North to Alaska

Here's how I came to sign a contract with the Copper River School District to teach K-12 music and theater at Glennallen, AK:

First, I had been applying to at least a job a day from mid-January to April. My record for job applications in a day was 18! I knew I had to go where the jobs were and I had to make myself available. I joked I had applied as East as Maine and as Far East as Singapore. It was funny cause it was true.

By the end of April I had 3 job offers on the table. Singapore, Mellen, WI, and Glennallen, AK all offered me positions. As encouraged as I was by my multitude of friends who went or are going abroad, I decided I couldn't handle Singapore on my own and declined their offer. This left going home or seeking more adventure. In the end, Glennallen offered me a much better package and I verbally accepted the position. Maybe it was the thought of adventure, fame, and fortune that led me to my decision...maybe it was that I thought I was going to be trapped in Wisconsin if I went back...whatever it was, I took Alaska.

However, as I alluded to in other posts, I held off on signing my official contract because there were open music positions in Boulder Valley School District I wanted to apply for. Also, my contract got lost in the mail and I wasn't able to pick it up until about a month after it was sent.

I applied for the position I had been long-term subbing for and made it past the first round of interviews easily. It helped that I was familiar with everyone on the panel. It felt more like a discussion about my philosophy of education than a real interview. We were all good friends. The second round consisted of teaching a 30 minute lesson to assorted high schoolers. I decided to tailor my lesson to the skill of sight-reading and used the music as a vessel for such. I was very pleased afterward. In the back of my mind though, I knew these interviews were just formalities. They were either going to side with Experience and hire Clare Church, a very talented jazz musician who has taught in the district for the past 8 years, or side with Budget and hire me as the cheap option. In the end, Experience won.

The silver lining behind coming in second for this job was that the administration made a personal call to Louisville Middle School to endorse me as their candidate for that position. This led to a private phone call in advance of the interview with the principal and a nice confident feeling heading into my last chance to stay in Boulder for another year.

I nailed the interview. Effin' roundhouse-kicked it in the face! I honestly believe it was my best interview to date. However, a week later I was the second choice for the job again. This time, the principal said, "After we interviewed you, I wanted to hire you, but after I interviewed the other candidate I wanted to hire her." Basically, he knew that he was getting a quality teacher with either of us. However, she has 3-4 years of teaching experience and is finishing up her doctorate at CU-Boulder. It's hard to compete with that.

In the end, both administrations praised me for being such a talented young educator. They all think I will be a great teacher someday and they all wish me the best. I hope it is a situation where I could come back the next time there is an opening.

So, I faxed in my official contract last Monday and have been working on finding a place to live in or near Glennallen, AK. My lease here ends on July 31 so I figure I will just start driving soon after that. It would be nice to have a week or so to get settled before my New Teacher Orientation on August 17. Sometimes, I get really scared about going up there and not knowing anyone and having to build relationships all over again. Sometimes, I get really excited because I will finally have the opportunity to teach a subject I love in the way I want to and have some really cool adventures at the same time. Also, Alaska is paying me over $40K to teach up there. More than anything, I'd love to be able to save some money AND make the right steps to getting out of debt.

Don't worry friends! I will be back! Plus, I haven't even left yet! I have a lot to do in Colorado in the next month and I am making one more trip back to Wisco for my cousin's wedding at the end of the month. The ZZIPA will still be in effect too!

Also, if you have any questions about this or would like to know more details, call me up or comment! I'll let you know all about it!

I do hope to keep posting more. Also, my camera got busted on the Brewers trip which is why I haven't posted pictures in a while. I do hope to have some up and running soon though. Keep checking back and keep on keeping on!

June 2010 Playlist

I did it!!!

I made it one whole year of making mixes! In case you haven't noticed, I'm pretty excited about it. Like a New Year's Resolution, I thought I'd only make it a few months and give up, but I have had too much fun listening to new music, getting CDs in the mail, and hopefully brightening a few days with newspaper-covered music.

I was hoping to do something a little more extravagant for my one year anniversary, but I just plain ran out of time. I will be putting out a mix of music I've received from friends in July. This mix will only go out to those that sent me a mix or those that "follow" me on this thing. So, if you want in, send me a mix!

Here's what I've been listening to in June:

1. Local Natives - World News
2. Fun. - Be Calm
3. The Morning Code - Silver
4. Band of Horses - Compliments
5. We Are Scientists - Nice Guys
6. Chiddy Bang - Opposite of Adults
7. Blithe Field - Bible School
8. Elsinore - Yes Yes Yes (Eric Enger Remix)
9. King Charles - Love Lust
10. Cloud Control - Gold Canary
11. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Sink/Let It Sway
12. The New Pornographers - We End Up Together
13. Free Energy - Dream City
14. The Black Keys - Next Girl
15. Muse - Neutron Star Collider
16. The Narcoleptic Dancers - Rastakraut
17. She & Him - Over It Over Again
18. Hark the Herons - New Start to Start
19. April Smith & the Great Picture Show - Colors
20. The Powder Kegs - La Mariposa
21. Laura Marling - Devil's Spoke
22. The Floorbirds - KC MOAN

Zach's Notes
1. The more I hear of Local Natives, the more I like it
5. I loved all of We Are Scientists' debut album but their second album was to dancey/80s for me. However, this song is right back to the reasons I liked them in the first place.
6. I heard this song on a hip-hop radio station out here!
7. Child exploitation...a little weird, but nice sounding
8. Great tune!
11. Can't get this song out of my head either!
12. I hope to see these guys out here July 28
14. SOOOO Bluesy!
16. This song starts a set of female-led ensembles. I'm pretty sure the only things you need to make my playlist are a voice that makes you sound hot and a sweet drumbeat. This song has both.
17. Odds are their whole album will be featured on my mixes at some point
18. This is a very nice song
22. I am often accused of only having happy-sounding songs on my mixes. This is an attempt to bring the mood down a bit.

Spring Honorable Mentions

This season's honorable mentions have been divided into Perennials and Annuals. Artists on the Annuals album are appearing for the first time. Like the recurring perennial plants, the artists on the Perennial album seem to keep coming back and have been on a previous mix.

Perennials

1. Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes
2. Yeasayer - O.N.E.
3. Regina Spektor - Dance Anthem of the 80's
4. She & Him - Home
5. MGMT - Congratulations
6. Frightened Rabbit - Foot Shooter
7. Mumford and Sons - The Cave
8. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
9. The New Pornographers - Crash Years
10. Tegan & Sara - The Cure
11. Mewithoutyou - The Fox, The Crow, and The Cookie
12. Minus the Bear - Excuses
13. The Black Keys - The Only One
14. Portugal. the Man - The Dead Dog
15. Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em
16. Rogue Wave - Good Morning (The Future)
17. Lisa Mitchell - Coin Laundry
18. Born Ruffians - Sole Brother
19. Eels - Mansions of Los Feliz
20. Monsters of Folk - Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)

Zach's Notes
1. Hey! I found another song by them I like! Anyone know any others I may enjoy?
3. As always, she is so weird, but her music is so good
5. Best song I found by them off their new album...I wasn't too impressed
7. These guys get better and better with each listen
8. This song should've been on mixes months ago. For a laugh, check out Edward's previous band, Ima Robot
11. Really listen to the words. Excellent songwriting here!
15. Such power!
19. A very nice Eels ballad

Annuals
1. Placebo - Bright Lights
2. Plants and Animals - The Mama Papa
3. Tokyo Police Club - Breakneck Speed
4. Dr. Dog - Jackie Wants a Black Eye
5. The Hold Steady - Rock Problems
6. The Decemberists - The Rake's Song
7. Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer
8. Lo-Fi-Fnk - Marchin' In
9. The Candle Thieves - We're All Gonna Die (Have Fun)
10. Jesca Hoop - Four Dreams
11. Ocean Colour Scene - Magic Carpet Days
12. The Dirty Heads - Lay Me Down
13. Garotas Suecas - Bugalu
14. Broken Social Scene - Forced to Love
15. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Conscience Killer
16. Radiogram - All The Boys
17. Jamie Lidell - Enough is Enough
18. Brazos - Kid
19. Local Natives - Sun Hands
20. Sun Hotel - Plantation Land
21. It's a King Thing - Kira
22. The Autumn Film - Always the Same

Zach's Notes
1. I bet Chelc is geeking out right now
4. This song reminds me of an old-timey song for whatever reason...
5. Even though they were on the May mix, they find themselves on the Annuals section...still good steady rock
6. Yes, it is about killing children. Off of their latest album (March 2009)
7. I finally found a Neon Indian song I like!
10. Great hook!
13. Token non-English song
14. Listening to this sprawling band more and more...trying to like them
15. Great blues
18. Clap along to the beat!
22. Such a pretty song!

May 2010 Playlist

Man, talk about a cliffhanger! I have been holding this job information over your heads for soooo long! I really do want to devote a whole post to it, but since you have all been so patient and I have failed to post May's tracklist for WAY too long, here's the basics:

I have accepted a job in Glennallen, AK for next fall to teach EVERYTHING! K-12 music! Elementary, Band, Choir, High School Theater, and possibly a visual arts class. It is going to be amazing and scary and amazing and oh man!

However, I have made myself available for jobs in Boulder Valley. I narrowly missed getting the job I had been long-term subbing at for the past few months. However, the people who passed me over for that job endorsed me as their choice for an opening at the local middle school. That interview is Monday morning. Basically, if they offer me the job, I will have a terribly exciting decision to make. If not, it's North to Alaska!

More details about jobs, the end of school, and my Lake Michigan Circle Tour coming soon (I promise...I have a lot of time on my hands in the coming days). But for now, here's what you've been listening to:

May 2010

1. Lisa Mitchell - Oh! Hark!
2. Kate Nash - Kiss That Grrrl
3. The New Pornographers - Moves
4. Hold Steady - The Weekenders
5. Band Of Horses - Factory
6. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Darkest Hour
7. Vampire Weekend - Giving Up The Gun
8. Death Cab for Cutie - Dear Boy
9. She & Him - Don't Look Back
10. Elastic Band - The Best
11. Tunng - Hustle
12. The Hoof & The Heel - Fireworks
13. Bishop Allen - The Ancient Commonsense of Things
14. The Do - At Last
15. Matt Pond PA - Ruins
16. I'm From Barcelona - Anywhere You Looked
17. Maps & Atlases - Solid Ground
18. Born Ruffians - What To Say
19. Laura Marling - Rambling Man
20. Rogue Wave - Solitary Gun
21. Bon Iver - Come Talk To Me

Zach's Notes
2. Kate Nash is easily my favorite of the girl-led British invasion
3. These guys seem to be everywhere right now, but this riff-heavy tune is their best so far
4. As close to straight up rock as indie gets
6. I loved their debut album and am pumped after hearing this single
7. Replacing Diplomat's Son as my favorite track on the album
8. A Paul McCartney cover
12. Probably my favorite track on this album
14. I love her voice
15. The first song of the many by Matt Pond PA I have listened to that truly excites me
17. I saw them open for Frightened Rabbit
18. This song renews my hope for the sophomore Born Ruffians album
19. This girl has more talent in her little finger than I could ever hope for
20. An ode to Rogue Wave's past, but still off the new album

Hope you enjoy! Tell me what you think!