The Verdict is in... (long one) About This Page:

[pflamingo]

As some of you may remember, I've been pondering a career change for the last few months. I've been teaching middle school math for 11 years now, and have been feeling pretty burned out. Then this year the entire diocese was going through accreditation and there was a huge push for everyone to be certified - which I'm not. (Long story short, I have a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology & taught college statistics for 10 years.) I'd have to go back to school for something like 10 classes - roughly 2 years full-time to get certified and quite frankly, after finally paying off student loans for my Ph.D. there is no way I'm going to go into debt again for this - the money is good, but not that good. And with working 50-60 hour weeks during the school year, I don't have the time, or to be honest, the energy to take classes on top of that.

So a few weeks ago, I told my principal that I wouldn't be returning next year, because of the certification issue. She started looking into possible "loopholes" or exceptions in the rules, and talked to the superintendent and assistant superintendent about this. Well, the word came down yesterday - no certificate, no job.

So even though I'd pretty much decided I wouldn't go back, I'm just a little panicked that my safety net is gone. My main concern is paying my personal bills. DH takes care of the house payment and expenses (what a sweetie!), but I've always paid the mortgage and 2nd on my house, the cell phones, my car expenses, medical expenses, and my spending. My house needs some work before I can put it on the market, so we're trying to get that done. The sooner I get it sold, the better I'll feel.

I have paychecks coming in til the end of July, but I'm not sure how much longer I'll have health insurance. DH gets his through the VA rather than through his employer, so I can't go that route. I'm planning to start applying for some part-time work for the summer. I've looked into some adjunct teaching positions at the local colleges, but there isn't anything in my area. And forget full-time college teaching - that ship sailed a looong time ago. I'm going to talk to my veterinarian about getting the dog grooming/obedience training business going as soon as school is out. It's just going to be hard to keep my mind on my job for the last three weeks of school.

So if anyone has any advice on buying my own health insurance, or getting my house sold, or finding a part time job, or making it through the last weeks of school, please feel free to offer it! Thanks for listening. I always appreciate the support I get here - especially since I feel like my problems are not nearly as serious as some of the things the rest of you go through. Thanks for not calling me a whiner, even though I think I am!

[magic mickey]

No advice just

[DonaldGirl1]

and

[chezp]

[clio]

Liz

[KMB733]

[B.M.]

I know I would be sick/nervous about the situation; but I think it was just additional confirmation to let you know you were moving in the right direction with dog grooming

[Danielle Harmon]

No advice, just lots of pixies and prayers!

[lazanya]

[oldmom]

maybe teach at a college's on-line dept or evening classes while the other job is taking root.

[GATechGal]

Don't know anything about health insurance from the VA, but since you are a spouse, can your DH add you to the plan and pay into it to cover you. I would think it would be as cheap as getting your own insurance. But talk to an agent. I'm sure they can advise you. Pixies for calm to make those important decisions.

[Colexis Mom]

[home4us123]

[rescuesk]

No advice, just tons of for you, Pat! And no, you are NOT a whiner!

[buzzspal2]