New Job....NICE!

Today was my last day as a Hartford System of Schools Employee, as I was offered and excepted the job at This being a mill stone summer for me in many ways: turning 50, new job, and being healthy and more fit.
Exciting to me was the encouragement I got to refine and market my "Fitness 1st" program over the coming year. "Fitness 1st" is a cycle of health fitness processes students can use as a tool to improve their Health Fitness Assessment Scores. It utilizes a web component that I created to track student score, ongoing physical activity, physical activity goal setting and planning, and much more.  The crucial component of Fitness 1st is the cycle, which is not dependent upon any computer integration, but is just sound fundamental adherence principals in action.  They wanted to know if I could package and market this tool for others throughout the state, and that has already been put in place.  This is a big opportunity for me.
Only one drawback so far is my vacation is cut short by one week, as I must start August 23rd.  A small conciliation, and one I am more than willing to sacrifice.  The other is that the commute is just outside my comfort zone for commuting by bike.  I might drive part way and park in a commuter lot and ride from there on nice days. Another would be to ride once there on the bike path that runs along the Farmington River. Most likely I will be doing a combination of the two.
Well here's to brighter days ahead!

Recovery Ride...

After yesterday's fast ride, Nick and I road a slower recovery ride in RI.  Took some back streets, and a bit on RT 1 for about 10 miles at 14 avgMPH.  Although it was hot, it was not humid, so the riding was easy.  Nick had to take care of his girls before leaving so I road along East Matunick Beech to Jim's Dock in Jerusalem adding about 4.5 miles to the ride.  My Garmin went down, battery, so I did not have any tools to use, or analyze later.  I used Perceived Exertion, which I do not like to do.  Tomorrow may be a late afternoon ride after my final interview with CREC.  We will be talking Money and Contract most likely.  We shall see.

Interview and Peppers

Today, I went to another interview with CREC's Reggio School in Avon, but since I am riding with Nick tonight before the C's game, I thought better of riding after the interview.  During this interview they wanted me to teach a lesson to the Pre-K students at the school, of which there are a few.  Since the school is being built, they are currently house in a office building in Avon near HealthTrax. 
I believe the wanted to see how I would react to a worse case scenario, and even tough I was suppose to have a large open area called the Piazza, it was "unavailable.  I had preplanned for this, and brought some scarves so the students could work in a small space, and everyone could participate 100% of the time.  They also gave me, "The most Challenging class" in the school to work with, which were better than my best behaved class at Betances for Pre-K.  It was obvious that they had not had prior instruction using this type of learning, because students did not know what a personal space was.  It was a good thing I brought poly spots, which are little dots for the floor to help younger students with spacial awareness.  We began with two warm-up activities to get the students moving in their space and active to control behavior.  Then I handed out the scarves and used them to guide instruction and reinforce the theme of "Force".  We used words like hard, soft, light, heavy to in open ended questions that students answered physically with the scarves.  All the students did a great job, although they were obviously not used to this type of instruction, they adapted well.  We wound up doing another song called "Bean Bag Boogie" where student balance the scarves of various body  parts just to provide another activity, and redirect behavior.  Before collecting the scarves I did some juggling with two and three scarves.  The final activity was a stretching cool down activity that is called, "Balancing act", another song.  Music sooths the savage beast they say, and it always works for me.  Before leaving I gave the teacher enough jump ropes for each students as a parting gift.  Left overs from a seminar I did prior.  They loved that, and so did the teacher. 
Upon leaving the Principal congratulated me, and told me she would be calling me for the final interview with the director and curriculum coordinator for CREC this week.  It was a fun time had by all, even the 4 teachers in the room had fun and participated.  Looks like I'll be changing jobs this summer. Good bye Hartford!
When I got home I took some pics of my pepper plants that have a few baby peppers on them already..NICE!

Headed out to mow the grass, then off to the gym, and then to Cycle Concepts to get my new seat post.  Tonight will be another hard ride in Marlborough followed by a Win by the C's!

Go C's

Job Interview and Farmington Canal Trail Ride...

Well today I had an interview with Mrs. Smith my old principal at her new school in Avon called the Reggio School of the Arts.  This went very well, and hope to make the final cut, and get an interview with the head cheese next week.  They are building a new school in Simsbury just north of Avon near the HealthTrax Wellness Center there.  For the time being it will be house in two buildings, one in Avon and one in Simsbury, a PK-2 building.  There were three teachers and Mrs. Smith at this round, and next round will be with Dina and Fran, my old colleagues from days back at Clark in the North End of Hartford. 

After the Interview, I went accross the street to change at HealthTrax, and ride the Farmington Canal Trail out through Simsbury and Granby to the Mass Line, about 21 miles.  A very easy ride with no hill, all flat.  I took it easy as my legs were some what tired from Cynergy last night.  I averaged about 14.4 MPH at AvgExHR of 120 bt/min. 
A good recovery ride.
Going to make Chilli today I think.

School's out for summer!!!!!:)

Last day of school for the KIDS was today!  1/2 day at that!  NICE!  Still have two days left.  Traded tomorrow for Friday with my principal so we can inventory all of the technology for the summer.  Tomorrow I have an interview at Reggio School of the Arts, which is a CREC school, (CREC is a state run school district, and the school is in AVON, PK-2 next year, ultimately PK-5)...Cross your fingers.

Bringing my Bike tomorrow and riding out in Canton>Wilton...will post my route later.

C's play tonight...Go C's!

Job Interview...:(

So today's job interview was both a success and a failure.  A failure because I doubt I got the job, but a success because I was told I have one where I am.
To clarify:  The interview consisted of 10 minute, 3 questions, and the inability to fully explore each answer.  Each person was given only 10 minutes to answer 3 questions.  I was unable to use technology to display my answers, so they could not possibly understand the answers I gave.  I did however give the principal a flash drive with all the supporting documentation and data she would need to back up my statements.
In the interview there were 4 people and me.  2 board of education administrators of magnet school (school choice), and 2 from the school.  1 of the board members is a frequent visitor at Betances, and someone I taught with for many years when I taught at Clark in the North End of Hartford.  When we left, she asked to walk me down the hall to discuss something.  When we got around the corner, she asked me whether I was going to apply to my school, which is being re-designed and all teacher need to re-apply for their jobs.  I said that my program was designed for middle and high school and that I wanted to explore those possibilities.  She said that everyone was hoping that I would stay at my school and do a couple of days per week at another school which was a middle school.  She also mentioned she would be the Principal of this other school, and she really wanted me there to help her.  Bad news is this seems like the nix on the school I was interviewed at, but Good because I have a job!
Today I feel a bit bummed, but tomorrow I am sure I will feel secure in that I am working somewhere next year.  I had resigned myself to wanted a new challenge and opportunity to use my program as it was intended, fully implemented in a school of technology.
At least I will be off the unemployment line!  I am sure I will feel better about it in the morning :(

Spin Class at 5:45 AM for 50 minutes

So this morning I was up at 4:00 am after going to bed early last night, so I went to the 5:45 AM spin class at HealthTrax.  My least Fav instructor Beth was doing the class, so I just did my own workout.  I think it made her mad.  I have developed a kink in my left (bad) knee in my patella tendon.  Hopefully some Hot Tub Therapy can cure this with lighter than normal riding.  Must have over stretched it last night at Cynergy class, highly likely.

My Dad and my step mom are in town, and am going to my sister Sloane's house for dinner, and beer.  Ate way too much last night and again at lunch today...bad.  I will try to take her easy tonight.

I received a call today for an interview at the STEM School in Hartford (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).  This is right up my alley and should be a no brainer for them.  She called and said, "I have two days and we can also make time for you whenever you are available."  Tells me a lot about their priority to hire me.  I may be in the driver's seat, but will not push it.  Only drawback is that it is on the other side of town near West Hartford (University of Hartford area).  Just makes for a longer bicycle commute cross town.  I will have to create a PPT for the interview, should be FUN!

Have to go to Cycle Concepts to get my new cog set for my other wheel.  One off road, one on.  This set is a 32 -12, instead of 27 - 12, so gives me a lower end for hills.  Will have to get a new chain for it, but that should be any trouble.

Tomorrow a 7:15 am Spin, Water Aerobics , Basketball then Andrews Birthday Party.  Fun...