With a masters degree, it is absolutely possible to teach at a two-year college and that was my first route. I've loved teaching ever since I was a undergrad TA and tutor in the Physics department back at NCSU and given their emphasis on teaching (as opposed to research) I thought that a 2YC would be perfect. Turns out I'm not the only one.
Even in a region with a bunch of two-year public schools, there aren't that many full-time geoscience positions. Go figure. Most institutions have 1 FT geo faculty if they have any at all. The big flagship 2YC nearest me had three (!!!). And people who land those positions stay in them until they die, which I can't blame them for one little bit. On top of that, the number of faculty positions at four-year institutions has been dropping as these universities turn more and more toward (slave-wage) adjuncts. So a big portion of the shiny new PhDs entering the market are also looking for a position and many of them are choosing (?) the 2YC route as well. 2YCs with a pool fool of PhDs and MSs would be crazy not to pick the PhDs, all things being equal.
So I stayed longer at the Y that I would have otherwise.
I'd been concentrating my search in the seven-county metro area of the Twin Cities. We weren't going to be moving anywhere. We had a house and Jacob had a job of his own.
But one weekend in the spring of 2003, I was doing a run-out concert with the Gregorian Singers at Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, MN. It's a private, Episcopal prep school in rural MN where the scions of diplomats and foreign dignitaries have taken their prep schooling. It's also a fair New World imitation of Hogwarts. No lie. It's all lovely and charming and I get to thinking on the hour+ drive down and back that driving from one side of the Metro to the other would take longer in rush hour than driving to some spot out here in the countryside.
When I got back to my computer that night I broadened my search parameters for institutions a little further out. Turns out there are some. Gustavus Adolphus, Winona State, St. Olaf, Carleton... Hold on, what's this? On the Carleton website, there was a job posting for someone with a geoscience degree (only a BS required!), an interest in education, strong office and communication skills, website building experience. This was awesome! A position almost tailor-made for me. I got my application materials put together and sent them in as fast as I could.
I was thrilled when I got a call to come interview with this little office named the Science Education Resource Center (SERC). I showed up in my best (only) suit and was greeted by one person in shorts and t-shirt and two others in casual summer academic clothes. I knew that this was going to be a good place to work. And really it has been.
This fall I hit 14 years at SERC. It's hard to believe, really. I've met so many amazing people doing wonderful things in their classrooms to connect with their students. I've learned so much. As of the end of last year, I've supported or run 50 faculty professional development workshops, presented 26 talks or posters at professional meetings, developed a score of websites for projects, and so many other things that have shaped me as much as or more than they shaped anyone else. I work with great people who really, deep down, hope to change the world. Save the world, with our work. On the best days, it's truly inspiring to do this work. On the bad days, it's just as crappy as anyone else's job, have no fear. :) But the average happiness is very high.
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