Keep an Open Mind

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in our school. We have reviewed your resume but regret to inform you that yours did not join the shortlist of candidates to be interviewed. We wish you luck in your recruitment journey.

Sincerely,

Administration

To: Interested Teacher

We have viewed your applicant files and would like to invite you to our table tomorrow to sign up for an interview with our administration.

Also, are you perhaps interested in middle school positions? Have you a Social Studies certification?

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Attention Educator:

Thank you for your interest. However, we wish to let you know that the position has been filled. We plan to keep your resume on file and will inform you of any upcoming positions available at our institution.

Best Wishes,

Principal

Strategy. Strategy. Rome’s line is 30-people deep. They’ll stay that way all morning. Later.

Smile and nod but don’t linger. Remember you’re not interested in Kuwait. Two to three reps talk with other candidates, but one suit is available and looks over as I walk by. I don’t ignore, but I keep walking. I can’t waste time. They didn’t have anything viable posted anyway.

I see the Zimbabwe display to my right and catch a glimpse of their promotional slideshow on the laptop. I pause at a picture of staff members playing with a lion cub. I keep walking. My family would not approve of the distance. Not that they like any of this. I glide past several schools and approach my first table to wait.

The plan was to trade white sand and scuba diving for Spanish conversation and mountain hiking. I love my job and Caribbean life. I also loved my life and job back in Houston. It was again time for change. Confidence is key. A borrowed blazer and hand-me-down heels present a veteran hire today.

Boston snowstorm Super Bowl weekend 2015. I was out of my element in so many ways. I had seen a dusting of snowflakes sparsely growing up in Southeast Texas and one New Years in Vail. Now five years in the Caribbean later, I was a beach bum out of her warm water. It had been dark when I landed so it took until the first morning to see the snow banks piled taller than me lining the two blocks to the convention center. I looked down at myself that first morning and ran right back upstairs to the rented apartment. I changed into jeans and tennis shoes and waded through the icy muck to change back into slacks and heels in the hotel lobby bathroom. This became my morning routine that week.

The snow had been so thick that many administrative teams were stuck and delayed coming from the Iowa Job Fair the previous week. Just my luck. Never mind. I’d keep an open mind as coached and meet as many people as possible. I had two hours.

I waited behind 15-20 teachers to speak with the Chilean school. When I reached the front of the line, the High School English position had been filled. My own principal and our Elementary principal were camped at the next table over interviewing for many available jobs, including mine. “Good for you,” my boss mouthed. We had an unspoken agreement that he would speak on my behalf when needed and I would speak with candidates interested in my job and in Cayman when requested. The mutual support added to my confidence.

Further down the tables, I had compromised beach and mountains for Latin America by stopping at the Dominican Republic. Nothing. Damn.

Energy level rose with each lengthened line. Longer discussions shortened as the noise level rose and time ran out. Teachers wanted to talk to those who invited them to stop by and to schools they wanted to interview with. They were not always the same places. Keep an open mind is the firm mantra taught in orientation and can prove life-altering.

Only the director from Lima was present, minus the entourage. He stood out. His bags didn’t make it so instead of a suit and tie, he sported a turtleneck sweater and jeans. I liked him already. I was thrilled when he offered to pre-interview me.The high school principal had not arrived.

Time was up. Schools presenting in break out sessions before interviews left some time ago to prepare videos and arrange handouts on the conference room tables.

Turn, Italy. I fell in love. A female school head. An English teacher turned Director in just three years at my age lead the presentation. With 300 students, that meant a small school and small staff. I was in awe and had to shake her hand after it was over. “You are an inspiration, and I’d love to spend some time talking with you.” I didn’t see any positions for me available at her school, but she could be an excellent mentor.

“Let’s talk. There may be some changes coming.” Almost the exact words from the director in Cayman those five years ago in Philadelphia.

I had an interesting note from a school in China left in my file divider. Human Resources position, it advertised. I accepted the interview and slid the note into their file. I went to their hotel room at the designated time. It was my first interview of many. I walked in to find a Chinese National and a Business Director who was from, of all places, Port Arthur, Texas. They pulled at my heartstrings. He talked of home and an opportunity at their school they just knew was meant for me. They needed someone to obtain Chinese work visas, housing, and manage shipping and relocation allowances or new hires. The academy was connected to a government school, however, and that meant following a Chinese calendar. I’d be half a day ahead in time. I’d miss Christmas. I knew early I wasn’t ready for such a huge leap, but I wanted to keep an open mind and had never considered Human Resources an option.

At the Social Hour that evening, they approached me and wanted to talk to me privately as a follow up to the interview. For the first time, I felt pursued professionally. Dad always advised ”never be the one to say no,” that I let them make the decision. “Give them your bottom line, then leave it in their hands.”

I didn’t want to stop meeting with them. I felt professionally desired for the first time in a long time. It sparked a different confidence than a blazer and heels could not ignite. But it wasn’t enough to change my mind. Two days and multiple meetings later, I walked into the hotel room to face a panel of six administrators, including my new Port Arthur friend, to decline their offer. “I’m just not interested at this time, but thank you.” No more. No less.I didn’t want to waste any more of their time knowing I wouldn’t be happy in the end.

Lima. It was a most unusual interview. I was so eager to share my prepared speech on leadership experience and best practices. He redirected the conversation away from all things education. Instead, he wanted to know where I grew up, where my family lived, and what I did for fun in my spare time. School culture and “right fits” meant a lot to this guy. When we finally transitioned into teaching questions, he simply asked me, "What is your go-to lesson? When the day goes horribly, you can lean on this particular lesson and you do it well.” My reply was simple, “I know how to make kids talk.” He didn’t respond but seemed satisfied.

Another oddity, his wife joined us, an eccentric but pleasant woman. “So if you’re an English teacher, who is your favorite author?”

“Ernest Hemingway.”

“Why?”

“He lets you figure it out for yourself.”

She didn’t respond but seemed satisfied.

There was a Curriculum Coordinator position available at a remote boarding school in the Swiss Alps. I was a little surprised to be invited to interview. When the hotel room door opened, I was surprised to see a man about my age welcome me in. I hadn’t really recruited in about five years, and I felt time had stood still. I was terrifying and encouraging to see my age group represented on the other side.

He was filling his own position. I would design and implement curriculum but also teach and be expected to live in the boarding area. “Life happens on that mountain” he said. I knew this also wasn’t a fit for me. I learned about his family while we watched Boston celebrate the Patriots’ SuperBowl win parade through his window from eight floors above.

That evening, I also finally met the High School Principal from Lima. He had worked with my current principal at the school in Lima back when I was just finishing high school. Years and moves later, they were together again, discussing me. He reached out, shook my hand, and said, “Let’s make an appointment.”

The last day of interviews, he was one of my final appointments. “If you had more experience, I’d feel more comfortable.” “I just don’t know if you’ll be happy with us.” Once again, I had to sell my worth. That’s why I was there, after all.

On the final day, with no more interviews left, I enjoyed a coffee with the young female director from Turin.She offered to explore an opportunity in middle school elective courses for me. I grappled with few options. Go home? Choose the European wild card? Keep searching back on island?

Just in the middle of our conversation, Lima tapped me on the shoulder. “Can we speak when you get a second?”

I finished my conversation with a “Let’s keep in touch. Ciao.” I moved toward my last conversation before leaving for the airport.

He held out a small llama figurine and handed it across the high top table. “I give these to people I offer jobs to.”

I sighed and placed my forehead on the table. “We had to make sure.”

But I didn’t. And it didn’t really matter. I had earned the change of scenery. I had earned a new experience. All while keeping an open mind.