New job

It is official - well, nothing is signed, but that is formality - I will be teaching this coming fall at Ogden International School of Chicago. Despite the private, elite connotation of the name, this is a Chicago Public School.

It has a lot of history - the related Ogden Elementary School dates back to the late 1800s and has been going strong in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, which is just north of downtown. Last year, they opened a high school school on their west campus, which is on the edge of the West Town / Goose Island neighborhoods, right by I-90/94.


View Larger Map

I will be the new 10th grade chemistry teacher (unless something changes). The school will be adding grades by year, so this year there will be 9-10th grades, then 9-11th grades, and finally a full school in 2012-2013.

It is called an "international school" because the school's theme centers around making the curriculum and high school experience more international for the students. It is all still growing, however, so how that all works out is a work in progress. But I get to be a part of it, which is exciting. An added perk may be the chance to host foreign visitors, and to travel domestically or abroad with students in the future. Again, we will see after I am acclimated to the school how it all works.

But the relief of having a position secured has come, and once Sarah's wedding is over I will have more time to look ahead and plan.

Rachel has a second interview on Tuesday for a part-time position at one of the top high schools in Chicago and in Illinois. Though she is hesitant about teaching at a more elite school for philosophical reasons, in all practical terms it is a great job. We shall see how that goes!

-alan