This Guy...

I am very proud of this guy:

This picture really has nothing to do with the story, but it's a good picture of "this guy."  :-)

Among many, many things, he is smart and ambitious.  Although Dave and I have both chosen a path that does not pay what we are surely capable of making, it is a path that pays back in so many other ways.  Dave is very dedicated to being a wonderful teacher.  He makes learning fun, exciting, and challenging for his students.  He has the most fascinating, engaging lessons - I wish I'd have had a science teacher like him in secondary school - I probably would have enjoyed science much more in college!
Dave has only applied for a handful of teaching jobs since beginning his teaching career five years ago and do you know what? He has been offered every job he really wanted. and even had to turn some down.  He had a difficult decision to make recently.  A job teaching biology full time at Murray High School opened up a couple of weeks ago.  It's rough to lose a teacher in the middle of the school year, but he had his principal's word that it would be okay - they'd survive, though surely miss him if he was offered a job at Murray.  He went in for an interview and was offered a job the next day.  He will be leaving Crestview Jr. High in a couple weeks to work at Murray.  He thinks (and so do I!) that this will be his final landing spot for the rest of his teaching career. The school is new, he's got a huge classroom with a brand new lab, new technology and he is teaching ALL biology!  That means no more prepping for multiple units of study each day - just one.  He will be working much closer to home, and with students who are more his speed.  I know he'll miss many of his current students, but he feels really good about his decision, and I think with good reason!
Anyway, congratulations to Dave on this new path!  Hip hip - hooray!