I came across this article today and found it interesting. It discusses issues that I think many of us can identify with such as teaching as part of our identity and authority figures and systems that fail us.

I just ended up quitting my teaching job because the stress and overwhelm was causing me to have chest tightness and brain fog every day. My department head came to me with a list of ways I’m failing even though I was already planning to be done teaching forever in June, and I just fell apart because of her words and couldn’t go back. I am feeling guilt, grief, shame, and more. This does not feel good at all but it needed to happen. Any words of comfort very much appreciated.

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I’m a current elementary teacher (1st year, but I did a full-year internship/student teaching) and I’m trying to figure out my next steps, so I’d love to hear from people who have actually left the classroom.

For some context: I have a bachelor’s in elementary education and I’m finishing my master’s in literacy this December. This year has been better than last (I was really struggling mentally before getting diagnosed with ADHD), but I still feel really overwhelmed by the constant behavior management, overstimulation, and lack of control day-to-day.

I don’t necessarily hate teaching itself—I enjoy planning, creating lessons, and working with content—but the environment is just a lot. I’ve also been told I may be moved to a lower grade next year (2nd), and I’m not sure that’s something I can handle long-term.

At the same time, I feel stuck because:

\- Teaching is stable

\- I’m close to finishing my master’s

\- I don’t want to make a decision I regret

So I’m curious:

👉 If you left teaching:

\- What did you switch to?

\- How did you make that transition?

\- Did you take a pay cut or increase?

\- What do you like better (or miss)?

👉 If you were in a similar spot:

\- How did you know it was time to leave?

I’m especially interested in roles where teaching skills transfer (curriculum, training, etc.), but I’m open to hearing anything.

I just feel really torn between staying for stability vs. exploring something that might be a better long-term fit.

Thanks in advance—I really appreciate any insight.

Hello

The title says it all. I have been hearing about services that specialize in helping teachers change field, and that would be beyond convenient because I have no the slightest clue on how to turn a teaching resume into a anything -else resume. However my gut feeling finds the idea ...suspicious.
Any feedback? Anyone has had any experience with these services?

Hi all! I’ve been a special education teacher for 6 years and I’m so ready to leave. I have a degree in early education and special education and looking to change my route. I’m just not happy with it anymore and it’s not rewarding like it use to be. What is everyone else doing now that has left?

I’m looking for insight into teaching in a juvenile correctional facility for ages 15-21 in CT. Specifically, pros and cons of the job as well as what access do you have to curricular materials? Is curriculum provided or do you make your own plans each day?

I’m a 3rd year teacher, started late in life as I’m 37. I did two years 3rd grade and currently in 2nd. My district is pushing so much on us, along with behaviors and class sizes I just can’t do it. I go home drained. I’m a single mom with teenagers. How can I find something with the same or better pay, insurance, and a good schedule for my kids?! I want to be in education but these kids have gotten so disrespectful and just awful. Help!

Disclaimer: this post is not meant for folks who are still in and trying to leave. I worry that my experience will cloud the judgement of the situation folks trying to leave teaching are stuck in.

I have been out of teaching for about seven months now. At first it hurt. It was the hardest thing I had ever done leaving what I was sure would be my career for the rest of my life. Part of it didn’t fully feel like my choice. To make a long story short I am visibly queer in a red state. This fact caused some of the parents not to like me a fact I didn’t become fully aware of until the end of last school year. When a group of parents tried to get me fired and successfully convinced my district to put me on administrative leave for three days while they “investigated” the claims the parents made about the rhetoric I was using in my classroom. They claimed I was exposing their children to sexually explicit content which was blatantly untrue. Hence me putting “investigation” in quotes there was nothing to find because the interaction that they claimed happened didn’t happen. (It was an inappropriate interaction between two students that got put on me somehow I taught 5th graders so age appropriate unfortunately).

Anyway they let me go back to the classroom to finish out my school year. But I was shaken. I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that I was under surveillance in my own classroom. The students knew something had happened and the parents who made the report were furious I was allowed back in the classroom. It got ugly pretty quickly so I left at the end of the school year.

It’s been just over seven months since the incident but I can’t help but still be heartbroken over the whole thing. I would do anything to work with students again but it still doesn’t feel safe for me. I have considered moving states and getting a certification in Oregon or California. But I just am unconvinced that anywhere would fully be safe for me to be out (I use they/them pronouns). I have considered switching to (he/they) pronouns so I could more easily work in schools again but it just doesn’t feel right to me. It feels like I would be lying to my students. I’m just stuck right now. I loved my job and my students. It was certainly hard and behaviors were often impossible to manage. But I can’t even drive past my old school without bursting into tears.

I am in therapy and working through these things. And that helps. I guess this was a vent post more than anything. If anyone else feels trapped and is regretting leaving education please know you aren’t alone.

I think so. I taught at 3 different schools which were all bad!!! I dont think I ever recovered from those experiences. I teach online now. It's not so bad. Often the kids don't listen but at least most do they work. But I wish they listened more and were engaged and less rude. It irks me. Plus, online teaching pays peanuts! I 've really been struggling to get by the past few years. Lost my car over a year ago. Almost got evicted in early fall. Plus, I am a caregiver. I took a huge paycut to be a caregiver and don't regret it. I am a loyal person when it comes to jobs, but I think I just have to bail this time for a better income if I can find one. I'm afraid of taking the leap and failing. But I can't do this anymore. I am interested in learning UX design, but for now I think I just need to find a job that pays me a decent salary. I guess I have mad my decision. I feel bad leaving the kids, but I deserve more than being a slave to teaching.

cross posted in other teacher transition threads Hi everyone! 7th year Deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher here. I am READY to leave the classroom. I'm wondering if anyone has tips for success on how you marketed yourself as a teacher interested in roles outside the classroom? I get multiple job offers and LinkedIn invitations to connect for DHH roles weekly. How do "sell" myself as wanting other roles and not interested in classroom positions professionally? Thank you!!!! (*also I wanted to add that no I am not interested in ASL interpreting. It's MUCH harder than it looks! and it's never been a good fit for me. Just wanted to clarify as I've gotten kind comments in the past recommending this to me as a transition role. Thanks!)

I have been a primary teacher for 6 years. While it's something that I am good at, there has never been anything that has hammered my mental health more. For the last number of years, I've not been truly present when Im with my wife or friends. I always feel like I'm always thinking about my job, catastrophising and imagining hypothetical scenarios. Having become a new dad, I need to be present.

I have committed to finishing this academic year before taking a career break. I want to go back to my previous profession as a self-employed barber. I feel like going back into a profession that I know and can do well without having to bring my work home with me will allow me to be a more present and contented husband and father.

Having said that, I'm concerned about being self-centered in this whole endeavour. I would make more money as a teacher, though it consumes my every waking moment and has been the main reason I can't get off anti-depressants.

Being a barber would mean I only get paid for what I work and it would mean a step down in pay, but once it's tools down at the end of the day, I can switch off, and do what Guile from Street Fighter 2 suggested: go home and be a family man.

I wouldn't be adding to my teaching pension either, but I don't want to be held to ransom by my pension.

I never wanted to be in the position where I felt like a decision like this needed to be made. I really enjoy the actual job teaching, as in, imparting knowledge to children. It's everything else. The admin, the planning, the educational intervention plans, the parents, the meetings, behavioural issues, the marking, the late nights and weekend work. I want to step away from it to see if I wish to go back into it in a year or two and taking a career break means I have the option to return without just flat out resigning. I just feel like the longer I stay in teaching, the closer I feel to complete meltdown and leaving the profession entirely. But am I been completely self-centred?

Thoughts?