I am nothing if not persistent I think to myself as I walk into an NYC Department of Education (DOE) school as a teacher almost seven years after leaving the DOE and – more importantly – over two years of fighting and struggling to get back in.
I have auditioned for “100,000 Pyramid” and “Wheel of Fortune” multiple times. I have made it to the final casting round on Wheel. I am still hoping and waiting to get that call! I googled the address for Wheel and sent thank you cards to the producers with “The Gays of Our Lives” magnets. Hustling for freelance gigs I reach out numerous times asking about upcoming opportunities. I email school secretaries often to let them know my availability for the next week. I have been trying to win the NYC Housing Lottery for years, applying to 298 buildings since 2019. Hopefully this persistence is gonna start paying off soon!
Back to the DOE. Picture it. Williamsburg. 2018. (will try to give the shortened version) After a nightmare few years of working in a middle school with an Assistant Principal who literally disliked pretty much everything I did and said, I reached my breaking point and just quit. This was not a great time in my life, with much family strife among other things.
For years, teaching was the one constant in my life where I was good at something. I had amazing experiences at all three schools I worked in previously. A coach of the year award, some merit-based grants, excellent relationships with co-workers, students, and parents, many of whom I am still in touch with today. Cut to NYC and the ‘idiot savant’ (IS) and I crossed paths. The IS (nickname given to her years before I arrived) was my Assistant Principal, and from day one it was obvious she did not like me. She was openly rude and condescending. Positive feedback was rarely – if ever – given. My observations were scored the lowest of the lows – but only by her – other administrators gave me higher marks. After years of constant battles, after years of being punched down day after day I had nothing left in the tank to give.
Covid hit a few months later, and I found work in different fields. Got to write for Instinct Magazine for one. During a failed move back to Florida, I suddenly found myself longing to get back to the classroom. Upon arriving back in NYC I found substitute work for private schools as well as a job teaching STEM classes. I saw a flyer that the DOE was having a substitute hiring fair. I met with three principals there. All three hired me on the spot. However, unbeknownst to me there were gonna be speed bumps ahead.
“PLEASE NOTE YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO WORK IN ANY POSITION FOR THE NYCDOE OR ONE OF ITS VENDORS WITHOUT THE REQUIRED SECURITY CLEARANCE FROM THIS OFFICE.” On March 12th 2025, an email arrived from the investigation office of the DOE. Documents were requested. I sent a written statement, three references, a photo of a teacher of the year certificate and a photo of the coach of the year plaque. On May 7th – three months later another email arrived stating: “Please be advised your investigation is complete and you have been granted security clearance”. Yay! But nope another speed bump.
The hiring window for the 24-25 school year closed on May 3rd, four days earlier. Not only could I not be hired but – wait for it – I had to start all over again in August. UGH. Fast forward a few months. I got myself nominated. Again. I got hired. Again. I took all the required workshops. Which cost $200. And yet another speed bump.
The same email arrived. The same investigation began. I sent all the same documents. Only this time the outcome was that the nomination was rescinded. The person on the phone told me they could not tell me why the nomination was rescinded or by whom.
“WHAT? This seems really unfair. I was previously cleared and now I’m not, and there is no explanation?” I fired back.
I had already been subbing throughout NYC for a year. All we ever hear is that the city is desperate for teachers, and I can’t even get a job as a substitute? WTF.
I sent emails to the United Federation of Teachers. I sent emails to the first investigator asking him to intervene and clear me. He never replied. I called the substitute teacher disciplinary unit asking to file an appeal. I was told that the decision is final. They advised me to apply AGAIN next year.
Turns out my DOE file had a U on it: UNSATISFACTORY. A U rating means you are unhirable. Forever.
I could not for the life of me figure out what on Earth was in my file. What could I have done to be deemed unhirable forever? I was pretty sure the idiot savant former AP of mine blackballed me.
It was because I quit and did not give a full 30 days’ notice. Talk about the punishment not fitting the crime.
Hopefully the third time is gonna be the charm. Repeat all above steps. Only difference this time is that in my personal statement I added – “I regret that I quit without giving the required 30 days’ notice and I would not make that same mistake again.” I knew as I was writing those sentences they were gonna be the words that got me back in.
The email arrived on September 8, 2026 “Your appeal for reconsideration has been approved.” BOOYAH! FINALLY!
Whether it’s auditioning for game shows, chasing freelance assignments, applying for the housing lottery, or trying to get back into a classroom, I’ve learned that persistence is not necessarily about getting a yes the first time. Or the second. Or even the third. Sometimes it’s about hearing no, asking why, regrouping, and finding another way to knock on the door. And sometimes, it’s about knocking on that door so many times that you start to wonder if you should just bring a sleeping bag. And if the DOE thought they could keep me out of the classroom forever, all I can say is –
AND STILL SHE PERSISTED!!!
