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Recent Posts
- How do THEY do it all? June 25, 2019
- Book Club – The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist April 29, 2019
- How to welcome a new person to your department March 29, 2019
- I Am Not an Easy Man March 21, 2019
- Navigating lab in a wheelchair March 13, 2019
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Author Archives: notarealteachers
Part Time Work
As I’ve documented in painful detail here, I’ve been on the job hunt. I love my job teaching high school, but it’s extremely demanding. My children are young, and its hard for to be away from them so much and … Continue reading
My Experience on a Hiring Committee
I’ve applied for many jobs in the last few years and I’ve been offered only a handful. So this year, when I was offered the opportunity to serve on the hiring committee for two different teaching positions, I accepted. It … Continue reading
On Rejection
On Rejection 4 months ago I sit here at my computer in my kitchen, wearing PJs and surrounded by Kleenex stained black with mascara. I came home sick from work, so the multitude of Kleenex are saturated with a combination … Continue reading
Posted in alternative career, confidence, dream job, job search
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Moving on: or not.
I am a high school science teacher and I love my job. I love most of it anyway, which is probably better than most people feel about their jobs. Teaching is challenging, relational, and I get work both collaboratively and … Continue reading
Posted in dream job, having it all, new job, professional, uncertainty
Tagged uncertainty
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Why I’m Hopeful
Today, it is easy to be discouraged about the state of the world. On NPR today, I heard about the hunger crisis. Yesterday, I talked to a P.I. at a large research institution in despair about the proposed budget and … Continue reading
Posted in advice, alternative career, confidence, teaching, women in science
Tagged advice, teaching
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I get it now: Reflections of a seasonal stay at home mom
I used to balk at the prospect of staying at home with my child. My mother in-law has frequently and less than gently suggested and touted the benefits of staying home with her own small children. “I’m a busy body,” … Continue reading
Posted in alternative career, empathy, happiness, motherhood, teaching
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Life Lessons from Teenagers
“So, what do you guy think of this?” I asked my students, using all my effort to bite my tongue and let my students express their own opinions. I was discussing the 2014 decision by Facebook and Apple to subsidize … Continue reading
“Do you need a Ph.D. for that?”
As a recent Ph.D.-graduate-turned-high-school-teacher, I am constantly fielding questions about my transition. These come from my former graduate student friends, my current colleagues and even a few from my students. People seem shockingly interested in why someone would give up … Continue reading
My (blank) lab alumni page
The other day, I was looking for the proper citation for a publication from my graduate lab. I’ve been working on a manuscript to be published in an educational journal. In the process, I had to resurrect some information from … Continue reading
Posted in alternative career, Leaving Academia
Tagged alternative careers, career trajectory, high school
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A Day in the Life of a High School Science Teacher
5:30 AM: First alarm goes off and I hit snooze, hoping to rest for 10 more minutes 5:32 AM: My little lady starts crying to get out of her crib. I try to pretend I’m asleep so my husband will … Continue reading
Posted in a day in the life, alternative career, motherhood, teaching
Tagged high school, NGSS
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A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman 