As a homeowner of 20+ years and former auto mechanic as well as a tool freak/gearhead, I knew I was capable of fixing and building lots of things. I had done a bit of remodeling and am comfortable with electrical and plumbing. I have an excellent rating on Angie's List and that's been a huge boost. I am enjoying the work and feel really good about this career. I sometimes say "I now have the best boss ever!"

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with tools of his new trade by Rena Newman

My guest today is Dave Newman.  Welcome to OpEdNews, Dave.  You recently underwent a career transition. Can you tell our readers a bit about that?

DN: After teaching in the Chicago Public Schools for 26 years, the winds of change blew hard in the form of a know-it-all, my-way-or-the-highway, micromanaging principal.  In my search for a change, I Iearned that school districts are not hiring veteran teachers - even male teachers with early childhood experience.   The only response I received from all the applications and resumes sent was an invitation to substitute teach for the Chicago Jewish Day School.

JB: That must have been disheartening. So. what did you do?

DN: I did sub a bunch of times the following school year to see how much I actually missed teaching.  But that summer, as a favor for a friend, I agreed to construct new storage lockers in the basement of her six-unit condo building.   I enjoyed the project so much that I thought I could make a go of doing handyman work or trying to find more condos that needed their storage lockers rebuilt.   

JB: How did it go, finding more work?

DN: From posting on Craigslist and pull-tab fliers, and referrals from friends, I was getting more and more work.

Room 111, 2009 by Maricela Rivera

JB: Enough to make a living?

DN: Well, fortunately I was able to begin collecting my pension.  Although reduced due to my "early" retirement, I really only needed to make up half of my former teacher's salary to be at the same income.  I have achieved that goal and a bit more too.

JB: Good for you!  Was it scary making that leap?

DN: I suppose it would have been a bit more scary if my wife wasn't working and we had lost health insurance.  But fortunately that was not a concern.  And, of course, being eligible to collect my pension was big.  My wife was very supportive.  I'm really not a business type and I had to learn a bit about having my own business.  I'm still learning.

JB: I bet.  How did you have the confidence to put yourself out there as a handyman?  What experience had you had?

DN: As a homeowner of 20+ years and former auto mechanic as well as a tool freak/gearhead,  I knew I was capable of fixing and building lots of things.  I had done a bit of remodeling and am comfortable with electrical and plumbing.

JB: Is hanging out at a hardware store your idea of a good time?

DN: Among other things, yeah.

JB: What kinds of tasks have you been hired for since you began this new career of yours, Dave?

DN: I've done some furniture repair, fixed lots of toilets and installed many faucets and light fixtures as well as shelving.  I also do bicycle repair.  I forgot to mention that I worked at a bike store throughout my teen years.  I've also done woodworking projects with a couple of teenage boys.  I helped design and build a solid oak nightstand and am currently working on a chess table with one student.

with kids and his childhood drawings of cars by Heidi Goldfein

JB: Which projects give you the most personal satisfaction?

DN: I always enjoy a good punch list.  If I am able to spend a few hours at someone's house and fix a bunch of stuff that's been making them crazy, that's great.  I had a client whose front door had never closed easily.  I was able to tighten up the hinges and every time I speak to her, she thanks me.

JB: I know exactly what you mean.  You fixed my ceiling fan which had been squeaking for so long that I forgot it didn't have to. What a relief!  How did you know how much to charge for your services?  Did you consult with other handymen or tradesmen?

DN: The only other "handyman" I ever consulted was the owner of a business that hired handymen and dispatched them to job sites.  He would pay them half of the hourly rate he charged.  When I first started, I was only charging $40/hour.  It really felt too cheap, especially if I had to travel.  Once I got on to Angie's List, I raised my rate to $50/hour which is still very reasonable.  I know many services charge a lot more.

JB: So, a year or so in, how are you feeling about this career change? Are you about where  you expected to be at this point?

DN: Something I did early on was hire a "business coach" to help me get things going and strategize and set goals.

JB: How did that go? Was it worth it?

DN: Yes, he was very helpful and taught me how to think about my business in ways I couldn't have otherwise.  The goals he set were reasonable and I think I have surpassed them.  I have an excellent rating on Angie's List and that's been a huge boost.  I am enjoying the work and feel really good about this career. I sometimes say "my job is to make people happy" and  "I now have the best boss ever!"

Open mic by Heidi Goldfein

JB: Cute!  I recall you telling me that you also are a musician. Am I remembering correctly?  

DN: Yes.  I played in rock bands since high school and college and I play guitar, piano, harmonica and sing and write songs.  I'm currently hosting an Open Mic at Brother's K coffee shop in Evanston on the first Saturday of each month.

JB: Nice!

DN: It's fun.  I usually play a few songs to start out the evening and the talent is usually pretty good.  The audience is very respectful and it's a nice atmosphere.

JB: All types of music?

DN: Mostly folk, pop, rock - guys or women with guitars.  Occasionally, something more interesting but mostly singer/songwriter types.

JB: What would constitute "more interesting" for you?

DN: We've had people sing to pre-recorded track on their ipods - not karaoke.  Original tracks.  Or a couple performers with decent harmony is a treat.

JB: This is primarily local talent, I presume?

DN: Yes, local and amateur.

JB: Nice! Reminds me of the '60s and '70s folk scene.

DN: We have our share of throwbacks (myself included at times).

JB: What haven't we touched on yet?

DN: Syria.

JB: Nope, not going there. Sorry. This is what I do when I want to get away from the news! What advice do you have for other veteran teachers who are facing layoffs and "early retirement", Dave?  Everyone isn't as lucky as you to have had another career in your back pocket.

DN: I guess it's a matter of taking an inventory of your own skills and interests.  I do feel fortunate to have good health, good energy and ambition.  For someone facing a change, hopefully they have some passion or interest that they can turn into either a career or some means of income.  Many people enjoy learning.  And if going back to school for training is an option, it can be an opportunity to do something completely new.

heading to east coast on motorcycle, 2007 by Heidi Goldfein

JB: What's your take on public education these days? Has your experience with the Chicago Public School system left you bitter?

DN: I am not bitter towards CPS.  Almost all of my 26 years with CPS was great.  I worked with many super teachers and six very appreciative principals.  

JB: I assume you're including all but the last one?

DN: Your assumption is correct. I loved teaching ESL, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth and Pre-K for my last four years.  Every age is interesting and challenging.

JB: Your attitude and enthusiasm are what undoubtedly made you a great teacher and your leaving a loss to the profession. With things going the way they are now, would you encourage someone to become a public school teacher?

DN: From speaking to the teachers I know who are still at it, I know the profession is changing.  Especially in urban schools.  There are way more demands being made on teachers. The "art" of teaching has now turned into a science.

JB: What do you mean by that?

DN: When I was teaching, I had a lot of autonomy regarding how and what materials I could use.  Teaching is more prescriptive and teachers now are scrutinized and evaluated in a very comprehensive way.

JB: Does all that evaluating stifle creativity?

DN: It certainly leaves less room for being creative.

JB: If you were entering the workforce as a college grad, would you consider going into teaching today?

DN: If my classes at college really showed what teaching is like today, I'd probably change majors.

JB: I understand completely. But what a very sad commentary on where we are today.  Do you have any pangs with Labor Day fast upon us? Do you still mentally prepare for the beginning of the school year even though it no longer applies to you?

DN: You mean the dreams about getting to school and not having the class roster or knowing which classroom I'm supposed to be in?

JB: Ha! Do you only have those dreams now that you're out of the system or did you have them every fall before the school year started?

DN: I haven't had the dreams since my new career - thankfully.  Now I have dreams about mirrors falling off of the walls of my clients!

JB: Hopefully, not on your clients!  Thanks so much for talking with me, Dave. Good luck on your new career path.

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Watch Dave perform "All that I Need" 

Watch Dave perform "In Spite of All the Danger" with Thomas Cray

Authors Website: http://www.opednews.com/author/author79.html

Authors Bio:

Joan Brunwasser is a co-founder of Citizens for Election Reform (CER) which since 2005 existed for the sole purpose of raising the public awareness of the critical need for election reform. Our goal: to restore fair, accurate, transparent, secure elections where votes are cast in private and counted in public. Because the problems with electronic (computerized) voting systems include a lack of transparency and the ability to accurately check and authenticate the vote cast, these systems can alter election results and therefore are simply antithetical to democratic principles and functioning.



Since the pivotal 2004 Presidential election, Joan has come to see the connection between a broken election system, a dysfunctional, corporate media and a total lack of campaign finance reform. This has led her to enlarge the parameters of her writing to include interviews with whistle-blowers and articulate others who give a view quite different from that presented by the mainstream media. She also turns the spotlight on activists and ordinary folks who are striving to make a difference, to clean up and improve their corner of the world. By focusing on these intrepid individuals, she gives hope and inspiration to those who might otherwise be turned off and alienated. She also interviews people in the arts in all their variations - authors, journalists, filmmakers, actors, playwrights, and artists. Why? The bottom line: without art and inspiration, we lose one of the best parts of ourselves. And we're all in this together. If Joan can keep even one of her fellow citizens going another day, she considers her job well done.


When Joan hit one million page views, OEN Managing Editor, Meryl Ann Butler interviewed her, turning interviewer briefly into interviewee. Read the interview here.

While the news is often quite depressing, Joan nevertheless strives to maintain her mantra: "Grab life now in an exuberant embrace!"


Joan has been Election Integrity Editor for OpEdNews since December, 2005. Her articles also appear at Huffington Post, RepublicMedia.TV and Scoop.co.nz.