Bitter Sweet

Heavy sigh...  this past week was Teacher Appreciation Week.  It is always a very sweet week filled with great lunches brought to you from loving parents, sweet notes with misspelled words (errr), lots of hugs, and you are pleasantly reminded of the good things about your job.  Let's be honest, teaching is hard.  REAL hard.  There is a reason we count down the days to summer vacation.  But, looking out at my 26 ten year olds and knowing that I will forevermore be their fourth grade teacher kind of tugs at the heart strings.

This Teacher Appreciation Week was especially special though.  Last weekend I graduated from AGTS with my masters. 

I was hooded, took some pics, and went home with a heavy decision to make.  Do I pursue the degree I just received, or do I sign another contract and enjoy another year in the classroom.  After several discussions with the fiance and loads of prayer, we decided I should do what I just worked my butt off for two and a half years to do.  So, at the end of my week of appreciation, I turned in a letter of resignation to my superintendent. 

Next year I will be working with a local private counseling practice.  I will still be able to work with kids, which I am so excited about, but it will be in a whole different capacity and I get to work with their families as well.  I am a ball of excitement and nervousness all rolled into one.  I work with some FINE folk and it is going to be so sad to leave them.  The countdown has started however, 15 days left of teaching, then a couple of months off, then off to something new...