Okay, well...

I submitted just a couple applications.

I don't have to find a new job, I just feel that if I stay where I am, they will not become more respectful of what I do. There's no magical change of thinking about to happen.

They have no idea what I do. Not a clue how I run programs, how I deal with kids and how much I've contributed.

No matter how long I stay, they'll never know.
In fact, they don't care.

More and more I think their criteria for people who run their programs is that nothing happens that gets us in the news. They don't care if the kids are happy. They charge quite a bit of money for their programs, too. And although the rates are standard, the programs are not.

It's odd, though. Except for a couple of them I've met, most of the people who work  there are nice people who have good intentions.

But there's no way to talk to the upper people, they don't need or want input.
They make a lot of money and they don't have time for peons.

Fair enough, I wouldn't invite any of them for dinner. And if I were walking down the street carrying a bottle of water and saw one of them on fire, I would probably drink the water.

I still can't imagine putting someone in a position for six years and never once dropping in to see how things were running and whether the families were happy with the level of care received.

So being choosy about where I submitted an application was important to me.
I figured they might not even call me and if not, well, I have a job.
I may be pissed off, but it's not a low wage job and of course it's a thing I love.

The first place I submitted my resume contacted me via email within 15 minutes. A new personal record, I think.

We talked on the phone for about 20 minutes. She was very nice. The program is in one school, pays quite a bit less than what I am earning now, and is quite a distance from where I live. She told me that she would have hired me without even talking to me based on my resume.

She said, "I took one look and I knew I had to talk to you."
Flattering.

And if it were close, I would have considered working there despite the quite-a-bit- smaller salary. Short commute/less gas.

She owns the program herself, has no plans to expand or go corporate or any of the other things that aren't necessarily going to contribute to good programming. We agreed that it probably wasn't what I was looking for although she said I was exactly what she was seeking.

Ah well.

The second place waited five hours before contacting me.
I actually didn't apply for the position they emailed me about, I was looking at one a little lower down the ladder.

But the email said they thought I'd be a good fit for a director position.
It's not closer than my current job. The commute is actually longer.
But. There is no split shift. It's a 'start at 9, be done at 6, be sure to take a lunch break' thing.

The job involves some administrative things. I'll be working from an office until I get everything figured out, but they told me I could work from home several mornings a week. Doesn't matter too much, I will still have to show up at a school every afternoon to run a program. I'll have a staff of three or four to supervise. I should be home around 7 each evening. Sure hope so.

I have not turned in my notice. I actually just accepted the offer today. I was interviewed by three different people in two zoom calls. Another first for me, a job interview while wearing pajama pants.

I almost canceled the first interview. I thought about where I am now, how much I've worked to fix the program, how much I love the kids who are there. The five (yes, five) who are on the spectrum and how much they feel valued by me. I considered the fact that I get a lot of time off. I've refused to work in other people's programs because I hate the way they do things most of the time. The carrot and stick thing, rewarding kids for cleaning up the toys. Such a condescending thing.

I considered emailing the interviewer and telling them thank you but I've decided to stay where I am.

Then I asked myself what harm it would do just to talk to them. It's not like I must accept their offer.

So I talked with this nice person for about 45 minutes. I liked her, I liked what she had to say, I liked her description of the company. So I agreed to a second talk.

The second interview took twice as long as it was supposed to, but almost every question they asked me was about how I handle things with kids. I wasn't trying to sell it, I figured either they liked me or they didn't. It's nice not to be under pressure to look good or try to appear better than, ya know?

I did not falsely represent myself, either. For example I told them I don't like the practice of putting children on a carpet and standing over them to lecture.

"They may not have the vocabulary or life experience to describe it, but the symbolism of having someone stand over them and tell them what to do isn't lost on them. I won't do that."

We talked a lot.

And at the end, after an hour and a half instead of 45 minutes went by, they told me to watch my email for an offer.

When I checked my email after work yesterday afternoon, the offer was in my email.

I deliberately did not evaluate it or take much of a look at it, I knew I'd lie awake all night and consider and worry... not all of it over the possible new job. Lots of upset over the current one.

Got up this morning and looked it over carefully. It looked good. As I was getting ready to leave for work this afternoon, I signed the electronic document and accepted it.

Now, of course, comes the hard part.
I have to give notice and say goodbye to people.
Again.

And then learn how they do things in a new organization.

Wish me luck.