A year ago I got a phone call from a friend saying, there is a position opening up for an ROP instructor, go apply.
A year before I had met Dianne who worked for ROP and she learned how enthusiastic I was about food and suggested then I apply for a Food Technology position. I happened to be at the right time and place to learn about this. Off I went to apply and before I knew it I was before a panel of people describing my background as a former catering person and what I could bring to the table as an Instructor.
Two weeks later I got the call that I had the position. I had 5 other candidates I had to compete against for the position and to say the least I was shocked. You see I come from an area that has a huge Hispanic population and to top it off I was 56 years old woman who can't speak spanish, which is mostly and must in this area. I thought I was finished with working outside my home. (I have been a bus driver, bookkeeper, classified ad person at the newspaper, owned two different businesses, and as a teenager processed cattle for my stepfather.)
To say the least I had no idea what I was stepping into. I was hired at the local community schools. My first day I couldn't figure out why faculty were running a wand over the students as they entered the campus, you see I thought this was like any other ordinary school. (not so as I soon found out)!! Community schools can best be described as court ordered last chance for these students before they are put into boot camp placement.
My attitude has always been show respect and you recieve respect. Without any teaching experience I stepped into the school arena and taught by the seat of my pants so to speak.
I was very lucky as my first group of students were so enthusiastic and such a joy to teach. Even though a few of the teachers were some what intimidated by the fact that we used SHARP knives and did not want to step foot in my class. You see in the school where I teach there are at least 4 different types of gangs and fighting is not an uncommon occurrence among these gangs. But, my attitude is that if they are in my class they show no prejudice to each other regardless if they might be affiliated with rival gangs. My class is considered a privilege class and only those who display good conduct and decent grades are allowed in the class. As I have told many far and wide 95% of these student end up in this school because of not having a good family environment and they are a product of how they live. These kids still have the same desire as all of us and that is to be valued and validated as a human being.
Last year flew by with so many different adventures I wish I had blogged last year. But all in all it was a great year with many many accomplishments which I will post a few of the pictures I took of my fantastic students.
