Wow!! I almost feel like I know what I am doing now (NOT). I had a rough start with blackboard and the blogger link through blackboard (it is fixed now). I must say that I am very happy to be taking this course. I think I will learn a lot (and I really need to learn a lot). I do not consider myself to be very savvy when it comes to computers and all those drives. It is a humbling experience to say the least. I apologize again Mrs. Schmidt for my panic attack. I promise I won't panic again.
I am a global equity trader. I trade stocks from all over the world. With so many different time zones I am busy and up a lot. My firm has almost $15 billion under management in small/ mid cap stocks. I have been doing this for over 22 years. I still love it but not as much as I did in my younger years. It is a difficult environment in so many respects. Jobs are hard to come by and flexibility at work is non-existent. Needless to say it is not family friendly to a mom of 3 small children. I am hoping at some point I can transition to something different (not sure exactly what that is right now). I figure it is always good to be ready to move on. The financial industry is continually changing. Thousands are being let go. I always feel leaving may not be my choice but thrust upon me. In this environment there is not much hiring going on especially for 42 year old mothers. Trading is a young business.
I am originally from NYC (Queens) and lived on the Upper East Side for 10+ years. I currently live right in Englewood Cliffs and now that my boys are in the public school system I really am starting to enjoy living here. The transition was a bit tougher than I thought it would be.
I am very interested in meeting and talking with educators in the public school system. I am completely ignorant when it comes to public schools. I am a product of Catholic school all the way through now! I love Catholic school and always will it just cost more money than I have at the moment. Having twin 8 year old boys I am always looking for ways to help my boys and the school in anyway possible. I admire the teachers and the patience and devotion it takes to get through to them, especially some of today's kids ( I have a strong opinion about that but that is for another time). I feel fortunate to be in the position to study education while working in my existing field. It already has given me a much clearer idea what my children's teachers deal with and has helped me in assisting my children in their studies.
I would love to get everyones opinions on public schools in Northern New Jersey . Englewood Cliffs does not have a high school and I will need to move in the next few years. I am afraid (sorry) you all will be giving me much more than I will be giving you. It was a pleasure meeting you all. I regret not being able to get to know you better (at least through sight). I really looking forward to our blogging. I can't believe I am actually blogging. I thought that was for younger people.
Rosanna
PS I hope you all get this!
Hi Rosanna-- Wish I could tell you something about schools in north Jersey, but I'm originally from PA and have lived in Sayreville, in Middlesex County for many years.
ReplyDeleteYour current job sounds facinating, but I could see how it would be difficult with small kids.
Good luck getting into teaching. Sometimes we all need a change!
Hi Rosana, I was in banking for 13 years and now making a huge career change. Challenging, but I think in the end it will be rewarding. I hope you guys can see my comments, I'm not sure if I'm following everyone as I should. Please let me know if I'm doing it correctly.
ReplyDeleteHi Rosanna,
ReplyDeletewe do seem to share quite a few things in common, don't we? I am so happy to know that I'm not the only one making a life-changing move while juggling kids, home, job, etc. And especially in your case...being a mother of 3!!! I applaud your decision and wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart:-)
With regards to the education system in Latvia, it's like comparing apples to oranges - completely different evaluation methods, subject matter instruction style, scoring system, etc. There were 11 of us from the age of 5 through the age of 17, sitting in the same huge classroom, subject teachers would come to us, most exams were oral, there was less testing but more of content-based instruction. Schools were specialized - music, ballet, art, foreign languages, sports, etc. I went to music school and by the age of 10 already performed in piano concerts. One of the reasons I am interested in education is to explore the possibility of injecting new ideas/methods into the classroom setting:-)
Best Regards,
Evelina
Hi Rosanna, thank you for your regards about St. Cecilia. I am currently the Pre-K 4 teacher there, and it is very sad that this is the last year that the school will be open. We're making the best out of the situation, but it is a struggle on both the teachers and students.
ReplyDeleteI am also the product of a Catholic education, and I can't imagine it any other way. I attended grammar school at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Tenafly, and then went on to Holy Angels for high school. I also attended a Catholic college, The University of Scranton, for my undergraduate work.
I have only taught at a Catholic school (this is my second year teaching), so I can't really comment on the public school system in Northern New Jersey. I would love to continue to teach in a Catholic school, so my fingers are crossed!
Hi Rosanna, I went to Catholic school until 4th grade, then my parents made the move to public school. Honesly, I did not like it at first but then it was good. Ok, so I got into substitute teaching after getting laid off almost 2 years ago from Bank of America. I was a relationship manager in the wealth management division.Prior to that I was bank manager/financial specialist @First Union/Wachovia Bank for about 11 years. However, after the Merrill Lynch merger our positions were downsized. Most of our department was wiped out, except for those that opted to be financial advisors and work for commissions only. So, after going on a million interviews with all the banks in the tristate area. I decided it was time to make a career change. I thought back at what I would have done if I wasn't in banking, I remember I liked teaching & I always enjoyed training, helping & guiding my former colleagues when I was in banking. So, I went to my town's Board of Education office and applied. The Superintendent of schools found it refreshing that I would make a move like this in such a chaotic climate, but he stated that this would be the sure way to know if teaching was for me. So, this is my second school year subbing and I love it. I started doing alternate route, however if you don't have a job offer you can't continue program.So, here I am doing it the traditional very expensive way, lol. I also teach night school for adults a couple of times a week. This semester I'm teaching US History I & II. It's very interesting to teach adults, a completely different dynamic than children. Last semester I taught Math, which I found challenging at first, but then managed to enjoy it. Best of luck to you! ;D Sorry I blogged so much, will try to keep it shorter next time!
ReplyDeleteRosanna,
ReplyDeleteI was briefly in business when times were very tough and cuts were going on all around. That was a contributing factor for me making the transition into education. It's a great and gratifying profession that gives you the flexibility to spend time with your children. I highly recommend it although teaching in NJ has recently taken a strong hit as well. Wishing you luck in finding another fufilling profession.
- Lauren
Hi there Rosanna! Thanks so much for working hard to get your picture up. (I really like seeing faces to go with names.) please don't apologize for your panic attack, that's normal and I'm here to help. I love that everyone seems to like to write a lot when they blog and respond, it's great! Like I said on Saturday, to me, blogging is no fun if it feels like you're the only one reading your words. i think we're going to have fun together. Sorry I don't know anything about North Jersey school but this week's assignment on comparing two high schools' report cards might help you with your decision. I kow when I moved I looked at the report cards. They don't tell the whole story but they can give you a lot of good information.
ReplyDeleteHi again-- I would agree with Prof. Schmidt that having more computers available in labs gives the students more access to their usage. I have one computer in my classroom and students seldom use it. I need to sign up for computer lab, and our school's policy is to sign up for now more than 3 days per month so everyone can use them. It's difficult to get 3 days sometimes.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't know if you saw in my blog that Sayreville spends less than $13,000 per student; well below state average, and out taxpayers vote to reject the budget every year. As a parent and teacher it's frustrating. Eileen