School Days for Mr. Nobles

School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days
Readin' and 'ritin' and 'rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick

This is the song that my mom used to sing when she came to wake me up on the first day of school.  Obviously it is a bit out dated, but I still think of it when the new year rolls around.  When the first day of school arrived at the Nobles house Kate started high school,  Randy didn't go because he's retired (sorta), and Alyssa was teaching ESL in Hazlehurst MS.  But eight days after school started is when everything changed for Aaron! 

Aaron graduated from Kennesaw State University in December 2012 and continued to work at Olive Garden while job searching.  During the spring he enjoyed being the community soccer coach at Rome High School.  This gave him experience working with students and an outlet for his love of the game.  Aaron's desire is to teach high school history and coach.  He applied to numerous school systems in Georgia and North Carolina, but without a clear renewable teaching certificate he wasn't having success acquiring employment.

Let me back up a few weeks and confess that I very anxious about Alyssa and Aaron and their future.  After several intense days of restlessness, I was granted an overwhelming peace as I prayed about the situation.  God let me know that He was in control and that all would be fine.  After that day, I trusted in God's promise to provide.

A week before school was to begin, Aaron got a call to interview for a para-professional job.   A para-pro doesn't require a teaching certificate, but does give classroom experience, a salaried (not hourly) wage, and benefits.  The best part of this particular job - it was at the neighborhood elementary school that all my kids attended, West End!  

Aaron interviewed on  a Tuesday.  School began that Friday.  No call.  A week goes by, no word. But, the job is still posted as open.  Two weeks after the interview, he gets a call from the principal asking if he was still interested in the job.  He was ecstatic!  He and I went shopping for "teacher" clothes that day, and he reported to the school the next day.  He is the computer lab guy.  Art, music, P.E. and computer are the activities the children rotate through every two weeks.  He has 30 computers and mans the classroom on his own.  The call came on Tuesday, his first day was Wednesday and the children came on Thursday.  He sees every grade level, Pre-K through 6th grade.

One of Aaron's favorite graduation gifts
coaching shirt
Rome High Soccer - Coach Nobles

Today he completed his first full week in the classroom.  I am happy to report that he is very tired.   He seems to like what he is doing, and is learning to think on his feet.  On his first day with 30 first graders in the lab, a circuit breaker blew!  It actually happened several times that afternoon.  He found himself entertaining with a rousing game of hangman!  He has learned that the younger students like to play Simon Says when lining up to leave the classroom.  It has been a whirlwind of initiation!

He teaches at the school that he attended for seven years, and alongside former teachers that are now colleagues.  He still says he wants to teach high school, but he is gaining valuable experience.  

Another Mr. Nobles in education, God is good!