Hello! I am Laura Domzalski. I am a mathematics teacher at
Central Bucks High School East in Doylestown, PA. In my former life, I studied
Economics and Marketing at LaSalle University. After working for a short while,
I realized my passion was really in teaching. I changed gears, got my
Master/Certification, and have been in the classroom for the last 5 years. This
past year, however, my husband and I welcomed our first child, Cara, on
Thanksgiving morning. I took the rest of year off to be with her, and will
return to teaching in September.
Before having a baby and having something called ‘free time,’
I enjoy/enjoyed being with friends and the outdoors. I have a Labrador Retriever
named Captain Morgan who likes to keep me company. My husband and I are avid
Flyers fans and like to be beach bums and snorkel when we have a chance to get
away.
I am taking this course, along with one other, to finish up
my Masters+30 for my district. Boy, what will life be like when I am not
enrolled in grad courses? Will free time make a comeback?
Laura,
ReplyDeleteHmmm...define "free time"! Before having children I finished my first master's degree, coached soccer and advised student council, yearbook, and the school newspaper (but only two at a time). After having children, I chaired the English department for 8 years and then "stepped back" to have more time for family. This resulted in my becoming the coach of my daughter's soccer team for the last two seasons and working with PDE on the Keystone Lit Exam. I think as teachers and moms we just have to make free time!
Congratulations on your beautiful little girl--what a nice way to give thanks each year! I have two nieces whose birthdays are November 26 and 27 so we always have a lot to treasure that time of year.
One suggestion: as you head back to work in the fall, be nice to yourself--"mom guilt" can be crippling and it gets none of us anywhere. Seek out those teachers who have kids older than yours and be honest about your struggles--I have found some of the greatest mentors for not just teaching but also parenting amongst my colleagues.
Best of luck,
Kelly P.