I’ve been teaching for 20 years. The first six were at for-profit colleges, which were problematic. I was a great instructor, and I have numerous students who believe that. Miller-Motte Technical College in Chattanooga, Miami-Jacobs Career College in Dayton, Fortis in Dayton. I got a 7-12 teaching certificate along the way. But working at these colleges damaged me in some ways. Lots of people were constantly fired around me, faculty and staff. I could pass someone at their desk at 9 AM and find the desk completely cleared out and the person fired by noon. I got lots of advice from other faculty that I should keep my head down and not make waves, as I was more likely to keep my job. I was loved in the classroom, and eventually happily accepted by the administration (though that was also a revolving door of employment). I went from part time to full time, worked insane hours (I once taught three four-hour classes at two different branches each day). I was well recognized at Miami-Jacobs as an important part of the college.
Then I was laid off. Somewhere in the middle of the college’s collapse. And I couldn’t find work for ages. I finally got 8 hours a week with Fortis, which was at least a little more stable in employment. 8 hours. Two kids.
Then I got adjunct hours at Central State. After a couple of semesters there, I was a contract instructor, good for 3 years of full-time work with benefits. Then they extended the contract. Then they wanted to hire me, but I didn’t have a terminal degree. They said I had two years to get one, and the MFA counted. So I enrolled at Miami and got the degree. After years of not knowing if I had a stable job, I finally had it.
I fought for tenure. I fought hard for promotion to associate. And half of the fight I was having was with the prior colleges, which had made me unsure of myself. I constantly questioned if I was doing everything right from the moment I got to campus. I asked repeatedly every time I needed to do anything I wasn’t 100% certain I knew how to do. There’s room to say that goes with my childhood trauma as well, trying to please others rather than having them angry at me. And I had a few people pushing back against me. I still believe I struggled for most of the first several years there.
I’ve been at Central for 14 years. I’m one of the longest-term English faculty. And it’s only been the last few years that I’ve really felt like I wasn’t junior faculty. I was nervous about the job, nervous that I could be fired at any moment. Only in the last couple of years have I really gotten past that. It didn’t delay my efforts, but I came into my own at the right moment.
Today, the board of trustees voted to make me a full professor. Every step on the way up, I got a yes. I had to change my application here and there, but full support from the department, dean, faculty senate, provost, president, and now board. In the fall, my title is professor. Not assistant or associate professor, and I’ve long left “instructor” behind. I am senior faculty in English.
I am slightly shocked and amazed that I finally made it. I earned it, I know, but I clawed my way here since I started teaching.
Anyway, thank you all for believing in me at any point along the way. I am grateful and happy to have gotten here at last.
Bill Abbott, poet, web page 