I relocated to TN in May of 2023 after being a classroom teacher and then reading coach for 16 years in Florida. I used your resume and cover letter template. I even created a portfolio exactly like yours, same binder and all. It all turned out so beautiful. I went on 4 interviews and was hired as a 5th grade math teacher ,in a fabulous district, within a week of starting my job search. I am so very grateful for your guidance and inspiration. I wish you the best of luck this year!
The quote that led me back to teaching 2 years ago: 'It's a luxury to pursue what makes you happy; it's a moral obligation to pursue what you find meaningful.' - Jordan B. Peterson
First of all, any school system would be blessed to have you!! There is a critical need for good teachers and I have a sense that you would be better than the best. Also, thank you for your rare form of honesty. You say what you mean and mean what you say. You don't always find that in people who are seeking a career in teaching. Best of luck to you. I have exited my teaching career after 35+ years, and I love to see the prospect of who will be shaping our children's future.
Aww, thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment! 🖤 That's so very sweet of you to say and I really appreciate it! 🥰 Best of luck to you as you move into this new season of your life post-teaching! 🎉
I've been following you for a long time, as I have worked as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional for the last 6 years. In July 2022 I started an alternative certification program to get my teaching licensure in Indiana. I completed student teaching (4th grade) during the Fall 2023. I passed all licensure exams this spring and have been applying and interviewing. I am super excited, I have verbally accepted and signed my offer letter for my first classroom teaching position, I should be going in pretty soon to sign my contract. It's for a 4th grade position. I think thats one reason I have always been able to connect and get so much out of all your videos. Thank you so much Michelle.
I just completed my student teaching (1st grade, both general and special ed/learning support) in the fall of 2023 as well! It was the best thing I ever did. I was fortunate enough to move into lead teacher from assistant in my same classroom, but there were plenty of openings where I did my student teaching (and I know there will be next year, too). I found Michele when I was learning to do virtual work during the pandemic and have been hooked ever since. I want to incorporate more google into my lesson planning to have things ready to go each week. I wish you all the best in your new journey and I am excited for all those heading into their first year of teaching and those rekindling their passion!
Michelle, I’m so excited for you!!! I’m also glad to see that you are embracing the “good enough” instead of overextending yourself. This is definitely something I need to embrace myself. I can’t wait for the next update!
Hey Melanie! I hope you're doing well! Also, thank you so, so much! I really appreciate it 🥰 It's hard for me to embrace the "good enough" mentality but I know it's what is best! 🖤
I missed the “Don’t forget your positive pants.” It’s funny as I was in school, you were my first teacher that I followed. I am now a teacher librarian. You are starting over again and I am here for the journey again.
Watching your vlogs years ago is what inspired me to pursue teaching. August 2024 I will be starting my first year teaching! Love seeing you return to teaching and excited for what is to come!
I'm SO excited for you! I have watched your videos for several years now, and I just finished my 7th year in TX 💚 Your Google tips and tricks were a lifesaver when I first started, especially during the pandemic. I hope that you're able to find your love for teaching again!
Hola!! Just a heads up- I taught fourth grade for 19 years here in Texas. Third - Fifth grade is very STAAR Test focused. Just get informed if this is something you will be happy with. Now I teach first grade and loving it. God bless you in your new journey
I'm so excited for you and can't wait to see and hear about your teaching experience here! I moved to TX in 2019 and teaching here is very different from my experience in CA and NV. You will do amazing!
Texas teacher of 30 years here. Welcome! I’m going to bet you have the position already. They’d be crazy not to hire you. Learn all those readiness and supporting TEKS for STAAR testing:)
Now I can say once I heard u say am going back into the classroom my life just went up I got so excited 💕 I can’t wait to see your classroom set up am so proud of you 😊
Your portfolio template changed the interview game for me! I had created a portfolio in college that felt clunky and hard to use, but with your portfolio I was able to use it to guide my answers to the big talking points I wanted to highlight about myself as an educator. Thanks to your portfolio guidance, I got hired in my dream grade, K. As a fellow perfectionist, I feel you on embracing a good enough mentality! Stay strong in that, so you can enjoy your work and home life! Good luck in the job search, although I have a feeling you won’t be searching for long!
I am so excited for you Michelle! Thank you for being authentically you and sharing your journey through this new season. Last school year I used your resume template to land a new job. It was such a time saver and was a success at my interview. I made sure to have extra copies on hand for the interview for extra people joining that day.
Hi Michelle, I’ve been watching since you first started teaching at your first school and I want to say you’ve grown so much as a human being since then, and we are all Gonna support you keep up with the great work you got this🎉
I’ve also been following for a long time and I am so excited to follow along in your journey. I love when strong teachers choose to remain/return to the classroom! I was a math interventionist for several years and then choose to return to the classroom (4th grade) and it has been very rewarding!
Former Texas teacher here. The school you volunteered at will be calling soon. Get ready. Texas desperately needs teachers and the fact that you volunteered will be sure to get you in quick for an interview. You will also be hearing from the others as well. This is prime hiring times and they would lucky to have you.😊
I began watching you many years ago when I was in high school. I just graduated from college and am now in the same job-search process as you and am now following along with your journey again! Funny how things came full circle and I can once again learn from you!
Happiest Monday to you, Michelle! I loved how authentic and relatable this vlog was. You did a great job updating the most important things and not sweating small stuff. I am truly excited to see the next installment of your journey! 💜
Not gonna lie I dropped out of my education major a year in but my passion for teaching is still very much present and I'm vicariously living through you so I can feel some sense of accomplishment hahahah. I know you got the job, because duh, so I’m going to say congratulations in advance just because i can 😊
I have been watching your channel since your first video and now watching you grow into amazing teacher and a amazing content creator have did nun but make me who I am today one amazing teacher and I honestly say you really taught me how to become the teacher i am today thank you 🙏 😢
You will be a wonderful !!!!!! teacher at any school! They will be so lucky to have you!!! Good luck from a Texas teacher who has followed you for many years!!
Michelle i have been watching your first classroom vlogs ( i remember chukles and nukles ) while i was studying for my exams in order to go to college to become an early education teacher ! Now i am organising things for my first ever teaching job as the head teacher of the class ! It feels so weird but great at the same time to have someone who i adore so much,like you doing the same steps! You are a great person and a amazing teacher and i always look up to you ! Love from Greece
So excited for these updates! I found your vlogs the summer before I started my full time teaching journey. Your passion got me excited for my new career!
Super excited for you Michelle! I love your attitude going into the school year, I am trying to embrace the same after giving so much during my first few years of teaching. It doesn't always work that way but I've been a lot better than before and I'm sure you will have success too! Document and share with us whatever you can and whenever you can but definitely put yourself first! 🥰
I'm so excited for you! I know not everything is good in the education world, but having a positive experience with a parent this morning while just out having an health appointment and hearing so much positive response to being a part of our district, it's not all bad and I know that you'll make a positive impact because of who you are, wherever you end up. Good luck on your interview! So thrilled you got one so quickly. I'm still waiting to (hopefully) get one myself this summer. If not, it'll be okay. Good luck! I'll be waiting to hear whenever you post another vlog.
Michelle you’re definitely over thinking! Take the interview as a conversation :) I just interviewed as I am moving districts. All my interviews went SO well and I took nothing with me. It was all in my confidence. You got this!!
Your video popped up as I was getting my things together to go back in the classroom this year. I finally got everything done to be Texas certified and it was such a process 🤦🏻♀️ I got an interview for a position in Prosper and was called within a few days with a job offer. I will be teaching 4th Grade Dual language in ELAR and Math. I haven’t taught 4th in 8 years so now it’s back to the drawing board 😂 Wishing you the best of luck!
7 years ago I watched your portfolio video and I recreated it and I got my teaching job that I have now. I made 3 copies and I left them behind. I still remember them telling me once I was hired that my portfolio was what made me stood out from the rest. Starting year 8 this August 🫶🏻
I'm so excited for the classroom videos to come and all the educational videos!!! 😊 You are a big inspiration and role model for me as a fourth year teacher. ❤
I will be returning to the classroom after 2 years (I was a mentor/TOSA) and I am SOOOOOO excited to go back to teaching. Mentoring is not for me.. also I teach high school. I will be going to a new district and I am so happy and excited for a new start.. a new healthy start. :)
Thank you for your impact on my professional life. I used your resume and portfolio template to get my first job after be coming certified. I have used it again 6 years later and receive a job offer. Thanks again!!!
Heading into my first year of teaching (stepping up from assistant to lead), I need to remind myself that I don't need perfection! I have been working delegating tasks as well. As I student taught this fall, I struggled a bit with going from assistant to teacher (I student taught 1st grade, but general and learning support, and I work in preschool), but my mentors were fabulous and let me feel my way around, while making mistakes. It was a fabulous experience, especially when my lead teacher at work rarely allowed for mistakes (unless they were her own). I have already told my classroom aid (whom I have worked with for 8 years) to reign me in when needed, LOL! I am excited for you on your new journey and can't wait to see where it takes you!
Any district would be foolish not to take you! Your passion is unmatched! Interview prep is a pain in the butt. I help out with my college’s career boot camp that helps people answer the behavioral questions.
Thank you for taking us along for this experience. I I decided to transfer within my district for next year. I had to revamp my resume (using your template 😁). I was given the principal information by a friend of a school closer to home for a Pre-K position (my favorite grade to teach). I emailed the principal my resume and had an interview scheduled in 2 days. The virtual interview went super fast (15 minutes) and felt really good despite my worry. 1 hour later, I had the transfer form in my email. I did not have the ability to use a portfolio as it was a virtual interview. Anyways, I turned it in signed within 3 days. It took 1 week to secure a new position in a brand new school and feel so positive and excited for next year. I will turn my mind to it after I get my current classroom packed. Thanks again for your positivity and wishing the best for you, Billy, and Ember!
So funny! I was just thinking of you the other day and wondering if you would ever go back into the classroom! You were coming to mind because I was thinking about classroom organization and setup as I actually break down my classroom for the summer (New York state school--always the last to finish the school year). I wish you all the blessings in this new chapter! We all eagerly await your classroom videos!
Yay! I feel like we're in the same journey. It's nice to know that I can follow someone in the same adventure. I want to fall back in love with teaching too 😁 I left after 11yrs last school yr and got a corporate job. I lasted over a year and now I'm going back to education this next school yr. It's for a teacher leader position, which will still give me the opportunity to teach. I already know it's going to be challenging w/ the added workload of coaching and PDs, but like you said, education need positivity again. I'm also looking forward to seeing how I can make this next phase of my career sustainable because like you, I poured my heart and soul. It got really difficult w/ 2 young kids and just got burned out.
Congrats on your interview! All the district has to do is look at what you have created with your videos and educational resources and you will be hired, and your passion for teaching will also shine through. (I am going on an interview and they said do not bring anything, that's less stressful for me).
This video made my day! I just happened to open RU-vid and there it was! What a nice surprise on a Monday! I'm so incredibly excited and grateful that you are taking us on your journey with you. I can't wait to see how you approach things differently to keep the balance in your life and keep doing the things that you enjoy. I love how you are trying to embrace not having everything be perfect. I am a perfectionist too and that holds me back so much. I can't wait to learn from you as you try to let go of it (some). So here is my question because I am genuinely curious. You know that closet in your house that is filled with ALL of your teacher stuff. What will become of that closet once all of your teacher things go back to school with you? I must know! Have a great week! You have clearly been very busy and I can't wait until the next one, no matter when that will be. Thanks again for this Monday video. It's just what I needed to get me through the rest of this school week!
Personally, I never pay attention to video upload schedules. I just enjoy them whenever they come up! Best wishes on your interview! I’m pretty sure you’ll get the school you want!
After taking a few years off of school, I went back to school to finish my teaching degree this school year. I have about 1 more year of classes before student teaching and am so excited. I’m planning on getting the Google educator certification that you got sometime this summer.
So happy for you .. knowing what you want is the best ! How is Ember and the cats doing ? Do they take naps together? I use your template for Substitute Binder .. thank you for that on TPT . Good Luck with everything.
I would have love to find this video one month ago when I applied for Houston ISD 😵 I found so difficult because the process its very different comparing with Spain process 😅 Thanks for sharing your resume and cover letter ❤ hopefully you got that position in 4 th grade, it will be my grade as well 🥰
I teach in Florida, high school. I have never heard of a portfolio. Usually all the info. you have in your portfolio like transcripts, teaching certificate, resume, etc are submitted when you apply to the position online through the school district website. I just switched to a new school district and when I went to the interview, I was just asked questions about classroom management, teaching methods, etc.
I'm in the same area as you. I just got hired at a new district as a 2nd year 4th grade teacher. I grew up in the same area that we are both in so if you have any questions about the area or districts, I can answer any questions you have. :)
