Fadedwords

This past week has been incredibly busy for me, preparing for my meetings with my new job and getting myself organized to go to Plymouth this weekend.  The meeting was yesterday at central office, and it went really well.  I confirmed that I will be paid on the m-4 salary scale, which means my 3 years of ‘applicable experience’ from New York will again be credited to me.  There was some concern that this district would choose not to credit me with those, which would’ve put me in a very bad place financially.  Thankfully I don’t have to worry.  I also found out what the supplement was, and when we get it (November and May).  It’s pretty substantial, and it’ll be a nice surprise when they come.  I met some very nice new teachers, and the staff at the office seems genuinely nice.  After the meeting was over I also received a call from my new principal.  She called me to come in Monday to order supplies.  I actually said, “I get to order supplies?” Last year I didn’t get to order anything, and this year my former boss said I could order “one or two things”.  The new principal said, “Yes you get $150 to spend on things you think you’ll need.” *cue falling out of chair* I was shocked and pleased.  I’ll go in on Monday at around 9am, look through some supplies and hopefully get a tour.  I’m not sure when my official start date is yet, but that will get worked out.

Today I’m leaving by 9am to go visit my friends down in Plymouth… as well as clean out my office at the middle school.  That will be a bittersweet task, as I know there is so much there from the kids I loved working with so much.  I will miss the students terribly, but I know this is the best possible move.  After the office is cleaned out and the computer is put back in pristine condition, I’m going to lunch with Sandy and Jay.  Then it’s off to Courtney and Paul’s for a weekend of debauchery.  I’m looking forward to that.  It’s always a fun time when I get together with that crew.  Hopefully this weekend I can make it home without having to be taken to the emergency room immediately afterwards!  I’ll be staying in Plymouth until Sunday apparently, as there is a big party tomorrow night and ‘Phil’ has told me I have to stay.

I will miss my friends in Plymouth a lot.  Closing this chapter of my life feels good, in the sense that I know I won’t have to go back and work at that school and put up with all the nonsense that really stressed and upset me.  It’s also sad, because I made some very good friends there that I truly value and will miss.  I know that I will keep in touch, and I will visit as often as possible.  I already have plans to go to a concert with Court, Paul, and Phil in the middle of August (Rascal Flatts eeeep!).  I know that going in to this new job I won’t have Courtney down the hall to go vent to.  I won’t have Jay’s office to hide in when my principal is on my case.

It’s a bittersweet weekend for me.  Moving on from a job that made me miserable… and officially moving away from friends that got me through one of the worst years (professionally) of my life.