@ expatteacher: Yeah, I totally agree with you. That is exactly why I am debating making the jump. When it comes to what I feel is best for my students (primarily special needs, but gen. ed. as well), I have tended to bite my tongue a bit. I don't know if it's because I feel experienced enough, or I wanted to go international, I really let things fly to my admin about how to improve things. Not sure if that prompted by Sup to encourage me to apply for an admin position, but it's the only reasonable explanation. Helping students is my passion, and I had always believed that it happens in in the classroom and not in the front office. Obviously, in my my advanced age, I have changed that position. Again, it's a tough consideration for me given my own internal opposing viewpoints.

Yeah, there was a good number of positions for special needs; though it is now diminishing quickly. You know, it it's funny, I was actually telling one of my colleagues recently that special needs teachers do make the best administrators. Precisely because of the population they tend to deal with. But also because of the nature of the job, in terms of the b.s. paperwork that is involved. But I would like to think that my expertise in handling students with limited emotional or cognitive capacities would indeed prepare me to supervise and deal with teachers all day.

@ shadowjack: Well, therein lies the problem with me accepting a position as an administrator. At least at this stage in my career, I would find it hard to put the interests of the students, and teachers to a lesser extent, ahead of the schools. With that said, I do completely understand the nature of the business we know as education. It is the job of the administrators to keep the school's interest balanced with the interests of the students and the staff. Otherwise, schools probably wouldn't survive that long.

Yes, I do see your point in that it would give me some versatility to offer a prospective school. Moreover, it would give me more avenues to explore job wise in the future. In my case, if I did have some admin experience under my belt, I could conceivably offer a school my expertise as a social studies teacher, special needs teacher, or an administrator. I guess that's better than one.

As to my experience and background, that's been the most frustrating part of this whole process. I had thought that with the number of openings in special needs and with my masters in special education and over a decade of experience in the field, I would have more offers than I do now. The only knock I have is that I have zero international experience. I actually do recall one response saying that the school is only looking for those with IT experience. *sigh* I just need to get my foot in the door to get anywhere.

Thanks to you both for your encouragement and insight.

That is the question I am now grappling with. Here's my dilemma. I had some promising leads and great interviews going into the SF fair, but ended up empty handed. I came back home with my head down and depressed. I actually wrote on this forum about how rejection sucks. It still does. (By the way, thanks for the responses from everyone. Also, I really wasn't out to illicit sympathy because it seemed like I perhaps was.)

Immediately afterwards, I stuck to it and applied where I could. Still nothing after like 15 or so apps sent out. Well, I got one interview, but it was by far my worst one so far this season. Despite the words of encouragement and uplifting experiences from others in regards to job offers this late in the game, I am beginning to feel demoralized about my chances to obtain an IT position for this upcoming school year.

Just recently, I spoke to the Superintendent/Acting Principal at my current school of employment. He essentially expressed to me that I should apply at a sister school for an opening as a Dean of Students. At this time, I have no idea whether to consider this position. I have always been one of those teachers who always said that I'd die before ever becoming an administrator. I am still debating it solely in terms of if I can handle it or if the school would actually be better off with me as an administrator there.

But here's my question to anyone willing to provide a thoughtful or insightful response: will it help or hinder me should I seek a job in the near future as an IT? My heart still remains in teaching (special needs) and doing it abroad. As this is really the only option I have available to me, I struggling to ponder whether to move forward with wholeheartedly. Or do I pass it up to pursue my ultimate dreams? My thought is that it would remove me from the classroom as a teacher, and thus make me less marketable.

Is it me or is being rejected by schools pretty much the same as being rejected by a girlfriend/boyfriend? Seriously, think about it. In both cases, you think to yourself: Was it me or was it her/him? What did I say or do to make things go wrong? Where do I go from here? I am attractive for anyone else at this point? Seriously, people, I couldn't eat or sleep that last night of the fair, knowing that I have been utterly and abjectly spurned by a lady whom I planned on committing many years of my life to.

Yep, I am taking it pretty hard. Originally, I wasn't really thinking about attending the Search San Francisco fair, as the quality and quantity of schools offering my position weren't that impressive. But one top level school I was interviewing with via Skype (twice) asked if I'll be attending. Then another school asked the same thing. So with two schools wanting to see me for follow-up, face-to-face interviews, I booked my tickets to go to SF immediately. What were the results of 6 interviews and many hours of research/preparation devoted to these two schools? A couple of postcards essentially telling me I was a very close bridesmaid. (I wonder if that is the standard operating procedure of recruiters; to let rejectees off the hook easily.)

In hindsight, I should have heeded the words that "beggars cannot be choosers." Specifically, I should have not been so exclusive in my interview selections. There were a handful of openings in China, Korea, and the ME. I was actually asked to interview with two schools in the aforementioned regions, and pretty much ignored them. I had my heart set; the only two schools I ended up talking with were tier 1, in desirable locations, with excellent packages. Partly because I was confident about landing one of those two jobs, and partly because I just didn't consider living in other areas, I ended up with nothing. Well, I take that back.

The experience was invaluable, and I know that I came very close, or so say my recruiters, to securing dream positions. More importantly, I know never to stay in the Vagabond Inn again. Everything was fine, but the creaking from any movements from upstairs. No seriously, the recruiters I interviewed with were great with me and offered a lot of sage advice for someone as new to this as I was.

I don't know if there's any point to this; I suppose I'm just venting anonymously. Is there any better way to do it? I have read recent postings about keeping your chin up at this stage in the whole courting game, and I will indeed keep at the dating scene. For now. Or until my poor, tender, fragile heart can't broken any further.

Yeah, it doesn't really explain how the payment works, so I hoping to hear back from my associate to make sure I'm doing everything kosher for the payment process. I did send an email of inquiry to my associate earlier in the week, but no word yet....

Thanks for the support and guidance. I have submitted everything to Search, except for the payment, about a week ago, so I was kind of hoping to hear back about any kind of fair offer. So far, I haven't heard a word back. My associate is based in New Jersey, so I understand that power might be an issue. I am growing increasingly worried about prospect of being shut out of the remaining fairs.

by the time I can actually get to a fair?

First, allow me to describe myself:
*11 years of certified teaching experience in U.S. (3 history and 8 SPED)
*M.S. Special Education (pending graduation in May 2012)
*Certified in Cross-Cat. SPED and Secondary Social Studies
*Single, no dependents (that I know of)
*Current head of ESS (SPED) department
*Teacher of the Year (I just like bragging about this to my family and friends)
*Speak Spanish at basic/intermediate level

Obviously, I am seeking to secure a position as a SPED teacher. From what I've seen thus far from TIEonline, there are a handful of SPED openings out there. Before I do commit myself to signing up for one of the fairs, I'd like some advice as to whether these positions will still be available come February 2013. Any feedback or suggestions would be truly appreciated.