It's official

After a day spent filling out forms and faxing letters, I am officially a Spec Ed teacher. A summers worth of hard work has paid off and I look forward to the challenges ahead of me.

Closure, please

My nerves are jumping. Work starts on Monday and I have no idea where I will be. Tuesday, of this week, I took the Special Education exam for teacher certification. Yesterday I was asked if I would be interested in interviewing for an art position at an elementary school. Heck yes. Unfortunately, I have not heard from the principle to set up an interview. For all I know it may never happen. In the mean time, I found out today that I passed the Special education exam. People are holding a position open for me waiting to hear the results. Wow! I hope I have some closure by the weekend - fat chance.

The lonely pine

I painted this because of a memory of my Dad. He died seven years ago and I miss him terribly. My parents were ridiculously supportive of any whim of interest I had. They bought me a horse at the age of 9 because I wanted one. I had been looking in the paper for my horse every week for months and one Sunday morning there she was. At the age of 8 I decided I wanted to learn how to paint. They enrolled me in a Summer class for children. The teacher liked me so much that she allowed me to continue during the school year in her adult classes. She was a lovely woman who taught me the best she could. Her style of painting was similar to Bob Ross, the happy little tree guy. I painted many landscapes and still life's. My dad called this phase of my artistic development "The lonely pines".
Jim, my husband, wanted this painting for his office. I feel a kind of symmetry that Jim would like and want to display this piece at work.

Hear I go again

Earlier last week I received my unofficial score that I had passed (A plus) my art exam. I am now considered employable. Also, last week, while on vacation in San Francisco, an art teaching position became available at a middle school in my school district. Unfortunately the principle wanted to interview and make a decision the very next day. Since I was on vacation, i could not make the interview and could not be considered for the position. Huge bummer.
Tomorrow I start my special education training to begin preparation for the test in August. If I pass the test it is possible that I will have a job in August. We shall see. Right now, I would rather teach this year instead of being a parraprofessional. I need to be studying. Later.

Starting to focus

Well, this Summer is flying and my usual to-do list is twice as long as humanly possible. But, things are starting to come together. The guest bedroom I was to finish painting three months ago is finally done. The plastic came off the new lamp shade and all is clean and beautiful.
The art exam I took several weeks ago was really easy. I would hate to think that all the test that future educators are to take were comparatively that simple. Although, I am going to take the Special Education exam later this Summer. It would be nice if it were that simple.
Next, the painting of Davids bedroom. Cappuccino is the color, it's from Restoration Hardware. Is it wrong to pick a color based on its name?

The fun begins

Tomorrow is my first day of education classes. For the next 10 days I will be in classes everyday excepts Sunday. On June 21st I will take the Art exam, 8 hours worth. I am a little nervous about the Art exam because I feel very confident. Something I never feel before a test. Today I have been looking over the TEKS in art for K-12. It is pretty amazing what is expected from students at such an early age. If I had this kind of education early on it would have made college much more effective.
Art is all encompassing. I can imagine the verbal expectations to be a big challenge. Or maybe I am just reflecting my own weaknesses. Any way, I have a week of classes and study ahead of me. Plus I plan on continuing my daily workout and studio time. Good luck to me.

Head first

Well I did it. I registered to start my teaching certification this evening. My Summer will be spent sitting in classes, on-line course work, studying for the Art exam and learning Photoshop. I also want to finishing painting the rest of the interior of the house, get in shape, loose 10 pounds and make some incredible art. The good news is - I believe I can do it. Well, maybe not the 10 pounds part, but the rest yea. I will be employable by the beginning of July. I will pass the Art exam easily on June 21. I took the practice exam and missed one question. Marxist art theory - really?
I'm jumping in excited, hope I don't get overwhelmed.