The interview process for this alternative school has been interesting (for a spoiler alert to this story, check out my facebook!). Last Wednesday was basically a big tour of the school, where I talked with the Assistant Principal a lot and met many teachers. On Friday, it was pretty similar - a lot of running around to meet everyone. There were a lot of interesting parts to the 2 hours... the future dean (and the guy who was in the position I was interviewing for this past year) started telling me about working in a gang area. While working in the school would definitely make me feel safe (I mean, why would anyone try to mug or assault their friend's teacher?), I am rethinking the idea of biking to work when it's nice out because way more fights happen along the border of gang areas. The school is right in the middle of the Latin King area, so there are few conflicts with rival gangs on campus.
I was also interviewed by a panel of teachers and students. It was sort of awkward; the students were not particularly vocal in asking me questions (even though I think I was the last person all of them had interviewed), but then they would come out of nowhere and ask me something crazy. One asked me if I was "cool with white jokes." That is a weird question to answer to an African American student! Before I answered, a teacher cut in and said "that goes on a lot here." Her tone was pretty friendly and joking, and she definitely maintained a good rapport with the students throughout the interview; she knew implicitly when to use prompting words or silence to encourage them to ask questions. Therefore, I interpreted the situation as generally playful, and that no jokes, white or otherwise, were truly meant to injure.
Despite these surprises, I got the job!! I am so excited to teach environmental science and biology in such a supportive, collaborative environment :)
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