Branch 2: Ends and Beginnings

Branch 2: Ends and Beginnings

And now I find myself, once again moving.  But this time, in that move, staying in a city I am learning to love, connecting tp a woman with a shared love we are growing, and pulling my last two locational and cultural years of teaching to pour into a new charter school Organization whose founding last few years have placed it as one of the top performing in the city.  An email was sent today connecting all the members of our future team for next year with bios of us each.  Here is my call to arms, written by my future principal for next year teaching High School Freshmen English to the youth of the city of New Orleans:



Cid Galicia, Mr. G., is a founding ELA teacher and leader of the Chico St. Advisory. Cid has been teaching writing for a few years now, while also sharpening his poetry, rap skills, and swing dance skills. Swing dance!  Cid’s humor and desire to understand what motivates his scholars was on full display throughout the process – as was his curiosity about all things teaching. 

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As a teacher, I have found myself self traveling ever couple of years.  This has occurred for many reasons; though, over all, I suppose only two:

Personal Profile
The, Professional, State of Education

Personally, it has been the character of self and self-characters that have kept me afoot.  Here is my Professional Teaching Timeline up to my current state:

-graduated college
-picked up a "completing the school year" gig for a teacher on maternity leave.
-then moved to a major city for a girl, dancing, and a more "city life"
-taught after school programs:
                                               -the job market though larger was still difficult
                                               -this allowed for free time
                                               -developing my DJ and Dance experience
                                               -allowed for travel and writing

-transitioned to full time and co-teaching positions which allowed for more professional development, but still personal adventure.
-took a year off and moved back to my college town doing painting and light construction
                                                -it seems I have only taught for highly struggling youth
                                                                  -money
                                                                  -family
                                                                  -violence
                                                                  -etc
-i am an extremest.  all of my sword-like characteristics are very double edged.  I find it difficult to maintain a personal life, when having a professional teaching life.  after the above mentioned years, i felt as though i
 had two choices: keep pushing myself to work and lose my desire to teach or take a temporary break and heal myself so I could continue to do what I love and find meaningful- teach.
-moved again after the aforementioned year to the full time job I found.
-left after two years.  it was a small town, away from people and life, education in California as far as
 curriculum and teacher presence in the classroom was concerned, was pushing me away.
-also, i had broken up with a woman i was still in love with
-distance from the person and being pushed from Cali, combined with the call for teachers in New Orleans
 post Katrina.
-also in conjunction with  the music, dance, and social connections caused; my move once again
- three years is the longest i have ever taught in one city, though each year teaching here I have changed to a different school with a different role.
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Travel back to the top and reread my opening paragraph for the end of this passage.