First Post

Hi everyone my name is Victoria Wiik. I graduated from the University of South Alabama the first time in 2000 with a degree in Elementary Education. Unfortunately I allowed my teaching certificate to expire. So, now I am back in school so that I can get back to my calling.

My first year of teaching was here in Mobile, Al at Orchard Elementary. It was a wonderful and challenging experience. I was a Jump Start teacher which means that I taught the 5th grade repeaters. I took the job ready for the learning experience and boy did I get it!! Despite the dilapidated portable they stuck me in I had a wonderful year and would never trade it for the world!

I then moved to Savannah, Ga where I taught 3rd grade. This is where my heart fell. I knew after my first year of teaching 3rd grade that I was teaching at the level I wanted and needed. I taught at West Chatham Elementary for three glorious years and was exposed to an entirely different education system than Mobile's system. Was it better? In some ways yes but the politics were still there.

I was ready for something more and began searching the net for other options when I stumbled upon an international teaching website. I was immediately interested so I went to jotting down numbers and taking notes. After making a few phone calls, brushing up my resume, purchasing airline tickets for the job fair in the city of brotherly love and of course packing my bags, I found myself making a contract with the International School of Belgrade. Yet another glorious teaching experience that I will go back to in due time!!