As I enjoy my last day of spring break and prepare to return
to what may be two more months of substitute teaching, I realize I have found
another perfect-fitting job for Camp Fancy-Free. Luckily, as my tolerance and flexibility for
bullshit continues to diminish, I am finding more income-generating matches to
my lifestyle. The latest…substitute
teaching…currently in Leadville ,
Colorado
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| Its (just about) always sunny in Leadville the last two months. |
I had pretty much written off any school/teacher-related
work after my experience teaching during my initial stint in
Leadville. I first moved to Leadville soon
after graduating from college and signed up to be a substitute teacher, upon my friend,
Sara’s, suggestion. That year, I was
called in on the first day of school for a vacant high school special education
teacher and proceeded to masquerade in that position for a whole school
year. Without getting into too much
detail, I’ll only say that it was a great experience and it scared me away from
the profession. I never really
considered subbing or teaching again, until a few months ago when I wanted to
get a job, but couldn’t imagine giving up the autonomy that I had been
thoroughly enjoying the previous couple of months. The subustiuting idea dawned on me one day, while hanging
out in Bozeman , Montana Lake
County School
District Colorado
First, it most obviously fits my criteria in that it is
temporary. Signing up with only three
months in the school year guarantees an end in sight. This is of single most importance to me. I never want to have to lie or mislead an
employer, but I not looking for a job for the long haul. Since most employers are looking for the
exact opposite criteria in a potential employee, my job searches are limited to
short-term opportunities such as seasonal work, special events or projects, and
in this case…school! I can put up with a
lot more when I know there is a definite end date.
The next most awesome thing is that I literally get to
choose if I want to work each day. A
lady calls me and ASKS me if I want to work and I can answer yes or no. This is what I make believe I do with every
job. It is definitely easier to achieve
that mindset when it is my reality. Becasue I came here with the intention of working, I've accepted everyday, but then my family made last minute plans to visit. No problem, I just said no those days. Perfect!
Third, everyday is different. I have thus far agreed to do K-12th
grades. That is a wide spectrum of
crazy. Different places and different
faces everyday. This greatly contributes
to my enthusiasm and ability to stick it out no matter how insane it gets in
those classrooms.
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| A rare moment of calm with third graders, who always make me earn it. |
Don’t get me wrong, this job can be rough…some days. My experience has been that the younger they
are, the more of my energy they require.
Most days I leave feeling exhausted.
But as I mentioned, it is just a single serving of each group. Just one day at a time. Very manageable. And other days, especially at the high
school, I sit around and read all day.
Or on the best days, when subbing for a gym teacher, I get to play
basketball all day!
So, subbing is perfect.
It is temporary, my daily choice, and provides variety. The pay is good enough. And it is in lovely Leadville. Not necessarily the best place to spend mud
season, but it MIGHT be a short one as Leadville has just experienced one of
the mildest winters on record. I,
however, just escaped the mud for a week for the lower, warmer and dryer towns
south of here. That is right. After just one month of working, it is spring break. I had no choice but to
leave and enjoy a week of living in the van and running and biking on sick,
dry, singletrack in the desert-esque towns of Buena
Vista and Salida.
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| Dry trails for spring break. (Salida, Colorado) |
Ask me again in two months, but as of now, I shall add
substitute teaching to the list of Camp
Fancy-Free
