Apply, Interview, and PANIC! How does the application process differ from state to state?

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Applying for a position in Hawaii:
I had applied in November of 2008, waited patiently for confirmation of my online application, and after months of not hearing anything, I began to call human resources to see if they had received my application and when they would let me know if they would consider me for the position. 


Interviewing 
It was June, 2009 when I received an email stating that I would have an opportunity to interview with Honolulu School District. ((GASP))) I was finishing up a horrific year of interning, waiting on my PRAXIS results, wrapping up my Masters Thesis paper, applying for positions, and preparing myself for interviews. In the next two couple weeks I would receive more emails other school districts within Hawaii Department of Education  for interviews. 

California and Hawaii- Interviewing differences.
California Black suit, hair done, nervous smile, sat at the end of a long table with eight very important district people (who were also in suits) and I did my best impression of a calm, confident, and well versed intellectual...but I felt more like this: 
I personally believe that involvement in 
organizations is crucial to professional 
development & leadership in schools....
((blank stare!))................
.............what was the question again?
 ((nervous laugh)).............

Hawaii Paranoid that I'd miss the call, I demanded that no one use the house phone and sat in my room--still in my PJ's, with papers spread across my bed. When the call came in, the questions were tough (which was expected since it was over the phone). There was a question regarding a special education category, which didn't exist in California... I know, right?


IDEA Eligibility Categories: State Differences
Each state was given the choice to use Developmental Delay as a category for children under the age of 9. While most states DO use Developmental Delay for children under the age of 5, California was not one of them....so I was like, "Uhhhhh.....uhhh....errrrr" This is when I became so THANKFUL that the interviewers couldn't see the panic on my face!!  
To better explain this all, I'm sharing an article taken from Nectac Notes, The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center in May, 2007. 


.....stay tuned for part two of the application process. :)

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