School was the best thing I ever did for myself. A master's in
instructional technology design - yes, while working as an ESL teacher at
the same university, gave me access to people and skills that translated
well on a resume (with current dates!). The job market changed while I was
rearing my family, but I hadn't. It was just a question of rolling up my
sleeves and getting to work. It was also a great role model experience for
my children - even adults never stop learning.
Good luck. You can do it. Judy Graves
Helen Frank <Helen_Frank@wow.com> wrote:
>>I am so discouraged...I have taken eleven years off from my profession as a
>>media specialist to raise a family and am now being punished for being a mom.
>>Alas, I can not redo my life! I have taken many computer workshops in the
>>last two years and have kept current in the library/media field. I have been
>>a substitute in learning centers this past year and now have been job
>>searching for a position as a library media specialist in a public school. I
>>have interest in computers as well as traditional library funcitons. I have
>>had five interviews (which I thought went very well!) and have had no offers!
>>I was a media specialist in a large suburban high school for nine years and
>>an administrator of a large county (250 school) consortium for two years
>>before having my family. Any suggestions? Help!
Marian Caroselli <mxc57@psugv.psu.edu> wrote:
>I appreciate how you feel. I stayed home for 8 years to raise my family.
>I had been a Spanish teacher and while home earned a masters in
>instructional media. I started my new career and so started off on the
>bottom of the pay scale. While I got some very valuable experience, after
>a number of years, the institution couldn't provide challenges (read
>"funds") that would provide me with the experiences that would make me
>attractive to the next employer. The longerIi stayed, the more I felt I
>was falling behind in my field, even though I was working in the
>field--crazy, right? I was reading up on what I was missing, but I wasn't
>*doing* it.
>
>I became very active in my various professional organizations. I held
>offices; I went crazy getting my name known. I worked on community
>service projects with my video group, getting experience I couldn't get on
>my job, working with other professionals who could mentor me. I made sure
>I presented at one regional conference each year. It's not very hard to do
>especially if you co-present. The preparation is fun and enriching when
>you share it with another person in your field. Getting a panel discussion
>together is also relatively pain free and your name is still on the
>program. Lastly, as no one at my institution was working on multimedia or
>faculty development, I assumed these tasks even though they weren't on my
>job description and even though I dindn't get extra pay. I then enrolled
>in a post masters certificate program in instructional design...
-------------------------------------------------------
Judith K. Graves
Instructional Technology Designer
Educational Services
National Digital Library Program
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540-1320
jgrav@loc.gov 202/707-2562