Gainfully employed (pending some phone calls)

Well it's almost official. I am the newest 5th grade Challenge (aka gifted) teacher at Terrace Park School in the Edmonds School District. I was offered the job late this afternoon, and once the required reference checks come through and they make sure that I am highly qualified it will be officially official. It's been a roundabout process starting on the first day of school when the original teacher was offered a position in the school district where her children go to school. The first day of school I basically job shadowed her, and day two I was on my own with 29 very unique students. I actually knew most of them when I stepped in the door because I'd subbed for their classes a lot last year (and I did my library practicum at this same school). Since then I've been the long-term sub while they went through the hiring process. I've dealt with a parent unhappy with their child's math placement (which it turns out I was right about), and the same parent unhappy about the fact that we were reading "The Giver". I'm predicting more interesting conversations with this parent. I've also conducted a curriculum night with little real knowledge of the curriculum (last night actually). But the parents have been largely very supportive, and they are a highly involved lot. I've got a lot of work cut out for me this year, but it's continuing, and the principal and the entire staff are sooo supportive, I don't think I could have handled the last few weeks without them. I've got to aquire a classroom library, figure out the CBA's, differentiate for multiply gifted students and all sorts of fun stuff. I'm super excited!