Hey Moms,
I have a bit of a dilemma.
Not sure where to start, but lets see....my daughter goes to pre k 3. Her first year for preschool was September 2009. She is finishing up this year and doing really well. She loves her teachers and classmates. I love everything about the school. I have been planning on enrolling her next year for 4 K. I was also planning on enrolling my son in the 2's class next year.
Moving on....I have unfortunately run out of deferment for my student loans and will have to start paying them back in March of 2011. That means I will need a job to pay for my loans.
A while back I expressed interest in working at my daughter's preschool. I have always wanted to be a preschool teacher and I know I would love teaching at her school....it would be something I would truly enjoy. Anyway, the director mentioned today that there was a lead teacher position available for the fall....but, I only have my English degree. They only hire lead teachers with experience or early childhood certification. She then said that they may move some teachers around and, if so, an assistant teacher position may be open. It would be a dream job to teach at that school with my two kids there. It would also help pay for my student loans. Now I just have to wait!
A friend of mine has told me that she could get me a job at a Mother's Day out program. She will be teaching there herself next year and will have her daughter attend. I could teach there and have my kids attend there, as well. However, last year when my friend was looking for a place to enroll her daughter she checked out this program and said she didn't get the "right feeling". She also said that she couldn't find the office and nobody would help her. She ended up putting her daughter in another program. Next fall she will be teaching at the MDO that she previously didn't like. BUT, the hours are what she is looking for and her daughter can attend for a discount. She said I would also be able to get a job there. I could also have my 2 kids there and start paying on my student loans.
Sorry this is so long!
My dilemma is....what do I do about my daughter's school? Do I keep her in the preschool that we both love and that is a perfect fit for my family? And hope that an assistant position becomes available in the fall? Do I take the job I know I can have, even if it means putting my kids in a school that would not be my first choice? Do I mention this to the director of my daughter's school so that she knows to let me know as soon as she knows anything? I am so torn!!!! I can only hope and pray that my kids get lots of scholarships so they are not stuck with student loans like I am :-)
Can you talk to your preschool about what kind of qualification they are looking for? If you already have a degree, taking some additional classes in ECE for a certificate might be enough. Often you could get those at a community college for a very reasonable rate...
You should check and see exactly what is required to be a lead teacher there vs an assistant. In Illinois a preschool teacher only needs "6 hours" of early childhood ed to be a lead teacher as long as they have a degree in something else. It could be you only need 2 classes to be able to be the lead teacher. Speak with her and see if you had these classes if you would be considered for the job or whether they are hiring form within for all jobs. good luck
Money is money and the reality is nothing can happen for you or your children without it. If I were in your shoes I would take whatever job I could to make ends meet in the meantime and keep a very close connection to the gal that works where my dream job is. Know it is only temporary but it is what makes the most sense for your situation. The loans have to get paid and food has to be on the table and that may mean everyone has to sacrifice temporarily. There has to be another option as to where your child can go to school in the meantime if keeping her where she is is not affordable. I would hit the pavement to find a cheaper school that I like better than the one your friend tried.
I would say to talk to the director at your daughter's school. Let her know the situation, and that you really need to know if there is going to be an opening or not. Let her know that you would love a job there, and that that is your preferred job.
Just because your friend is working there doesn't mean that she can "get you a job". Does the job that she offered have a deadline that won't let you apply for both jobs? As far as where to send your children, I would go with your gut, which is obviously telling you to keep your daughter where she is. If you can't afford it, and get the job at MDO, then you may have to compromise for a little while, but if you can afford it, keep them where she is excelling.
