Finding a Job

It's an open secret that I have been seeking a new job. I don't WANT a new job. I love my current job. In fact, I think of it not so much as a job as a way of being. I love teaching. I love working with kids. I love the people with whom I work. I love my Celtic family. I love everything about it. And, yet, I am looking for a new job. About three years ago when we heard that the dream of a new Catholic high school in eastern Jackson county might, indeed, become a reality, I decided with my good friend, Lori, to go back to school and earn a second master's in education administration, something that would presumably qualify me for carrying on in my role as assistant principal at O'Hara when it became St. Michaels. I loved going back to school, although now as I think about it, I can't really see why. My dad was sick, I was driving to Jefferson City every weekend, I worked part time at Legacy and I still had a full time job. But, Lori and I persevered and by the fall of 2012, we both had earned our masters. I applied for the job of principal at O'Hara when Dr. Redd left and was frankly quite relieved when the search committee gave the job to John O'Connor. Last year, for about two weeks, I applied for a principal oeping in our diocese at St. John LeLande. I had second thoughts after hearing that another long time elementary principal was interested in the job, someone who I did not know very well, but someone who had my respect. So, I withdrew that application and carried on at O'Hara doing what I love to do. And, now it is a year later, and the uncertainty of what is happening at O'Hara and what will happen at the new St. Michael's has many of us scrambling and reviewing our resumes. O'Hara is closing at the end of next year, in May of 2015, and the new school is opening. The school is the dream of Bishop Finn and John has been named the new principal. He's made it clear that he would love for me to work with him at St. Michaels and I would love that too. A new building, a sense of adventure, a new vision and mission, yet deeply rooted in Catholic values and tradition. But, I do have a principal's certification now, having paid $500 for the test and I think that I would like to try being a principal on my own. It's scary. And, a part of me would much rather remain right where I am, but right where I am is not going to be the same after the move to the new school. There will be immense challenges, attracting new students, developing a curriculum. And my biggest worry is that after all of that work, and the building of a new school, that the students won't come. There are few feeder schools in eastern Jackson county and the Lees Summit schools are among the best in the state. St. Michael's tuition will be at least what OHS tuition is now, some 7500. And, lots of folks can't afford that, especially when they are happy with their public schools and their parish school of religion programs. And, so I worry. I trust that there's plan for me and so I wait, praying for insight and courage.