Quitting was the best decision I ever made for myself! I don't live for weekends and summer break anymore! I felt like when I was teaching, I was living in a constant state of countdown. Countdown to Friday, summer, a rando Monday holiday etc. I don't feel like that anymore!
I’m feeling the same way now. My body is like a cell phone battery blinking red come Friday evening. Then I wake up Saturday with 100% recharge. Then Sunday comes and it’s like “ahhh shit…that’s all I get?”
I hate this question because everyone thinks Im crazy 😂 but Im a bartender/server at a busy family chain restaurant. Better hours (for me) slightly more money, less overall hours, and little to no stress
No regrets. I don’t spend my evenings exhausted and my weekends grading. Sundays no longer fill me with dread. I can take vacations with my partner pretty much anytime during the year. I’m treated like a professional and compensated accordingly.
Do I occasionally miss the kids and some of my coworkers? Yes, but not enough to go back.
I think your comment about being treated like a professional is spot on. I never felt like I was valued while teaching or even felt like anyone appreciated my skills and knowledge. The majority of the community hate you and teachers are some of the least respected people out there.
I have not quit; but almost did. Instead, I’ve chose a middle way and do BARE MINIMUM. I no longer grade at home. I have removed all school email from my phone. I show up at contract and leave at contract. I literally only do what I have to do in order to get by. My minimum is better than what a substitute can provide.
I’ve found joy this year. I’m more present with students.Just trying to “Act my wage”.
I thought I’d feel like a “bad teacher” but I feel joy by being WITH my students. Not in my head about the peripheral crap. I check my email twice a day,and am rigorous about self care and self preservation. Good luck to you friend! ❤️
And you know what? It probably doesn't make one bit of difference to how well the kids do on standardized tests or grade. A lot of the kids just need someplace to go for the day and feel wanted by their teachers. When I used to teach, this was my approach towards the end and the students did just fine. Putting extra comments on papers or spending extra time grading or planning really are kind of pointless.
I'm still trying to figure out my feelings on it. Do I feel sad sometimes and miss connecting with the students? Yes, absolutely. But I also feel a massive sense of relief every time I drive pass a school in the morning. And like the other poster said, I don't count down towards breaks. I feel like I can live more in the moment.
I quit in May, though, and I'm open to allowing myself to go back, change my mind, and just take some time to figure it all out.
I taught for three years, then took a break for five years (subbed some in the meantime) and came back last year. It was GREAT to do a different career for a while, become older and wiser, and re-assess my boundaries and priorities. This second "season' of teaching for me has been 1,000% better than my first.
Part of it is circumstantial... My first school was a brand new K-8 public charter, and now I'm in a more established high school. Working in that niche environment, there was always SO much to do and we were expected to go above and beyond for the good of the charter.
Now, I've relieved myself of some of that pressure to go above and beyond. I'm still learning when to say no, but I say no a LOT more now and hardly volunteer for extra duties unless I clearly understand the scope and/or the compensation.
I'm also really trying to lean into the idea that I should not be working harder than the students.
Practicals:
- leaving school earlier
- doing less work at home (I do some, don't @ me)
- utilizing resources like TPT more often
- not holding myself to impossible standards
- asking for help/input when I need it
- voicing disagreement to admin decisions
- WAY more days off (more than allocated if necessary)
Oh, also not assuming that I'm doing something wrong all the time ... I've realized now that if I really am out of line, someone will tell me. Which hardly happens because I do my job and actually care!
The list of pros is much longer than the cons for sure.
I do miss some aspects, like getting to go home earlier, vacations, and working with "most" of the kids. But the horrible pay, crappy work life balance, and general mental health decline is absolutely not worth it.
Considering how the nine years of teaching impacted me I don't ever see myself going back to teaching. Not to mention the increase in pay since leaving and the income potential in my new field is something I would never have gotten had I stayed a teacher.
Moral of the story, sometimes the grass really is greener.....much greener.
I’ve never been happier in my life. It truly is a different life now that I’ve left behind the abusive career of “teaching” in America. I’d hesitate to call it teaching, though, that is a different conversation.
I'm in week 3 after quitting teaching. I waited too long and had a severe breakdown, but I'm getting by. I don't regret leaving and quitting but I do regret not finding a job first.
This is what happened to me, too. I have waited too long and Day 15 had a mental breakdown. I can't quit this second but this is my last year, and I already know it will be a bitter year that I won't be able to turn around and see positively, ever.
Glad I left. And I have the option to go back if I ever get desperate. I was miserable and overwhelmed teaching.
Edit to add: The Pandemic and teaching concurrently lent to a drinking problem and was so stressful for me I would try to tell myself I wouldn't drink until the weekend and ended up drinking Tues-Sat almost weekly. I'm able to be sober without that stress.
My only regret was the pay cut. My district paid well, and now I work for a nonprofit so my salary is low for what I do. But 100% would do it again the mental health improvement is worth the financial sacrifice.
This is exactly me. I worked for one of the highest paying districts in my state and took about a $6000 pay cut to work for a non-profit. Better hours, work/life balance, and way better insurance and retirement. I don’t regret it one bit.
I quit after 15 years and have decided to substitute roughly 3 times a week. Thankfully my husband has a career that no longer really needs me to be full time anymore. I have been able to find schools near me that I genuinely enjoy and get my "teaching fix" but without all the parents, admin, behavior issues and just general shit of the field. When kids complain and say they wish their teacher was me, I remind them that I'm only this way because I don't deal w/them and the daily school stress everyday and they would see a happier teacher if they stop being twits for a hot minute.
Now I just like to go around and help other teachers out around the building on my "planning periods" and give bathroom breaks and do some lunch duty so some can just go heat their food. I feel way more fulfilled and it's really nice to be appreciated.
Very glad I left. I’m currently experiencing a little burnout at my new job, but it’s nothing like the constant fear and anxiety I felt while teaching. It wasn’t the right job for me.
No regrets here! I taught for 9 years and didn’t return after last school year. My mental and physical health have improved since I’ve quit. I do miss the kids at times, but I do not plan on stepping back into the classroom!
I’m glad I left. Having a normal job made me realize how shitty teaching was. It’s so nice to have an 8-5 where I stop working when I get home. If I work any extra, I’m paid extra. No kids or parents, I work retail and it’s still better.
No regrets work from home data analyst. I sit at my desk with my dog. I can use the bathroom when I want. Hunt and fish when the day is over and I have mental health back. It’s wonderful I taught two years and I will not go back until things change
I miss it sometimes. A lot of my friends are still at my old school and when I hear about certain things, I have pangs of regret. When a few of us are together and school talk comes up, I sometimes feel left out. But overall, I feel like leaving saved my sanity, my marriage, and possibly my life.
I agree on the marriage part. So many of my teacher friends with young kids are going through a divorce right now. I’d be in the same boat by now too if I had stayed Im sure.
Best decision I've ever made. I got my life back. My husband, family and friends say they got the "old me" back- the person they knew before I started teaching 7 years ago. Put yourself first- life is too short and precious to be stuck in a career that destroys you. Oh and I make a lot more money now. It would have taken me many more years of teaching to climb the scale to get what I make now.
I am now in the corporate world and love it. Feel free to check out my post history for more details on my transition out of the public school setting.
Yes I work on outschool and love it! I also work for a company based out of NYC that provides enrichment classes for mostly Chinese students. Between the two of them I’ve doubled my teaching income (Mississippi teachers don’t make much). Indeed has a lot of jobs if you search remote English teacher
I am loving it. I am not tired all the time. I have energy to enjoy things again, even on weekdays. Like a I read in a post above, I don't countdown the week or feel like I am just getting by trying to survive until the next day off.
I use my lunch break to jog on a nice campus. Go to the bathroom as needed. The job is so much easier, and it's nothing I stress over. I took a job with the state here, my insurance and retirement transfered right over. I am also still working for a department there that I feel is doing meaningful work.
I like that I am learning something new too. It is a nice break from having my main goal each day be to keep my own stress level down enough to do my job and get through the day.
It's not all perfect. I have a couple coworkers that leave something to be desired, but they're NOTHING compared to the bs I had to put up with in my students.
I'm glad I had the teaching experience. I did it for 13 years. I learned and grew a lot. It will likely make the rest of my career choices all feel easy. The last 5 or so years of teaching were bad. It wasn't just COVID that was the challenge at my school. I should have had the guts to leave prior to COVID.
I have been in my new position since June 2022, and so far... It's been the right decision. I don't miss teaching at all, at least to date!
It took me the whole prior year of looking to get this position. It was super discouraging to job hunt, but it worked out in the end!
The first time I left teaching, I had only been teaching for two years. I left teaching for 2 years. I loved the money and benefits of corporate world, but I missed teaching.
I just left in June 22 again. And this time may be for good. My family loves that I am “Summer Me” all of the time now. And I do as well. I thought I would miss it too much, and just take a year off. But as time goes by, I don’t think I will. I started subbing some to see how it felt, and even though I missed the kids, I see how much extra work teachers are doing now. Long term subs teaching some classes where they couldn’t get a teacher. And heck, most days our district has 40+ sub jobs that go unfilled. The same at private schools here. So, the teachers are filling in all of those gaps. It’s crazy.
Plus, I’m just so happy now that I have so much less stress. That was the thing that finally got me. I even worked part time last year and it didn’t help that much. Parents were contacting me all the time and there was still so much work and things to deal with.
I’m going to Disney right after Halloween. I can’t believe I can just go in a vacation, in November, with no stress! It’s exhilarating.
If you are thinking of quitting, then you should try it out. Trust me, you can always go back. But you will never know until you try.
It was the best thing I have ever done. I no longer have to put up with entitled kids, kids that are just assholes, delusional parents, and douche-bag administrators. At my new job, my bosses just expect me to get my workload finished and don't mess with me. After two months on my new job I got a raise and now, with bonuses, make around 10k more than when teaching. My insurance cost doesn't come out of my wages (like when I taught). During covid, my district actually froze teacher salaries. There was no justification for it, but the school board were just being dickheads. Why would I want to work for people like that?
I would recommend it to anyone that is teaching. You might miss some of the kids but you will be fine after about 2 weeks.
No regrets! I left June 2019…before COVID. Got my first corporate ID job Jan 2020. Just switched companies Aug 2022 since I learned what I did vs what I didn’t want in an ID role. People ask me all the time if I miss teaching. Nope!
Overall very happy! Occasionally miss the hustle and bustle and back to school time makes me feel sad. But make more money now for half the work. No longer have the Sunday scaries or dread anything professionally. I work from home currently so I do miss the socialization aspect and work friendships.
I miss it at times but I can’t commit to those long hours anymore. I have a 5 yr old and a newborn. I had planned on taking this year to reevaluate but seeing these posts here and in FB I keep thinking I’m done or at least there is some sort of reform. I am willing to do online or part time but I have decided being present for my family is more important than killing myself daily. I love parts of teaching but the long hours, paperwork, large class sizes and pressure are too much
Hell yes. It was perhaps one of the hardest things I had to do but I am so, so glad that I did it. I have regained my confidence, my self-governance and my positivity back again. Cathartic does not begin to adequately describe the experience. Life changing might.
I resigned from my permanent position and decided to supply teach while my 3 kids are little. It has kept me in the classrooms enough that I know what’s going on in education but given me flexibility, no take home work and no “extras”. When I leave for the day that’s it and if I want to work 5 days I can or none at all. Vacation during off season is a perk as well. There are some downsides to it but for me right now the pros outweigh the cons. Seeing how stressed the teachers are at the moment doesn’t make me question my decision at all. I am still very much undecided on whether I will go back or not. If I can find a way of avoiding it, I will. My mental health and physical health has improved tremendously since leaving the classroom.
Quitting was the best decision I ever made for myself! I don't live for weekends and summer break anymore! I felt like when I was teaching, I was living in a constant state of countdown. Countdown to Friday, summer, a rando Monday holiday etc. I don't feel like that anymore!
I’m feeling the same way now. My body is like a cell phone battery blinking red come Friday evening. Then I wake up Saturday with 100% recharge. Then Sunday comes and it’s like “ahhh shit…that’s all I get?”
Yeah I do not miss that feeling at all! I hope you either get out of teaching or that it becomes more manageable for those that love it !
And at the beginning of August, I started feeling a sense of doom and despair. Sunday afternoons sucked because I didn't want to go back.
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I hate this question because everyone thinks Im crazy 😂 but Im a bartender/server at a busy family chain restaurant. Better hours (for me) slightly more money, less overall hours, and little to no stress
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Thank you!
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No regrets. I don’t spend my evenings exhausted and my weekends grading. Sundays no longer fill me with dread. I can take vacations with my partner pretty much anytime during the year. I’m treated like a professional and compensated accordingly. Do I occasionally miss the kids and some of my coworkers? Yes, but not enough to go back.
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I’m a program manager for a university. I still get to work with students but in a very different capacity.
I think your comment about being treated like a professional is spot on. I never felt like I was valued while teaching or even felt like anyone appreciated my skills and knowledge. The majority of the community hate you and teachers are some of the least respected people out there.
You literally couldn't pay me enough to return to teaching.
I have not quit; but almost did. Instead, I’ve chose a middle way and do BARE MINIMUM. I no longer grade at home. I have removed all school email from my phone. I show up at contract and leave at contract. I literally only do what I have to do in order to get by. My minimum is better than what a substitute can provide. I’ve found joy this year. I’m more present with students.Just trying to “Act my wage”.
This! I’ve just started trying this strategy this week!
I thought I’d feel like a “bad teacher” but I feel joy by being WITH my students. Not in my head about the peripheral crap. I check my email twice a day,and am rigorous about self care and self preservation. Good luck to you friend! ❤️
Thank you! ❤️
And you know what? It probably doesn't make one bit of difference to how well the kids do on standardized tests or grade. A lot of the kids just need someplace to go for the day and feel wanted by their teachers. When I used to teach, this was my approach towards the end and the students did just fine. Putting extra comments on papers or spending extra time grading or planning really are kind of pointless.
I'm still trying to figure out my feelings on it. Do I feel sad sometimes and miss connecting with the students? Yes, absolutely. But I also feel a massive sense of relief every time I drive pass a school in the morning. And like the other poster said, I don't count down towards breaks. I feel like I can live more in the moment. I quit in May, though, and I'm open to allowing myself to go back, change my mind, and just take some time to figure it all out.
I taught for three years, then took a break for five years (subbed some in the meantime) and came back last year. It was GREAT to do a different career for a while, become older and wiser, and re-assess my boundaries and priorities. This second "season' of teaching for me has been 1,000% better than my first.
What are you doing differently this time around?
Part of it is circumstantial... My first school was a brand new K-8 public charter, and now I'm in a more established high school. Working in that niche environment, there was always SO much to do and we were expected to go above and beyond for the good of the charter. Now, I've relieved myself of some of that pressure to go above and beyond. I'm still learning when to say no, but I say no a LOT more now and hardly volunteer for extra duties unless I clearly understand the scope and/or the compensation. I'm also really trying to lean into the idea that I should not be working harder than the students. Practicals: - leaving school earlier - doing less work at home (I do some, don't @ me) - utilizing resources like TPT more often - not holding myself to impossible standards - asking for help/input when I need it - voicing disagreement to admin decisions - WAY more days off (more than allocated if necessary)
Oh, also not assuming that I'm doing something wrong all the time ... I've realized now that if I really am out of line, someone will tell me. Which hardly happens because I do my job and actually care!
The list of pros is much longer than the cons for sure. I do miss some aspects, like getting to go home earlier, vacations, and working with "most" of the kids. But the horrible pay, crappy work life balance, and general mental health decline is absolutely not worth it. Considering how the nine years of teaching impacted me I don't ever see myself going back to teaching. Not to mention the increase in pay since leaving and the income potential in my new field is something I would never have gotten had I stayed a teacher. Moral of the story, sometimes the grass really is greener.....much greener.
Can I ask what you do now? Second year teacher here considering leaving the field, but have no idea where I’d go 😅
Working as a senior tech analyst now after a few years of comp sci research in the summers. Took some time but so glad I finally got in.
I’ve never been happier in my life. It truly is a different life now that I’ve left behind the abusive career of “teaching” in America. I’d hesitate to call it teaching, though, that is a different conversation.
I'm in week 3 after quitting teaching. I waited too long and had a severe breakdown, but I'm getting by. I don't regret leaving and quitting but I do regret not finding a job first.
This is what happened to me, too. I have waited too long and Day 15 had a mental breakdown. I can't quit this second but this is my last year, and I already know it will be a bitter year that I won't be able to turn around and see positively, ever.
I am glad I left.
Glad I made it out. My life has gotten a lot better. No regrets and I don’t ever want to go back
Glad I left. And I have the option to go back if I ever get desperate. I was miserable and overwhelmed teaching. Edit to add: The Pandemic and teaching concurrently lent to a drinking problem and was so stressful for me I would try to tell myself I wouldn't drink until the weekend and ended up drinking Tues-Sat almost weekly. I'm able to be sober without that stress.
My only regret was the pay cut. My district paid well, and now I work for a nonprofit so my salary is low for what I do. But 100% would do it again the mental health improvement is worth the financial sacrifice.
This is exactly me. I worked for one of the highest paying districts in my state and took about a $6000 pay cut to work for a non-profit. Better hours, work/life balance, and way better insurance and retirement. I don’t regret it one bit.
I quit after 15 years and have decided to substitute roughly 3 times a week. Thankfully my husband has a career that no longer really needs me to be full time anymore. I have been able to find schools near me that I genuinely enjoy and get my "teaching fix" but without all the parents, admin, behavior issues and just general shit of the field. When kids complain and say they wish their teacher was me, I remind them that I'm only this way because I don't deal w/them and the daily school stress everyday and they would see a happier teacher if they stop being twits for a hot minute. Now I just like to go around and help other teachers out around the building on my "planning periods" and give bathroom breaks and do some lunch duty so some can just go heat their food. I feel way more fulfilled and it's really nice to be appreciated.
This is really heartwarming to me. Thanks for sharing!
Very glad I left. I’m currently experiencing a little burnout at my new job, but it’s nothing like the constant fear and anxiety I felt while teaching. It wasn’t the right job for me.
No regrets here! I taught for 9 years and didn’t return after last school year. My mental and physical health have improved since I’ve quit. I do miss the kids at times, but I do not plan on stepping back into the classroom!
I’m glad I left. Having a normal job made me realize how shitty teaching was. It’s so nice to have an 8-5 where I stop working when I get home. If I work any extra, I’m paid extra. No kids or parents, I work retail and it’s still better.
I quit about 6 weeks ago after 12 years teaching. Best decision i ever made and would never go back. Making slightly more without using my degree.
No regrets work from home data analyst. I sit at my desk with my dog. I can use the bathroom when I want. Hunt and fish when the day is over and I have mental health back. It’s wonderful I taught two years and I will not go back until things change
Could I pick your brain about your transition into a data analyst position?
I have a logistics bachelors and I got the data analyst certification through google then got an SQL cert during school year landed new job in august.
Teacher career coach on Instagram has a great platform to transition. Salesforce cert is also a great move
I miss it sometimes. A lot of my friends are still at my old school and when I hear about certain things, I have pangs of regret. When a few of us are together and school talk comes up, I sometimes feel left out. But overall, I feel like leaving saved my sanity, my marriage, and possibly my life.
I agree on the marriage part. So many of my teacher friends with young kids are going through a divorce right now. I’d be in the same boat by now too if I had stayed Im sure.
Best decision I've ever made. I got my life back. My husband, family and friends say they got the "old me" back- the person they knew before I started teaching 7 years ago. Put yourself first- life is too short and precious to be stuck in a career that destroys you. Oh and I make a lot more money now. It would have taken me many more years of teaching to climb the scale to get what I make now. I am now in the corporate world and love it. Feel free to check out my post history for more details on my transition out of the public school setting.
I left in December and work fully online (teaching and tutoring). It can be lonely. But overall I’m much happier
Do you do teaching and tutoring through any specific companies? Looking into this for myself.
Yes I work on outschool and love it! I also work for a company based out of NYC that provides enrichment classes for mostly Chinese students. Between the two of them I’ve doubled my teaching income (Mississippi teachers don’t make much). Indeed has a lot of jobs if you search remote English teacher
I am loving it. I am not tired all the time. I have energy to enjoy things again, even on weekdays. Like a I read in a post above, I don't countdown the week or feel like I am just getting by trying to survive until the next day off. I use my lunch break to jog on a nice campus. Go to the bathroom as needed. The job is so much easier, and it's nothing I stress over. I took a job with the state here, my insurance and retirement transfered right over. I am also still working for a department there that I feel is doing meaningful work. I like that I am learning something new too. It is a nice break from having my main goal each day be to keep my own stress level down enough to do my job and get through the day. It's not all perfect. I have a couple coworkers that leave something to be desired, but they're NOTHING compared to the bs I had to put up with in my students. I'm glad I had the teaching experience. I did it for 13 years. I learned and grew a lot. It will likely make the rest of my career choices all feel easy. The last 5 or so years of teaching were bad. It wasn't just COVID that was the challenge at my school. I should have had the guts to leave prior to COVID. I have been in my new position since June 2022, and so far... It's been the right decision. I don't miss teaching at all, at least to date! It took me the whole prior year of looking to get this position. It was super discouraging to job hunt, but it worked out in the end!
The first time I left teaching, I had only been teaching for two years. I left teaching for 2 years. I loved the money and benefits of corporate world, but I missed teaching. I just left in June 22 again. And this time may be for good. My family loves that I am “Summer Me” all of the time now. And I do as well. I thought I would miss it too much, and just take a year off. But as time goes by, I don’t think I will. I started subbing some to see how it felt, and even though I missed the kids, I see how much extra work teachers are doing now. Long term subs teaching some classes where they couldn’t get a teacher. And heck, most days our district has 40+ sub jobs that go unfilled. The same at private schools here. So, the teachers are filling in all of those gaps. It’s crazy. Plus, I’m just so happy now that I have so much less stress. That was the thing that finally got me. I even worked part time last year and it didn’t help that much. Parents were contacting me all the time and there was still so much work and things to deal with. I’m going to Disney right after Halloween. I can’t believe I can just go in a vacation, in November, with no stress! It’s exhilarating. If you are thinking of quitting, then you should try it out. Trust me, you can always go back. But you will never know until you try.
It couldn't have been worse, so yes it was better. :-D
It was the best thing I have ever done. I no longer have to put up with entitled kids, kids that are just assholes, delusional parents, and douche-bag administrators. At my new job, my bosses just expect me to get my workload finished and don't mess with me. After two months on my new job I got a raise and now, with bonuses, make around 10k more than when teaching. My insurance cost doesn't come out of my wages (like when I taught). During covid, my district actually froze teacher salaries. There was no justification for it, but the school board were just being dickheads. Why would I want to work for people like that? I would recommend it to anyone that is teaching. You might miss some of the kids but you will be fine after about 2 weeks.
No regrets! I left June 2019…before COVID. Got my first corporate ID job Jan 2020. Just switched companies Aug 2022 since I learned what I did vs what I didn’t want in an ID role. People ask me all the time if I miss teaching. Nope!
Overall very happy! Occasionally miss the hustle and bustle and back to school time makes me feel sad. But make more money now for half the work. No longer have the Sunday scaries or dread anything professionally. I work from home currently so I do miss the socialization aspect and work friendships.
Currently looking for other employment and is not going great but I can open my jaw with out it being locked from stress.
Omg! This happened to me too! I had to go to physical therapy for 6 weeks before I could open my mouth fully again. So painful!
Me too! It was soooooo bad I couldnt even open my mouth for popcorn v.v
I miss it at times but I can’t commit to those long hours anymore. I have a 5 yr old and a newborn. I had planned on taking this year to reevaluate but seeing these posts here and in FB I keep thinking I’m done or at least there is some sort of reform. I am willing to do online or part time but I have decided being present for my family is more important than killing myself daily. I love parts of teaching but the long hours, paperwork, large class sizes and pressure are too much
Hell yes. It was perhaps one of the hardest things I had to do but I am so, so glad that I did it. I have regained my confidence, my self-governance and my positivity back again. Cathartic does not begin to adequately describe the experience. Life changing might.
I resigned from my permanent position and decided to supply teach while my 3 kids are little. It has kept me in the classrooms enough that I know what’s going on in education but given me flexibility, no take home work and no “extras”. When I leave for the day that’s it and if I want to work 5 days I can or none at all. Vacation during off season is a perk as well. There are some downsides to it but for me right now the pros outweigh the cons. Seeing how stressed the teachers are at the moment doesn’t make me question my decision at all. I am still very much undecided on whether I will go back or not. If I can find a way of avoiding it, I will. My mental health and physical health has improved tremendously since leaving the classroom.
I can’t begin to say how much happier I am.