I love baking, and I've blogged about baking with my students.
Last fall, I decided I was ready for a new adventure and started working as a pastry chef for a local Bloomington coffee shop.
Other than getting up early in the morning, it's completely different from teaching.
I usually work with one other baker, and we prep doughs and bake from 6:30 AM - 2:00 PM. My current favorite things to bake are brownies (the frosting is fantastic!), gingersnaps, and sugar cookies, but we also make scones, muffins, rice crispy bars, quick breads, and mini quiche. It's a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and so far I really enjoy it!
People have asked me if I miss teaching, and I do miss the teaching part. But I no longer spend my days trying to keep teenagers off TikTok, and I can go to the bathroom whenever I need to. Overall, it's just much less stressful.
People also ask if I'll go back to teaching. Maybe. I've written that I believe public schools are a mirror: they reflect the state of our communities back to us. Our country right now has a lot of division and anger. That's how it feels in schools, too. So, for the moment, I'll keep baking.
