I had an interview for a job today and I am super excited. I think it went really well and I felt comfortable and just loved it. The interview was with the middle and high school principals together and I kept noticing that while I answered questions, the middle school principal would nod and smile with my responses. I later found out that she was a band director and I said some things about their program - goals oriented - that she completely agreed with. Yay! They have an awesome pretty new high school band room with a storage room, two practice rooms, an office with a sink, acoustic paneling, a sound system, a projector, and drop down mics in the ceiling for recording. I was blown away. I am pretty sure there has got to be another room hiding somewhere because I realized this evening that I didn't see where their uniforms are stored, but hopefully that room won't be too much of a mess if I get the job. But, even if it is, and I do get the job, I'm used to dealing with that. The middle school room is good - a step up from what I've had but definitely a step down from what they have at high school. It has carpet - ick. But thankfully, the administration hates that too and is pushing for new flooring. She (principal) said that she would like it to happen this year but it probably won't happen right away so it make take some time. But there is instrument storage and what could stand in as a practice room and an office. And it doesn't flood! And the roof doesn't have a huge scary two inch deep crack!
The schedule is awesome - everyone keeps telling me they hate block scheduling but it's what I did in high school and I've been interested in teaching at a block schedule system - the high school runs on block scheduling but the middle school is a seven period day. So I'd start one day with high school band for 85 minutes, then prep, then (don't know the order for sure but...) sixth grade band, seventh grade band, eighth grade band, and seventh & eighth grade percussion. Day two would be beginning guitar at the high school then prep and then the same afternoon schedule. And the schools are right next door - separated by a covered walkway so no driving!! I was hoping to maybe get lucky and get a job with only one room, but I can handle this - especially with the no driving.
It will be a high pressure, high stress job if I get it. The high school band runs about 60-80 kids right now and there is only one director and they are active in parade marching. They don't do much field marching which will change if I get the job. Their band camp is July 6-8 and 11 & 12 with a parade on the 13th for the county fair. Talk about pressure! I won't find out until next week whether I get the job and then I have five weeks to put everything together.
The administrators seem super supportive of the band program, the town is supportive of the band program, I found out that one of my friends from middle school - her dad is an alumni from this school and they have an alumni band so I think that maybe I could get a community band going. It would be such an amazing change to go to a supportive school where the admin will trust me to do my job versus what I have become used to. I am hoping and praying that I get this job. I am concerned but really excited at the same time. I hope I get it.