Did you hear the news? This Applicious Teacher is back in the classroom in a new role: interventionist! I can’t wait to share all details and learnings with you! Before we dive into all the details about my new position, let’s chat for a moment about how this position came to be.
I mean… how do you go from a 2nd grade teacher to an educational resource blogger, TpT seller, work full time under The Applicious Teacher name for six years, to then finding yourself in a brand new role?
And let me just say, friend… I sometimes wonder the same thing.
So… but here’s how it actually happened.
From Full-Time Curriculum Creator to Interventionist
This past summer, I started to feel the calling back to the classroom.
Listen, friends: I AM A TEACHER.
I feel this in my bones. Even after six years away from the classroom working full time in my business, I still identified as a teacher.
I didn’t leave the classroom because I didn’t like teaching anymore. I left because I just couldn’t do it all anymore. The Applicious Teacher was growing exponentially, and it needed me there full time to run it.
But, I missed teaching. I missed conversing with coworkers, I missed the day to day blur that comes with teaching, and most of all… I missed the amazing interactions you have with kids.
So, I decided to start applying for jobs. I applied for jobs local to me and jobs far away. I applied for 2nd-grade and 3rd-grade teaching positions. I even had interviews! But, nothing really stuck. I’m not going to lie… I was pretty heartbroken. I LOVE teaching 2nd and 3rd grade!
So I thought… “Well…God… I’m putting this in your hands. I thought you put this fire in my belly… but maybe I’m meant to be home again. I release this from my control. I will no longer stress and worry over this. I put my faith in you to guide my path.”
So I thought… “Well…God… I’m putting this in your hands. I thought you put this fire in my belly… but maybe I’m meant to be home again. I release this from my control. I will no longer stress and worry over this. I put my faith in you to guide my path.”
And I did. I stopped applying for positions and started planning content and resources for you, teacher friend. 🙂 I was sad, but there was peace to this decision.
Then, in early June, I was perusing my district’s job vacancies (I said I stopped applying for jobs, not looking at jobs!), and I saw that my son’s school (the one I taught Kindergarten and 5th grade at) was hiring a math intervention teacher.
Now, I actually saw this job posting weeks earlier and didn’t apply because, well: I’m not a math intervention teacher. This was a re-advertisement for the position, which means they didn’t find a person they liked and were on the hunt again. I still didn’t apply for it because… I put it in God’s hands, remember?
Later that same evening, I got a text from the reading coach at the school asking if I had a moment to chat. I started to panic, thinking it was about my son (He had struggled the previous year, but I was certain we were on the upswing and had a strong plan for summer!)
When I called her, I could barely breathe. I braced myself for some sort of terrible news. But she started the conversation with: “Leigh, we need you!” and my enneagram 2W3 self was very interested in that.
She mentioned the math intervention position and how they had interviewed 25 different candidates, and none of them were right. See, the position wasn’t really just math intervention. It was reading and math intervention, some tier 3 instruction, and teaching STEAM one day a week.
I’m not gonna lie… I’m not really any of those things. Sure, I’ve done intervention in my classroom, and I stay up to date on best teaching practices because it’s how I make sure I’m delivering only the best for my Applicious Teachers… but I also wasn’t a STEAM teacher. The most STEAM I’ve done was my Mini-STEAM Lab in my kindergarten classroom.
By the end of the hour-long conversation, she had convinced me that I was actually perfect for this position. Seriously, I got off the phone and thought, why hadn’t I applied for the position sooner? This position was made for me. LOL! She was VERY CONVINCING!
And so, I knew this was God’s plan.
The Intervention Interview
I applied and was called for an interview that next day. It was the easiest interview I’ve ever had. Mostly because I did very little talking.
See, although I know many things, I promise I am smart and well-spoken. I can confidently talk about instruction and teaching, but ask me about myself, and I’m a blubbering idiot. Like the whole time I talk, I’m thinking… just stop talking, you aren’t making any sense.
So, yes. This interview was great. The principal talked the majority of the time, telling me about the position and the school. Although I had never worked for him, he had heard wonderful things about me from the reading coach. I was able to ask questions and get clarifications, but I didn’t really have to talk-talk about myself that much. Which, honestly, was a smart move by the principal- he made me look really smart and experienced. It was glorious! After I stood up, shook some hands, and sat in my car for a second, I KNEW I had gotten the position.
And sure enough, within 24 hours, I had gotten a call offering the position. Thanks, G! ⬆️
And that, Applicious teacher friend, is how this former 2nd and 3rd-grade teacher found herself in an intervention position this school year. It wasn’t on my radar. I wasn’t even considering it, but I knew it was God’s plan. All the pieces came together perfectly, and there’s only one reason for that. I’m meant to do this position!
From Classroom Teacher to Intervention
So, I ask you, teacher friend:
Wish me luck, lend me support, and extend me some grace!
As much as I want to say I’m an expert at intervention, I am not. I plan on sharing what is working for my students here as much as possible, but I will also be looking to you for guidance and support. I mean, isn’t that the wonderful part of having an online platform like this? The ability to connect and collaborate with amazing and talented teachers like you?
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