What a mess...

This past week has not been so great.

So, when I got hired, there was some miscommunication. I was told that I had a year to take the Praxis I for my Alaska teaching license. I found out Tuesday that I need to have the Praxis I now. So, I am technically out of compliance. I am placed on substitute pay until the Education Department has my Praxis I scores. I am losing $125 per day. Plus, now I have to go to Anchorage this week to take the Praxis I. I will have my math and reading scores right away, but I will have to wait for the writing results. I am on sub pay until those results are in. This trip to Anchorage is going to cost me about $1300 (plane tickets, taxis, hotels, food, etc.). I am leaving Tuesday afternoon and I will return Thursday afternoon. So I will miss out on two days of work, and since I am on sub pay, I miss out on two days of pay also.

The confusion happened because I just graduated from college and did not already possess a teaching license. If I had an Ohio teaching license, I would've had a year to pass the Praxis I test. So, now I have sent all of my stuff to the Ohio Education Department. If I can get my Ohio license in the hands of the Alaska Education Department before my Praxis I scores are back, then I will get back on my regular pay. So I am working both angles to get this worked out as soon as possible.

In Ohio, I was exempt from Praxis I. At Ashland University, to get into the education program, you have to either have a 21 or higher on your ACT, or pass the Praxis I. I had a 28 on my ACT, so I didn't ever take the Praxis I. I have passed 4 Praxis II tests, however. These tests are harder and more focused on my teaching field. I need those test scores for my Professional Teaching License in Alaska, but not my Initial Teaching License. The Initial Teaching License requires passing scores on the Praxis I. Unfortunately, I cannot skip the Initial Teaching License and go straight for the Professional License. 

That is the news going on in my life. I am trying to not be upset about it anymore. I cried three days in a row about it. Now I am just doing what I gotta do and trying not to be upset about it. On the plus side, I will get to go to Anchorage, do some grocery shopping, buy some meat (I originally bought 5 pounds of hamburger meat, 6 chicken breasts, and one pot roast), eat at a restaurant, and get a Starbucks. I can't go shopping though, because I am on sub pay!

This is my one complaining post. I will try to be positive from now on. :)