Time for a New Chapter: Moving On

At the end of June, I will be "retiring" from my teaching job as media specialist. I put the word "retiring" in quotation marks because after 25 years of teaching, I am ready to cut back to part time, and to utilize my technology and design skills in another place. With a B.A. in Communications, teaching certificates in Early Childhood, Elementary Education and as a Media Specialist, I feel well-rounded and ready for the changes that await me. (Let's not forget the Master of Education!)

This has been a bittersweet decision, as I work with the greatest colleagues and students, but to understand my decision, you have to know me and the many interests I have.

1. I have been writing music since I was ten years old. Having produced a CD over twenty years ago, I have missed writing and playing the guitar. As a senior in high school, I composed the music to a play written by one of my friends. You can find the CD on Amazon.com or iTunes®. (Scroll down a bit and you will see the CD Baby ad on the right.)

2. Photography has been an important part of my life since high school.(Thank you, Mr. Reilly) I took photos for my high school yearbook and developed them in my darkroom at home. When digital photography came about, I immersed myself in Adobe Photoshop®, and began learning how to retouch and restore old photographs. This came in very handy when I needed to create a website for the school's media center. I learned basic HTML and was off and running. I'm proud to say that I've written more pathfinders than any other high school on the web. (Let me know if you have surpassed 133!) I then learned Adobe InDesign® and started designing newsletters, business cards, websites and the school newspaper. Here are some samples of my work:

 

3. My technology skills have grown by leaps and bounds since I became a media specialist. I taught professional development classes to my colleagues and worked with classes and individual students. I'm excited at all the new changes which occur on a daily basis. I NEVER have turned down the opportunity to learn more or try something new.

4. I'm not sure if I want to remain in New Jersey. Our property taxes are one of the highest in the United States. The air pollution is bad. My door is open to change. Where? I don't know right now, but it's definitely on the table.

So, what do you think? All suggestions and job offers are welcome. Please email me if you'd like.......I'm ready for that new chapter to begin.