Major Job Dilemma **Update**!(alieliza)

Personally....I'd take the new job and here's why.....1. you can always go back. There is never any shortage of teaching jobs that are simmilar to what you want to do in underprivledged areas. You always have an out if you don't end up liking the new job. 2. Opportunities like this don't come along often, I would always kick myself for not taking it. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out, but at least you gave it a go. 3. True greatness only comes from being uncomfortable and leaving what you know. Think of the thousands upon thousands of lives you can touch via working on a television program like this!!!! Alieliza, I have to say the the difference between those that I've met/worked with that are truely successful and happy are the willingness to take chances and try new thigs. Go for it, it will be hard and scary, but I think it's gonna be worth it either way. Ether you love it and can't imagine not doing it, or you have an amazing experience flying all over the world and then move on back to teaching.

Wow, what a wonderful opportunity and difficult decision!  I am sure you have already done this but make a list of positive's and negatives for both jobs and really figure out what makes you so leary to leave your current one and not take the new one.  It sounds to me like with the new job you won't have as much one on one contact with children which seems to be the most rewarding part of your job, but I would confirm that is the case.  If you were planning on making a move in the next 2-3 years, what kind of a move would it have been?  Would it have possibly been in this direction or something like it? 

I think that if you took the new job and then decided that you weren't happy with it, there will always be a huge need for English as a second language teachers and you could likely use your current teaching job as well as this possible opportunity to get in the door at any school you would like.  It sounds like they both hold so many positive benefits for you.  I would also think about your future plans with having a family etc.  If you plan to have children of your own, this might be the best time for you to take on a job like this and travel and be away from home and then when you have children, you might settle back into a teaching job if this new opportunity doesn't work well with family life.  Of course it will be really hard to leave these kids you have developed a bond with, but they will eventually move on anyway.  If you are really interested, I would get more info about the new job and the pay and the actual details of the job. 

Good luck with your decision!  Try to relax and not be so upset.  It will all fall into place.     

ETA: I wanted to second what Otto said, moving out of your comfort zone, as hard as that may be, can sometimes be the best most rewarding thing you will ever do for yourself.

Thanks Ottoluv,

This is the general consensus I've come across speaking with my mom, fiance, sister-in-law, etc.

It is just so sad to me because in my mind, I am a teacher. I love it. All I can picture when I think of leaving are the faces of my students and it makes me so sad.

I've got a lot of thinking to do...

BoneyJean,

I definitely have to make a list of positives and negatives. I have not done that yet, and I must. I've just been putting it off.

The move I was planning to make in a few years is out of New York City, probably across the country, but it wasn't a move as in "career move", I would have looked for a job teaching out there. Not a career change, which this is.

You have a very good point about taking this job before I decide to settle down and have a family. I had not thought of that possibility. Good thinking!

I do need to find out more about the job. Another list I need to make is questions that I need answered! (ie, Pay, do they offer benefits for my "domestic partner"? My fiance is covered under my current benefits even though we are not married yet, its great!)

Hi Alieliza,

How does your 2 dogs fit into the change?

Well, I live with my fiance so if I were to travel for the job, they would stay home with him. We work opposite schedules so even though I would be working longer hours, there would be someone home with them during the day, and I'd be home with them at night. Also, he is thinking of going out of work due to some injuries, so he may be home full time. The only downfall is that I wouldn't get out of work at 3 any more, have so many days off, or be home with them during the summers....

I agree with Otto.  It sounds harsh "you can always go back...", but think of it this way...someday you probably WILL go back (I think I know more people that are lifelong educators than any other career) and when you do, this new job experience will make you even more marketable and an even better teacher. 

I agree with Ottoluv...when will you have another oppurtunity like this again?

But, you also have to weigh out the pro's and con's....I kow its going to be hard to leave your students but like it was said earlier, your students will move on too.

 

OT..how is Tyson? do you have any updated pictures of the cow dog? :)

I see both sides all too easily -- however, I also see the homey, practical side -- a high profile tv job sounds glamorous, but if it took me for *long* periods of time away from my home and dogs I'd be miserable.

 My suggestion is different -- sprung from one more question.

 This is television -- known to be capricious under the best of circumstances (and the show's longevity is meaningless to be honest). 

I'd ask the new job people if this realistically is a job they will want a TEACHER for once the ball gets rolling.  How long will you be away from the classroom before you are less valuable? 

My guess is, one of the reasons you are SO attractive is because you are currently IN THE TRENCHES.  You're doing exactly what they want to broadcast to -- *BUT* if you aren't there day after day, then how long before they will have to find another teacher who is "there" knowing what the new demands of *today* bring.

A political change such as may come in the fall (and always comes with every adminstration change even if the party doesn't change) changes MUCH -- including immigration. 

Soooo I'm not talking about you not taking it tho -- but I wonder if the job could be offered on a sabattical basis.  Have you been where you are long enough to EARN a sabbatical? 

 It would seem, somehow, to me that it would be in the broadcast's best interests to have you continue to teach SOMEHOW. 

Maybe I'm suggesting to have your cake and eat it too -- but another part of me says "look outside of the box".  I'd as the broadcast people exactly what makes YOU attractive and how will you *keep* that attraction if you aren't in the classroom.

Callie, You bring up very good points.

I want to make it clear, first, that the English program is not a television program. It is a multimedia program (meaning, mostly dvd, probably some audio disk, etc.) produced by the makers of television shows. Also, the job is in the education department of the organization, not the production department, though I would be working very closely with producers and many other teams of people.

Also, there is a slight possibility that I *could* do both. I would have to teach full time and work with the organization part time, (or vice versa, of course, but Im not sure my principal would go for that, there are budget cuts next year and Im not sure he is in the position to hire extra part time people -- considering he would probably have to replace my full time position).

A lot of my creative ability comes from being in the field, seeing what works with the kids, bouncing ideas off of my colleagues, etc.

I say take the job.  All other considerations aside, ask yourself one thing.... Will I be able to do a better job for kids in the future if I take advantage of this opportunity/

I am betting the answer is yes.  Make sure you cover all bases to maintain certification/licensure while you are engaged in this new pursuit. 

As to leaving the kids, sure there is pain in the parting, but all will recover.  I have left a teaching job for grad school, and two school pysch jobs.... Each time I left I ended up learning more so that kids benefit.  If you really want to rationalize it, your leaving is also a great opportunity to generalize what they have learned from you to another person.  The whole purpose of teaching is to develop a skill set that can be generalized to any and all situations encountered during your life.

We all come from our own frame of reference, and one of the biggest nails in MY frame is the job I 'left' to take a better one and then they told me it wasn't 'permanent' after all.  "Didn't you realize that?"

No.

And Alieliza - don't under-estimate your worth to the school board -- if they have a teacher who has this type of influence and input it's going to look VERY good for your school-system for you to choose to continue to work with them if that's the case.  Prestige is a BIG deal in such cases.

Well, I figured I would update this thread, its been a while and there has been some progress...

I thought I had decided to stay at my current job. I love it, love the kids, identify with being a teacher, etc. I am lucky to be in my school, as its a great school, though there are layers of things that make me unhappy there within the politics of the job. Then, a few weeks ago, it got worse. Without going into details, I already have a *ton* of responsibility at work, much more than many other teachers and people in the building. Then, the principal decided to pile on more. He assigned me a position that I am *completely* disinterested in doing, in addition to all the other work I do. He expects me to continue serving my students (all 65) while doing the administrative work that is already assigned to me, along with organizing testing for the entire school (and there are A LOT of tests... unfortunately). I have expressed my unhappiness many times over it, and no one is budging. This will take entirely too much time away from my program and my students, the work I love to do. My kids depend on this time, they depend on our relationship, and they depend on my instruction in order to get by in a language and culture so very new to them.

Now, onto the rest. I have an interview with the Organization I mentioned in the first post on Friday. I am still not sold on the job, but we will see how the interview goes, what the specifics of the job are, and the feel I get from the people with whom I will be working. If I do take it, it will be an entire life change, and Im not sure Im ready for that.

Also, I have begun to search for international schools with job openings in NYC, as when I started my masters degree, it was with that goal in mind. Now that I am feeling a bit unhappy with my current school I figure why not work on making that goal happen sooner than later?

Anyway, thats that for now. Still confused, but moving forward.

 I'll just add this as an Army brat and corporate wife.  If you've never had the opportunity to travel to other parts of the country and the world, it's an experience you will never regret.  It may be a pain and somewhat inconvenient at the time it's taking place, but later in life you'll look back and be so happy that you took the chance and got to widen your horizons as it were.  I balked and didn't exactly appreciate it as a teen and young woman when I was going through it, but now as an old woman looking back I couldn't be happier that my parents forced me to change schools and go to Europe during high school or that my ex had to take an assignment in Australia and I forced myself to go rather than staying home where it was safe and boring.  The world awaits, go for it!!!  You can always be a teacher here at home and you'll having amazing pictures and stories to share with your students that will broaden their horizons as well!

That brass ring is dangling in your face, I say grab it!  You only live once!