Certification Rant

Just a little rant.  For any of you that are teachers, I'm sure you'll understand. 

For those of you that aren't, teacher certification is the bain of our existence!  I went to University of New Mexico, and moved right after I graduated, but before I ever taught there.  However, I was granted a license in New Mexico that I transferred to Missouri.  Except it didn't transfer.  I can teach K-8th in New Mexico, but only 1-6 in Missouri... so I tried it out for a year, (3rd grade) and mostly hated it....

Flash forward four years, I've now worked 3 years for my parents, then we moved and I subbed for this past year.  I really wanted to get back in teaching, but needed to take a few classes to get me my 7-9 certification (read the back posts on how much I LOVED going back to college!). 

Classes are done, transcripts got sent... on May 28th.  I received my copy June 1st, so I sadly assumed that the Educator Certification office received theirs.  I called June 6th, just to follow up.  They said they didn't have any transcript, so I sent them a sealed copy that I had received.... certified.  They signed for it at 3:38 pm on June 7th.  Logic says that they should have it through the mail room rather quickly, so I wait a few days to call.  Nope, still no transcript (everything is put on hold until they get the damn transcript!!).

I'm told that there are 14 floors in their building, and it takes a while for it to make it up to their floor... I understand, but 10 days?!?! really????  Fine, I'll wait a few more days.

I called back just now, and I got the same cheery soul that tried to explain about the mail room, the 14 floors thing...blah, blah, blah.

I told her I understood, but that I would like to talk to a supervisor (I'm about ready to drive my ass up there and hand them my damn transcript honestly!).

The lady I talked to was super nice, and totally understood my frustration! (She looked in my file... there were two sets of transcripts there... imagine that, one dated that it was received June 1st, and one June 7th- holy shit, it's like I knew what I was talking about!).  She took it to her supervisor, who confirmed that the classes I took did indeed allow me to upgrade and renew my certificate (there would have been crying and gnashing of teeth if not...).

Alas... In five minuets, I went from having an expired certificate to having a much better one (one that let's me teach middle schoolers!).  She said they would print it out over night, and the mail would take it out tomorrow.

I know she will never read this, but Brenda, I *heart* you!!!