Best Practices? Huh?

Today i had planned to have leisurely morning of a walk, then going into work after a small lunch, to be followed by an interview for an ESL job.

WRONG! The leisurely part was only beginning because i slept in to 6:45 and I was ready to go for the walk all I needed was to put the shoes on and grab my keys when the phone rang. I almost let it go but noticed it was one of my school districts so i answered. Could i come in as soon as possible to cover for a special ed. class. I thought for maybe ten seconds before answering I would be there in ten or fifteen minutes. Now you think I am some kind of wonderful to change, get out the door, and drive to a school. First off the school is only a mile and a half away. I had already figured out what I would wear to the interview and made only a minor adjustment since i wouldn't be coming back home to freshen up. Then thought about image (it is everything isn't it? i mean that's what all the commercials are trying to sell us) and grabbed a little warpaint and the travel toothbrush and headed out.....forgetting a hairbrush, by the way.

School. I was glad that I had wonderful para-educators for the special ed. The kids were fairly well-behaved (it helps when they recognize you) but by lunch I was starting to wilt. Did I mention the small headcold (yes, I did.) I stayed with the morning group until a replacement could be brought in and I could go to my semi-regular classes. I had prepared while babysitting last night (not that I had the materials, only that I had done the prep work mentally) and had even corrected homework that I could discuss with them before starting a writing assignment. Made it through the rest of the afternoon and am getting ready to leave and go to the interview when the secretary stops me and ask, "What do you know about 'best practices'?" Huh? I'm thinking she's talking in some new anagram and literally stop in my tracks. We call a few teachers, talk to some others before i figure out she's talking about teaching practices/styles for optimal student performance. So with a few crib notes I rush to fix my hair and check my face before driving on the interview.

I'm on time. And strangely the interview team are not district higher ups but the principal and vice-principal of the school where I have been working. The job is the one I have been subbing the past three weeks (long/short someone else hired quit after meeting people first day) but i had been told that the hiring/interviewing would be done by someone else, so this was not meeting my expectations. This school is very big on stating and meeting expectations. The interview was over in ten minutes (thankfully, I did not start hacking and coughing) and now the real wait begins. Until then, I'm subbing for the same afternoon classes that might be mine in the future.

blessing on those who persevere.