u/FlusteredCustard13

I live in a small rural town. We're talking less than 5000 people. It's also more of a "settle down here" place so even when trying to get out more and use hobbies to increase my social circle, there just isn't a lot of opportunities. So apps are kind of the only realistic avenues I have at the current moment, even if they aren't the most fruitful.

Unfortunately, I know that distance can be pretty big deal for some people. Does anyone have suggestions on how to signal that you are willing to travel a bit? I'm looking for a natural way to phrase it where it doesn't sound forced (or desperate lol). I don't want a long distance relationship, but I only live about 1.5-2 hours away from a few larger cities and don't mind hypothetically traveling that distance if I am seeing someone.

My ran into a friend a few days ago after not seeing them for a few months. We were catching up, and ine of the things she asked if I'd had met someone yet. I admitted that I hadn't. She mentioned that she had a friend who was single. I don't know much about this woman, but she assured me that she thought we'd get along and that she fit right in with the type of people she's seen me swiping right on (she helped me with my dating profiles). She showed a photo to persuade me, and admittedly her friend is very pretty. She is in my comfortable age range and has a solid job.

My one hang up is that she has a kid. Just a toddler, but still. I typically have avoided dating people with kids. I do want kids someday. It's just been a case of worrying it'd be a big step right away. I kind of imagined being able to enjoy just being to date and eventually be married to someone for a while before the kids thing comes up. Plus, admittedly, I live in a small rural town and some of the single parents here can be a bit... pushy on when a romantic partner should start taking responsibility helping take care of kids. A small minority, but enough that it makes me a bit cautious in general. Of course, there is the added pressure of how family would react. Not that they can control anything there, but it's an added pressure.

The whole thing has me torn. I am trying to be realistic here. I am a 31 year old guy. I have not had a date in over 4 years. I live in a small rural town where there isn't much in the ways of regular social activities. My job keeps me fairly busy a lot of days. Even trying to be more social despite all that has grown my social network, but hasn't done much for dating. So this is kind of just falling right into my lap as a possible opportunity, and could even be a case for "bigger social network equals more dating opportunities." Plus, this is someone that a friend is suggesting so I can probably be a bit more optimistic that she understands my apprehension of dating someone with a kid and would not make the suggestion lightly. In the end, just letting my friend introduce us and meeting for coffee or something doesn't mean I'm going to suddenly become a stepfather, and if it just feels not right I could always break it off. That said, I also don't want this to be a case of me just going for it out of desperation or lack of opportunities do far.

Tl;dr: My friend suggested introducing me to someone with a kid. Typically, I avoid dating people with kids, but I am considering it. Is it an okay idea and I'm just overthinking it? Or does it seem like a bad idea and one more out of desperation during a dry spell?

I currently teach middle school and will be teaching science this year. I also run my school's drama program. However, our local high school has had a very sudden absence when their theater teacher left. I have an interview with them tomorrow and, while it not necessarily a sure thing, I know from some other staff that they are fairly desperate to fill the role. Unfortunately, I rushed into applying and now the reality of it is daunting.

At the end of the day, I do my job because I get to the chance to run a theater while also having the stability of the teaching job (and summers off). I also would like to somewhat improve my work life balance after a hard first year. Most importantly of all, I am trying to reduce my stress levels and be able to just enjoy life for a bit after years of being in a rat race. If this had happened last May or if it happened at the end of this when my best students were heading to high school, this would be a bit easier (and I'd feel a lot more comfortable with an extra year of my program under my belt). For what it's worth, both job pay roughly the same (the stipend from the high school program is likely a couple hundred more at best)

Needless to say, I could use just any thoughts anyone has.

Current:

-I am teaching a core subject, but ultimately I only have one set of lesson plans

-I get along great with our science department

-I am given almost universal control over my program

-I can set rehearsal schedules, accept or deny students, and have can do as few or as many productions as I see fot and can afford

-My program is entirely self-funded from ticket sales and fundraising. Since we do not receive money from the school budget, I am not at risk for being out down for budget cuts.

-While we may have disagreements on the classroom and teaching styles, I have a highly supportive admin team when it comes to my drama club. They found out I had inherited only two working lights and rushed to repair them for me before our big performance last year without being asked. They allowed last minute date changes to make things easier on my students and have recently changed the dates of the Winter Dance (which our club sponsors) to make things easier for me

-I will also admit that, despite curriculum disagreements, our admin is also very good to me on a personal level. I have bewn repeatedly been checked on, I do receive verbal encouragement, and they even check on mayters of mental health

-I have a production (Beetlejuice Jr.) approved and almost ready to go, with parts casted and some students already preparing. That play either will not happen, or my students will lose their roles. (Either the program will die, or the staff member who would be open to it taking over does not see eye to eye with me on those matters)

-I have one of the only middle school level drama program locally, and definitely am looking to have one of the strongest ones.

-Provided the funding continues for it, I have a solid chance if taking over the AVID elective program at my school I am still there when the teacher retires in the next couple years

\‐I have some form of job security here. I have worked for years at this school before being a full-time teacher and am well-liked by almost the entire staff, including admin and several long-tebured staff members. Plus, they rarely outright non-renew anyone with as much time there as is

-I have been offered helped setting up my program to actually be able to do competitions and such

High School

-I would likely be teaching several different theater courses as well as some algebra class. Each with a different prep

-I get a bigger budget, but that comes with it's own pros and cons. (I am not quite used to dealing with a bigger budget and it does come with an expectation of larger shows)

-The admin may not be as solid. I don't know if they mess with the theater, but I am aware that the admin is *very* unpopular among the staff

-I would likely be on the hook for at least 2 full productions a year

-It might be easier to make a solid name for myself as a high school theater teached, and easier to land a theater teacher job in the future in a district that is more appreciative of the arts

-I would get to continue with working with some of my former kids, and could even work with some of my current kids after a year or two if I am still there.

-This may have be the only chance I get for this particular position

-I would be leaving my current school (and more pressingly, my department), high and dry a week before school starts

-A high school theater teacher may also be a bit more solid on the resume over "science teacher who ran the drama club." This simply could be a big boost to make a name for myself and the program if things go well.

ETA: a couple extra points

Our school dislikes showing movies in class, but makes an exception during the last week of school. They sent out an email with the forms to get movies approved, which I've never dealt with as a first-year teacher. I just found out that I completely misunderstood the process. I messed up in two ways:

1. I thought it was just to get the movie approved in general. As the other teachers in the department are already showing the movie, I thought it was fine to also show it. Unfortunately, the form was to approve it *and approve to show it in your specific classroom*.

2. I didn't use the exact permission slip we're supposed to use. I'm actually less worried about this part, as the slip I sent out covered all the bases the correct one does and is arguable more extensive (the correct one provides the movie rating, but mine also provides an explanation of why the movie had that rating).

One teacher suggested that I simply get to work early and try to talk to an admin to see if we could just overlook it or fix things really quick, and that I use the unspoken "first year teacher mistake card." However, I know there's a chance that I might be told there's nothing to be done. While I can deal with having to work around my own mistake, I hate disappointing the kids. They'll be forced to miss out on a movie they were promised (especially as every other grade level teacher is showing it). Is there any other fun, end of the year thing that could be done in case I can't show the movie?

EDIT: Completely skipped my mind, but I teach 6th grade US History. The movie in question is National Treasure 2, which is picked because the Civil War is the last major thing we cover and the 7th grade classes typically watch the first movie every year for the past several years

EDIT 2: I'm also a little nervous as admin may be doing end of year check-ins with first years, as well as helping out with checking in/our curriculum pieces. So they may very well pop into my room. Plus, I know I've struggled more compared to some of the other two teachers despite having more in-classroom experience and managed to make with through with no "forgive the first year" moments, so I'd really like to be able to finish the first year without a major mess up.

I run a school drama club, and something we've been considering is the Broadway Jr. Collection. There are quite a few that the kids would be very excited for, and there's a few that would really draw people that the usual public domain and smaller shows... don't.

One issue: a lot of the Broadway Jr. versions I see change solos/duets to ensemble or group chorus songs. While I have some great singers who want to sing and I could get an ensemble, I wouldn't say I have enough ensemble who are willing to sing (or frankly, can sing well). If the songs were solos/duets like they are in the full versions, I'd have more than enough singers. It's just the change to more group numbers that makes it difficult.

I am going to hopefully try and contact a representative, but I was hoping someone may have had a similar situation. Does anyone have any experience working with MTI and requesting to change the group numbers back to solos and duets? Is it something they open to discussing with you or are they pretty strict on keeping the chorus numbers?