
Girl, your answer was just like you “When I get there, will I have a job?" beautiful!
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