I have taught high school for twenty two years now. Last year my school district offered a retirement incentive- $5000 per year for five years if those with more than ten years of service in the district, retire. I figure that I probably have another 10 to 15 years of work in me, but that work will probably be part time. Since we have two children still in college, it is necessary that I work. But here are some of the options that I have considered from most likely to least likely.
When I got my Master's degree five years ago, the purpose was to move into another direction. At that time I talked to someone from Empire College, both a law school and vocational college, were looking for a computer skills teacher. I have done that for ten years and feel pretty well equipped to do it. Also our local Junior College may have some Adjunct positions open. The economy and the job market lags, so the availability of these jobs may be scarce.
My father-in-law who gave me the task of selling the 1921 baseball cards (See that previous blog.) has several hundred postcards from the teens and twenties. Unfortunately those card don't fetch the kind of prices the sports memorabilia fetch. Nevertheless 200 cards going for between $2 and $100 each could on the average help me earn a few thousand dollars.
When I come back from my summer trip, I go to Google Headquarters for a conference on technology and education. Since my Masters is in that field I plan to do some networking and see if I can come up with some tech related employment. The trick will be to make it part time or at least not a job and a half as I have now. Also Sebastopol is home to O'Reilley Publishing. It is a largest publisher of technology books in the United States.
I have put off getting my uncle's web page up to date for years. I would like to have art works for sale there. Perhaps I could even buy and sell painting by others on the sight. I have a good eye for art and for a bargain in art. I am a excellent at doing research and have some good art connections. Plus I have a basement full of art, not only John Lynch's, my own and art by many other semi-known artist.
Having been trained in classical realism, I am a pretty good realistic artist. I have thought of combining both the realism that I do with abstraction and getting in the art market again. I would prefer to sell on the Internet, but I would need a regular time and place to do the work, as I know my distraction level. A friend of mine teaching a photography class at the Santa Rosa High School Arts Magnet. I could teach a drawing class.
I would like to join a band. Ideally they would play swing and jazz and I would be the lead singer. The problem is not so much getting into a band but getting into a band that works regularly for pay, a band that gets along with each other, a band where I do not have travel so far to practice or gig. Most of all I need a band that pays. I have toyed with the idea of working on a cruise ship. They hire several different kinds of musicians. Those that can solo and play an variety of pop material. This I have done and can do again. Nevertheless there are songs that I detest and my repertoire of more modern pieces is minuscule. They also take members who play in house band of three to six members. They can use charts and I do need charts for the majority of jazz songs that I play and sing. Ideally I would love to do a cruise with my son, Joey. He plays great drums, some piano, guitar, accordion and sings. It would be a great summer experience for us both.
One thing that I thought about it teaching English overseas. One of my fellow teachers in a former job visited many of the International schools. She spoke of an American International High School in Moscow. She said that it is an excellent school. At the time she was there, they needed an English teacher. I love the city of Moscow and have discussed this possibility with Donna. She is open to me living there for a couple of years but not with her. Also I have to think about whether I can handle the winters.
I have looked into teaching English on line. There are many posted jobs, but all pay below $12 per hours. It appears that credentials are not so important.
Finally I think the thing to do is to keep my options open. My experience as President of the Teachers Association has served me well both on paper and in experience. Perhaps it is time for me to take some more ambitious kind of job. Only time will tell.
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