The job Scott didn't want.

A few days ago I posted somewhere about a job interview that my husband Scott was going on. He used to teach college Physics and Astronomy, and then the department started treating him like... well, like $^*&. I told him that he should leave, and that we'd find a way to get money doing something else. But I wouldn't take any amount of money to let someone treat my husband so callously, so he shouldn't either. Of course he waited until the end of the semester, but he did quit. He was on unemployment for a while and then he worked hard to build a small business. Money has been very tight, but we've been happy and have been able to make do.

However, one of the things Scott did during the time he was on unemployment was to research getting his college teaching experience turned into a public school certification. He got that taken care of in case he should not be able to make the new business work. But he had no intention of using it. He was feeling burned out and disillusioned. Then last month, he heard rumors that 4 different schools close to where we live were hiring. Two were public schools, one was where he used to teach, and another was a college about an hour away. So he decided to put in applications, although he really didn't want to go back. He told me that he had felt so undervalued as a teacher that it was hard to consider going back into that atmosphere. But he knew that with the economy so bad, it would be better to have a secure job with benefits. So he put in his applications and said he hoped they wouldn't call.

One of the high schools called last Friday and wanted him to come in for an interview on Tuesday. So he got a new suit (his was moth eaten because he only wears it to weddings and funerals), and went in. He came home and told me he thought they wanted to hire him, but he didn't know how he felt about that. They called the next morning and offered him the job. They offered him more than he was getting at his old job by a long shot. He said he needed a day or so to consider it. They called again this morning and offered him more money. The principal told him that before the interview they had not really even considered hiring him, that he was offered the interview because they wanted to be able to say they'd interviewed several candidates. But he had impressed them all so much that half way through they knew that he was the one they wanted. The principal even told him that the extra pay offer would have to be approved by the SBDM council and the school board, but that he had veto authority over both and while he'd never had to use it, he would use it to make sure Scott took the job.

So he took the job. And he finally will be working at a place that wants him and respects him. So I am happy today, and I just wanted to share with you all.

Wow! Congrats to you guys! I always think about being a teacher, I'm still not sure about it. Everyone I know who does it LOVES it.

Congratulations!

Good news!


I am glad he found someone who will appreciate him, thats half the battle sometimes..

Wow Karen, that is such a great story! You sound just like me in the whole wife wanting a job that respects her hubby (we went through that exact same thing 3 years ago). I am glad that your hubby took the job but even gladder (is that a word) that he took time to think about it. In my view, it is so important to do something that you love, that is your passion. Plus, they offered him more money!!! WHOO HOO!!!

Please tell your hubby a hearty CONGRATS from me!!!!

Oh that's wonderful news Karen, best of luck to Scott and I hope he LOVES his new job. So will he continue with his business?

Right now our plan is to see if some of the people he has worked with in the past would be willing to run the business for a percentage of the profits. They would really be in a good position because we would be able to funnel our portion of the profits right back in to pay expenses and upgrades. So it is a matter of finding someone we can trust who is interested and also of training me about what to watch for to make sure they aren't cooking the books, etc. I could run it myself, but with two little ones underfoot I don't think it would be a good idea.

Great news, and good luck to him.

That really is awesome. I'm happy for you all. I know the feeling, expecially being self employed, its great and really scary at times too. Having a lot on the line is really what makes it tough. We are going through it right now too. Being treated like $%^ and having money or being appreciated and being broke. It really is a hard decision with a family. I really am happy for you. That acctually gives me a little hope in respects to there might be better oppertunity (sp? I'm terrible speller) that is still out there and not hire freezed or already filled

WONDERFUL karen!!

I am so glad!!

Congrats Karen, that is good news! Can I ask what kind of business he started on his own? (It's ok if you'd rather not answer.)

Yay!!!!
I'm happy for your whole family

Congrats to you all! That is so cool that he found something. Funny that he didn't want it, but usually when we aren't looking for it, the best comes to us.

Lucky wrote:Congrats Karen, that is good news! Can I ask what kind of business he started on his own? (It's ok if you'd rather not answer.)

Our farm sits on a state highway that gets a lot of commuter traffic, so he's started a used car lot. He put himself through school buying cars at auction, repairing them, and reselling them. It wasn't a "true calling", just something to make money with. And it's been a real pain to set up because he had to get a zoning exception, get banks to agree to finance customers, etc. It's just at the point where we've finally met all the regulations and can start to make money, so it's very strange timing. But since the paperwork, meetings, etc. are finally out of the way, we'll try to keep it going.

Hm... If my grandparents move down to KY like they were talking about, I will send them your way... I know my grandma was looking to get a new car, and my grandpa has a tendancy to buy used.

That sounds wonderful. Will he still be teaching the physics?

What great news! Sounds like everything just fell into place for your family!

Thank you Missy! I promise we would do right by them.

Catherine, he'll be teaching freshman Science, but he says they couldn't possibly be less prepared than his college kids were. And during the summers he teaches a high school program so it shouldn't be too big of a stretch.

I can see why you'd hate to give it up after all the work to get it going! Hope you can find someone trustworthy to run it for you. It would be a nice little business to hang onto for extra money.

Small world...my son in law is going for his PhD. He's into Astronomy and Physics, only in Atlanta.

That is wonderful, Lucky! I'm an Astonomy groupie. My mom took me to the grand canyon several years ago and we visited several other sites while in the area. My biggest thrill (much better than the canyon to me) was looking through the actual telescope at Lowell observatory in which they first observed redshift.

Heh, cool. There aren't too many telescopes even available in the states.

Great news Karen. It is nice it is working out so great. We all need to be appreciated