My first school year in Rota has ended and I couldn't have enjoyed it more! Ok, that may have been a little fib...I guess being in the library would be better, but having the flexibility to travel, take time off when family visits and still be surrounded by a school full of kiddos checks the boxes for me during this stage in life!
So my normal day starts by getting Bryan out the door and off to work. If I have a previously scheduled sub-day, then I get ready alongside him and enjoy my coffee while the dogs eat breakfast before rushing off to DGF Elementary.
If I don't have a sub call, I start the morning by getting Bryan out the door and I enjoy my coffee in my PJs. If I get a call, I have roughly an hour to get ready and make it to the school to start my day! If I don't have a call by 8:15 am, then I have a day off!
Most weeks I work 3-5 days in classrooms ranging from the Sure Start preschool program, all the way up to 5th grade! As I mentioned before, I even get to cover the specials teachers; the art teacher even hung up all the monsters my kiddos made when I subbed in art! It was a nice surprise to see their hard work on display around the school from when I was with them!
Friday, May 31: Meeting a Real Astronaunt
As the end of the year crept up on us, I lucked out with subbing on the day when Marine Colonel Nicole Aunapu Mann spoke to the entire elementary school. She talked about her time aboard the International Space Station in 2022, where she became the first Native American woman to go on a spacewalk!
Listening to Mann speak to the kiddos about her time in space was inspiring and the kids ate it up! I'm not gonna lie- I was eating it up! She talked about the experiments they conducted aboard the ISS, her spacewalk outside of the station, and the lifestyle changes that come with a lack of gravity!
The base even promoted this event on their social media:
I have to admit, the fact that the Middle/High School had her as their commencement speaker was pretty amazing. A real-life astronaut as your graduation commencement speaker?! That's pretty iconic!
June 3-5: Closing out the School Year
As we closed out the school year, I was asked to sub in a 2nd grade class for the last three days of school. Their regular teacher was PCSing the weekend prior, and these kiddos needed a teacher to finish out the year. With all testing complete, we enjoyed coloring sheets, review packets, cleaning up the classroom, and movie afternoons to sum up the school year!
Wednesday, June 5: Last Day of School
With the classroom cleaned and organized for the summer, it was finally time to say goodbye to this school year! To ring out the year, we ended the day with a school assembly, where Mr. Kirk, our principal, recognized all teachers who were moving to new locations. Several teachers were PCSing with spouses to new locations, while a few DoDEA teachers were moving to other DoDEA locations to continue their teaching careers.
Mr. Kirk also had all students who were PCSing this summer stand to an applause. He reminded them to embrace the change and to continue their love of learning at their new base!
It all ended with a final ring of the bell! Happy Summer!
This ends my eighth year in education, and while it's nothing like I pictured back during my early years as a librarian at Goldsboro High School, I can say it's what's best for this stage in my life!
I love having the flexibility to travel Europe with Bryan during his long weekends, while also taking the necessary time off to give visitors my full attention. While I miss being "Mrs. Johnson the book lady," I still get to spread my love for reading and the library in each and every classroom I sub in!
Having students run up to me and ask if I've finished Katherine Applegates's latest novel, One and Only Family, or asking what I plan to read next, reminds me that I can make the difference I love to make even outside the library doors.
I hope to one day step back into that librarian role, but for now I plan to be DGF's number one substitute teacher! Bring on the next school year!
But first, a summer packed with beach days and new trips!
--Katie, the substitute teacher
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