A Good One to Have In My Corner

Whew. I was doing just fine with today's appointment w/ GB, I really was, until she called me at home yesterday afternoon. Needed to buy herself a little time and push our appointment from 9am to 10am. Still no problem, at least theoretically, but something about hearing her voice sent my adrenal system into overdrive. And then Terri had to work late. So I spent the second half of yesterday in near-tizzy state, knowing all the while that it was for no good reason.

Sure enough, today's meeting went perfectly smoothly. She's got two possible areas in mind for me, academic affairs and academic support (advising), and will send an email to both TP and SC to let them know that she's recommended that I speak with them. Also found out that someone in SC's area is leaving (previously had only known this as a rumor), which means I'll have a GREAT chance at getting good solid information on what it's like to work for her... nothing like talking with a short-timer with nothing to lose.

Looking forward to talking with these folks, getting back to George School, and shaking the trees a bit at Chapin & Peddie. Hope I can get the timing to work out so that I'll have a long and carefree summer.

Quaker Schoolmarm

Met for almost an hour today with ND to talk about how her needs and my skills might match up. It seems unlikely that there will be a full-time position available at PFS next year -- it turns out that OM isn't retiring until the end of NEXT year -- but we talked about other options. The possibility of a 2-day/3-day split with, say, George School, for example... one of the advantages of being covered by T's benefits package is that it becomes less of an issue in my overall compensation. The possible upside to that kind of arrangement is that it would almost certainly mean that both schools would be trying to figure out how to get me to be full-time once they figured out how good I am. :-) The downside, of course, has to do with the old, "No man can serve two masters" koan.

Still, it was great to talk with ND and feel that she is genuinely excited by the possibility of bringing me on in SOME capacity. And we can add her to the list of people who for some reason look at me and think, "Middle school." I theorized that it might have something to do with my energy level, or my combination of seriousness and goofitude, but she says she thinks it's more about integrity. Cool.

Creative Job-Making 101

Had a good meeting with GG at George today; they're just coming back from break and he's in "just found out a bunch of people are leaving" mode, which could work out well for me. We had a friendly, free-form conversation, I wasn't at all nervous, and I think I managed to hit all of the talking points I had set for myself as goals. Also found out that George School's Diversity Outreach Coordinator is, as Stacy says, "a member of the corporation," which could work to my advantage.

Two of the people who have been helping out in George's Admission office are spouses of teachers who are leaving. They may have a history of using those part-time positions as lures ("we'll even give your partner a little work") to full-time faculty, but at the same time I have to believe that the director would prefer to have someone in there with my level of experience. That plus some teaching could be an exciting combination.

Let's Talk

After getting stymied by voicemail all day yesterday, finally got through to GG at George, who confirmed that the head of the school had passed my materials along to him. He seems willing to engage me in a conversation about how my skills might best fit their needs, so that's just what I plan to do. They're on break next week, but he encouraged me to start a round of connect-the-calendars with his secretary and gave me her direct-dial line. Time for a haircut!

Add Another Link, Sidebartender!

Got an email today from my friend NN, who informs me that a full-time position is open (will be opening?) at HiTops. Should I learn from Tracy's experience and run screaming from any and all small non-profits? Or...? Think I'll at least sit down and talk with NN about it... right after we get back from snowbirding it in Ft. Pierce!

Who's On First?

Connected with the Head and the director of Advancement at George. The Advancement search won't pick back up again for a little while, as they're doing their hiring sequentially rather than all at once. The Head has passed my information along to someone who is responsible for faculty hiring. (?) Will have to follow up with him, too. Meanwhile, the head of the very first school that CS+A referred me to has dropped off the face of the earth, and I'm inclined to just let her stay disappeared. Weird, though.

On Her Radar

Finally spoke to the Head of PFS in person today about my goal of returning to work full-time in the fall. She's not sure they'll have any fulltime administrative positions open, but there will certainly be some reconfiguring of responsibilities, and she was at least interested enough to call me back after her drive home to ask me to keep her posted. All I can do is my best, and whatever works out after that is all good.

Rehabilitating the Name "George"

Worked on and mailed off cover letters to both the head and the director of advancement at George School today. Checked with two members of the faculty there with whom I've worked in the past, and they both said, "Sure, use my name, I'd be happy to serve as an informal reference." Will follow up with phone calls next week. Just got back from a book reading of Catherine Clinton's new bio of Harriet Tubman at Friends Select, which made me feel again that longing to work in a Quaker environment.

Two For Two

Breaking news... the Head of the SECOND school that CS+A referred me to just called. So at the very least we can infer that my cover letter-writing skills are good. :-) The school is in Burlington, further than I would probably want to drive each day, but because it's tiny the Head is used to having to be creative about how to manage his resources. He called me to talk about the possibility of "farming out" some of his college counselling, as the current arrangement, with one of the parents who is also a guidance counsellor in the local high school doing some moonlighting at his school, just isn't working as well as he'd hoped. No firm plans yet, but he may run a few possibilities past his parents + trustees in the coming months and we promised to keep each other posted. I am pleased with how confident I feel, and I think the part-time work at TCNJ is helping with that. Even before my first paycheck, taking on that job is looking like a great decision.