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Talk about being thrown under the bus
I’m feeling the same way, and I’m only in my 3rd year. I think this pandemic has added a new level of stress to the job that makes it almost unbearable. Even though I love the kids, I’m considering looking for opportunities outside of education for next year.
If you’re going to leave, do it by year 5. I don’t know if you’re in a Windfall Act state, but you can get screwed on both pension and SS. Look into it. Good luck.
As a teacher nearing the end of my career, I encourage you to get out and transition into something else. The carrot of the next year being better is just a carrot. The admin never lightens the load, and there is always at least one difficult kid to deal with. The pandemic has taken its toll, and that toll will take years of hard work to recover from. This job takes a calling to keep coming back and working 55-60 hours a week. If you are young, look for something that interests you and find a way to pursue that career.
Agreed. Get out before you’re trapped
This pandemic has made everything crazy. Now we have to catch up all the kids and they want more data collection and paperwork. It’s nutso.
Tough it out. Summer is coming. Nothing ever is quite as bad as you think when you ate looking back on it. How bad can it get? As long as I keep getting paid and can do it I am going to keep doing it til I can retire.
It can get really bad. I left my junior high for 26 years to go to continuation high school and I've never been better. The pension is nice, but a few of us call it the "golden handcuffs". I don't know how I could survive my last 10-12 years in a toxic, stressful environment.
No job / career is worth your happiness and sanity. This is my calling and I truly love what I do. But this year has been different for alot of us. I will always love teaching and the relationships with my kids (and I have high schoolers, but I love them 😊) , but I've got two more years so my oldest can graduate in the district I'm in and then I'm out. I'm looking into a different degree field that's not educational related. I just hope I can make it two more years.
Honestly, you’re not alone. I’m feeling the same way. I wrote a list of things that I absolutely love about teaching. Made another list of my skills and went on ed tech careers and started seeing what is transferable... has anyone tried making a career shift from being a teacher to something else?
We’re in a Windfall Act state. How many years do you have? You could potentially get screwed on both pension and SS. Look into it now.
If I could, I'd be out. Three years for me to early full retirement, so I'm stuck. This job gets more demanding, more stressful, and less respected as time goes on. There is no accountability for students or parents anymore, and more on teachers. Your health is more important than any job.
...or for administrators.
Look into Teacher Career Coach. It’ll help you transition out of teaching. I would definitely go into survival mode until the end of the school year if you can. Do the bare minimum for your mental health.
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I feel the same way…I am not in a good head space this year. I will definitely miss the students…but everything is for a season. I plan to finish well and start a new season next year. Not sure what I’m going to do as of yet, but I’m exploring other options. I can’t do this anymore, especially under these conditions.
I would finish this year and if it’s not better by 2022, leave
I’m in my 29th year and I would say that I come home at least 60% of the days frustrated and ready to make 29 my last year! Although, I have researched my retirement the sum of my loss for retiring even if I pass away in just 15 years the $$$ loss is substantial!
My frustration lies with people manipulation they’re case loads to benefit themselves. I always thought we were here for the children., so irritating! Also, some people feel so entitled. Skating by and looking out for themselves.
I just can’t !
For similar reasons I left teaching and just became a nurse. The job opportunities are endless. Three days a week is considered full time.
I’m so stressed and depressed. Kids, parents, general garbage- I’m done. But I have two years to retirement, so I have to suck it up. If you’re under 10 years, look into leaving education now rather than later. You get stuck between a low pension and no SS if you’re in a Windfall Act state. 😢😡
I feel your pain. Fortunately, I am at the end...I have a meeting on Monday with the state retirement system and then one on Tuesday with my HR person. I am done. I have done this for 33 years and the last 5 I kept telling myself it will get better..it hasn't. This year is a lot harder in some ways than last year. The kids feel extremely entitled and don't think they have to do anything you tell them. Our admin takes the side of the student and the teacher has to prove their innocence. I'm over that. I have bus marks on my back from being thrown under it. I just need a break to heal my heart, soul and brain.
I am on the same boat as you. Thinking of taking time off. Maybe find new career. I am in year 29.
I think most people in this job are plotting an escape one way or another. Pretty amazing to have an army of teachers who don't even really want to do it anymore.
Given the atrocities that occurred in public education within the last ten years, and especially in the time since we all took "two weeks to 'flatten the curve,'" can you blame them?
I understand how you’re feeling. The workload and stress seem to only intensify each year. I am making a shift out of the classroom as the gen. ed. teacher next year. I have been looking at instructional coaching, gifted intervention specialist, and curriculum director jobs (I have my masters in curriculum and instruction and a gifted licensure). I have also looked into writing and developing curriculum. From what I’ve read, if you’re looking to leave the classroom, there are a lot of jobs related to ed tech (I receive emails from companies like Moby Max regularly). My hope is that education as a field will change for the better and then some of us can come back to the classroom.
Looking into selling of everything but equipment and tools, and going rouge. Off grid and under the radar. Just a mind set change of what retirement is. Does not have to be chased you can bring it to you.
I am in my 29th year of teaching. It really seems that younger generations are too fragile to deal with work or the real world. All jobs have stress and issues to handle. Bottom line, it is a job! If you allow your job to ruin your life in your hours off work, seek treatment.
I am in my 6th year and when I started one of our principals told me... it gets better after the 5th year... the first three years it did not seem that way. I felt overwhelmed and like I did not have a life ... but I did workshops learned from more experienced teachers how to simplify my teaching life, learning how to make best use of technology. Personally I made it to year 5 and things got better. but I have also learned to regain my personal life and as much as I love the kids simple things like not having the school email on my phone, sticking to my tutorial hours, leaving home at 4 etc has made my work life a lot better.
I have said this, and I'll say it again, if the job isn't for you, get out now. I am a lifer and only wish I had seen the light earlier. I sacrificed my own children at the expense of my career and I can't ever get back those years. If you are early in, say less than 10 years, get out and do something else you like. If it is just the kids keeping you in, be a volunteer somewhere or volunteer at a school.
Same. I love the kids so much, but I also love other things in life that much. Empathy blackmail has ceased working for me long ago, as school board members and district "leaders" make decisions based on everything BUT the kids, families, and communities. They also get the added benefit of hiding behind site personnel, who are constantly to blame when things go wrong yet have very little to do with decisions made.
I have already created my escape plan, and now am letting it grow and play out. I'm done working in a system that plays on my emotions and empathy yet mistreats the positions of leadership they fill and handle tax funds with reckless abandon. There is no wonder schools are seen as failing. It isn't the teachers and staff, it's the weak leadership, and I'm tired of being seen as a pariah or "kid-hater" because I am willing to call these people out.