“Mrs. McKown”…… That is the title I’ll hear countless times each day starting in August.
Yup, that’s right, I’ll be teaching again. After completing my 8 week interim (long-term sub) position on May 6, I was offered a 5th grade Language Arts position (for next school year) at the elementary school right down the street from out house. This was a definite answer to prayer for me and Craig. When we first moved here, I said right away that working at THAT school would be so ideal. With my kids being at the age that I don’t want to miss a single moment, I’ll get a lot more “moments” with them since the school is less than 2 minutes from our house.
Other great things about this job:
–Teaching only 1 subject will also be a welcomed change for me! I’m excited to focus on Language Arts…especially since it’s a subject area I’m truly passionate about!
–So far, the other 5th grade teachers that I’ve met have been wonderful, and I found out after my interview that my principal moved here from the Cincinnati area the same month that we did….and some of my close friends from Cincinnati worked under him (and really liked him).
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God knows what he’s doing. The whole time we lived in Cincinnati, I was trying so hard to get a job….but never even got an interview. Then, the second we move here, He’s opening doors like crazy. I asked “why” so many times during the past couple years. Now, I can look back and see His faithfulness.
In addition to all the positives, I have no doubt that the transition will be tough for me as I go from being home all day with Grey and Selah to being away from 8-4. There will be days that I’ll cry, that I’ll wish I was home, that I’ll wonder if I made the right decision. Through that, I will continue to trust the perfect plan of God and that He’s brought me to this specific place for a reason. The excitement he’s given me to teach and invest in the 5th graders of my very own community is very real and not in vain. I can’t wait to see how next year unfolds. I can’t wait to let God use me and challenge me in new and fresh ways. I can’t wait to learn to be a better mom to Grey and Selah and wife to Craig than I am now….even if I may have less hours with them each weekday.
Until then…..I’ll be enjoying this summer and cherishing each day more than ever! 
**oh, and just for kicks….I was looking for a picture of my first day of my first paid teaching position (teaching 5th grade here in inner-city Nashville in 2003), but, after searching for way too long, I couldn’t find the picture. SOOOO, here is a picture of my last day of student teaching in Ghana, Africa. I taught 5th grade math and language arts to the sweet Ghanaian kids! In this picture the students and teachers are presenting me with a farewell gift: a traditional Ghanaian dress and head wrap….I’m thinking it may be a great choice for my first day of school outfit this August, what do you think??! ;) This is from March, 2003….when I was still very much “Miss Griffeth” (though in Ghana they called me “Madam Lindsey”) :)
