During school, I made the easy choices without ever thinking about what being a teacher would actually be like. The realization that I had made a horrible mistake hit me like lightning. But what I didnt realize until after quitting teaching was just how many more people I could help outside the classroom. Or that I was just giving up. Do you find yourself catching up on work or trying to get ahead during your summers and holidays off? I added digital resources to my store, which have helped. A February 2021 survey found that "36% of internet users aged 18 to 29 years and 22% of users aged 30 to 49 years used Reddit.". I learned to plan lessons more efficiently. As a teacher, I was able to see the pay scale laid out in front of me with its modest annual increases. Do you come in early, stay late for bus duty, grade papers or decorate the classroom on the weekends? It wasnt until someone talked about how creative I was to be able to design these scrapbooks that I realized how much of a strength this was for me. While I had no idea what my next step would be, I knew I had to figure it out. It was September. For about eight months, I was working two full-time jobs. And boy have I seen some amazing things in my business. There are days when work is exhausting, stressful, and feels pointless. More things are added to teachers' plates every year and rarely is anything removed. Something Ive always thought about, but never really wanted to talk about was my strengths. I read everything I could about SEO, Pinterest strategy, and began posting to Instagram every day. Everyone thinks they are an expert and they know best how to direct teachers. However, I thought an occasional $10 here and there would be nice. But a group of parents used a combination of large donations, email campaigns, and bombarding school board meetings to get the district to reopen. I remember feeling so alone when I was going through my career transition. But for me, it just wasnt (and Ill explain why below!). Now you might be thinking, Wait a secondif thats what God designed you to do, shouldnt you be doing that? Well, that is a very astute point. Looking back, I dont understand why I thought switching careers was a failure. When youre on salary and expected to work long hours, it doesnt add up. No job was worth giving up my physical or mental health. To avoid lifestyle creep, I created a rule for myself. One thing I learned in my life after teaching is that many salaries can be negotiated upon hiring. Meanwhile, my district had assured us all that we would be starting the 2020-2021 school year virtually. I felt stuck, which led me to feel uninspired. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer this morning described Sue Gray as a woman with a "formidable reputation" as he faces pressure to explain the circumstances of her job offer. If I somehow exhaust all of my emergency savings, by then I should be done with the degree and can start a new career. If we haven't met, I'd love to get to know you! Im young and healthy. Colleagues with aging parents spend hundreds of dollars of their own money to erect plexiglass shields around their desks. This podcast episode is not intended to knock teaching or anyone who chooses to continue teaching. Upon leaving the classroom the second time to homeschool my boys, I was more determined than ever to make money from home. This is another hangup Ive been grappling with. But they now found themselves locked into contracts with a $3,000 exit fee. Thanks for staying with us for the latest politics news on this Bank Holiday Monday. What if districts banned TpT resources or the website disappeared? Plus, Im not losing my community. The crazy thing is its actually more frustrating to stand at the precipice contemplating all of the what if scenarios than it is to just take the leap. The first time I left the classroom was to be a stay at home mom to my two boys until my youngest started kindergarten. After all, what would I do if I wasnt a teacher? Still, I was afraid to lose that luxury, as are many teachers, especially moms. Pretty easy, right? I began researching how other Teachers Pay Teachers sellers created their resources and packaged their material. As a kid, I did not play school. I didnt study teaching books for fun, and I never volunteered to babysit growing up. This led me down the path to finding my ikigai (the Japanese word for passion, purpose, and a reason for being). The good news is there is life after teaching. Many quit. It wasnt until I started selling Premier Designs jewelry that I learned what true financial success from home looked like. I shared in my stories th." Im hopeful that soon my business will not only match, but exceed, my teaching salary. I couldnt believe it even as I stared at the notification on my phone. I began my own TPT store. The parent-teacher interviews I had with these types of parents were some of the worst experiences I had in my professional career. Through my work, I searched for grants and technology giveaways to help match districts with great opportunities for them. I first used the new income to pay off my credit card debt. I've always wanted to travel the world, but I've never had the means to do so. My store grew quicker than I could believe. Up to 50% of new teachers are leaving the profession within the first five years. Heck, I doubted it was even a possibility. I realized just how crippled I was by perfectionism and I dont believe I wouldve ever discovered this without quitting teaching. At this point in my teaching career (year 6), my take-home pay was about $2000 a month. My benefits from this year will continue until the end of August, and at the end of October, Ill be able to marry Blake and jump onto his insurance. I grew both personally and professionally during that transition and Im better for it. I had less than nine months to make a plan to leave. 243 likes, 27 comments - Leah Gervais (@leahgervais_) on Instagram: "What's the best thing that happened to you in 2020? It wouldnt have led me here, to you. One of the texts that was very transformative during my research was Carol Dwecks Mindset. And that includes you! It didnt help that there were teachers making the same, if not more, yet did less work and put less effort into their job. 2023 DAPHNE WILLIAMS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. I know those can feel like lonely thoughts, worrying that your co-workers wont understand or will shame you for considering an alternative. Dont let them dictate what you do or dont do with your life. I have a lifetime teaching license here in Wisconsin. In fact, there was no other reason than a deeply heartfelt clarity that this was the right thing to do for our family. But I was growing bitter and angry over my checks. Immediately, I jumped on to Teachers Pay Teachers and paid the $60 for the premium membership. Heres what really struck me about life after teaching: I could do so much with the 260 hours I regained. However, I have saved a personal emergency fund for myself for six months. A few years ago, I heard a fellow blogger and business owner say Done is better than perfect.. No other career will challenge you to grow in the ways that this one does; no other career will teach you the empathy that this one can. Why is it that education is so fixed mindset oriented? And this is just a short listing of what all is available. Since then, Ive also had jobs in instructional design, freelancing, and even launched my own business (this very site) to help others navigate their teacher career transitions. Plus, my new TPT Profitability course is adding to my overall bottom line. Spoiler alert: It didnt. Since I planned on Teachers Pay Teachers replacing my salarynot adding to itI have not allowed myself to use my profits for bills or new expenses. Any excitement I felt disappeared, replaced with overwhelming stress and burnout that affected my life both in and out of work. Before I share why quitting teaching was the best thing I ever did as well as the ten things Ive learned after quitting teaching twice, I want to share my heart. There are many, many TpT sellers who sell full-time and have been out of the classroom for a long time. Instead, I was constantly battling entitled parents and students who believe that marks indicate their intelligence. It is definitely a true representation about how I feel regarding public speaking. (Insert guilt here.) Now butchers, teachers and photographers, these former journalists say quitting the field was the best thing they ever did. We fear not measuring up, not being successful, and we allow that fear to paralyze us into never finishing. I made more in my first year as an educational consultant than I ever did in the classroom. Were one of those who couldnt handle it. Year after year I found myself with a new batch of students, all of whom had never seen the growth mindset side of education before. On weekend, I awoke early to devote myself to my store. My husband and I had made this decision long before our kids ever entered the picture, and we planned accordingly. The New Normal: Is Online Education The Future For Passionate Teachers? You see, I'm a small-town girl with a big heart for adventure. But Im ready to take a leap and take a chance on myself. Mortgages and dog kibble dont pay for themselves, and my only real work experience as an adult was being a teacher and working at a renaissance faire (my summer gig). introduced me to the concept of a growth mindset, 175 Positive Affirmations to Start Your Day Off Right, 75 Inspiring Quotes on Gratitude by Famous Personalities, 115 Inspirational You Are Amazing Quotes To Empower, 175 Best Motivational Live Your Best Life Quotes, that they are smart if they get questions right, failure means they are bad at the subject, taking risks means you could end up looking stupid, the parent believes that the child is a genius without flaws, they will make up excuses and place blame elsewhere when their child doesnt perform, Student performs poorly (or does not get perfect), Parent demands meeting with the teacher and administration, Student and parent blame teacher for poor performance. They dont prepare you for what to do if you dont. This one surprised me. Absolutely not!! Well if Ive learned anything since quitting teaching, its the truth of this statement. I broke it up into questions that I think other teachers might have. Most people who want to teach grow up wanting to be teachers. More time could definitely mean faster growth. And suddenly a roomful of sullen teenagers was staring at me, waiting. Students with a positive approach to education are always a joy, but they arent all like this. I think it will be awhile before I run out of much-needed resources to create. The second time, on the other hand, was a total shock to both me and my husband! W. With an MBA from . Ive made this comment on the podcast multiple times in reference to what most of us thought when we went into the field of education. Now I use that same creativity to design websites (or online scrapbooks as I like to think of them) that are unique and customized to the person for which I am designing. In other words, if Im worried about what others think of me, then the hives commence. They wanted additional support and resources. When I decided to quit teaching, I was in a place in my life where prioritizing time with my family over my career was very important to me. And Ive discovered a lot of skills I didnt know I had. I hit my stride, found some work-life balance, and counted down to summers. The door shut. Once teachers gain tenure, they are pretty much guaranteed a job until retirement. At this point, I was working a full-time and a part-time job, plus a summer job, and it still wasnt filling in the gaps. If I never taught, I wouldnt be able to create resources for other teachers transitioning out of the classroom. Ive been teaching for eight years. For me, this meant pinpointing strengths and weaknesses in order to achieve the growth I wanted. I learned that I could do whatever I wanted if I was willing to put in the effort and climb the learning curve. It took me two months. Rational or not, the idea of relying solely on Teachers Pay Teachers for income for the rest of my life scares me. I could have lived with this1500 a year would still have been a huge help to mebut they were not giving us credit for time served under the pay freeze. Quitting teaching will also give me time to pursue other interests: marathon training, painting, writing, a new degree. I absolutely loved teaching; in fact, spoiler alertI am working with kids this school year. Teaching did become less stressful year over year as I gained experience, grew my collection of quality lessons, and learned classroom management. Leaving teaching is the best thing thats ever happened to me. All of the demands and stresses of the job were at least somewhat manageable prior to having children, however, things changed when I became a parent. Now before I go any farther here, I want you to hear what I am about to say. Seth Godin once said, "Winners quit all the time, they just quit the right things at the right time.". I too quit teaching as I just couldn't do it anymore. I could spend all day writing about all of the negative aspects of teaching that led to my decision. We taught at a higher level and far more than . My experience as a teacher helped me understand what I believe to be the cause of student entitlement. I also worked closely with other Professional Development trainers and many other educational companies. I realized I had no idea where to even start with figuring out my next move. After suffering through the first few stressful years of being a new teacher, I accepted a position in another district. 30. I was stuck in this career. It was hard and scary to take the leap of faith, but Im so glad I did. is able to lay out exactly why they should have gotten a better mark. Students who struggled used feedback to improve their learning. I ended up working a couple of hours a week doing his eBay orders of collectibles. I have the ability to walk away whenever I want. Even worse, some parents believed that adequate was nothing less then perfect. Im also open to subbing in the fall. (If only they knew.) In year four of teaching for me, the district finally took steps to address the pay freeze. I am also planning on subbing for my previous school one or two days a week. Heres what really struck me about life after teaching: I could do so much with the 260 hours I regained. Im proud of the work Ive done as a teacher, and Ill continue to help teachers with my business. One of the biggest mistakes that we see teachers make is that they try tonavigate this process alone. Teaching has shown me the world through hundreds of different perspectives; its changed me fundamentally. (We both know you work way more.) Yet, teachers carry the burden of shame and guilt the moment they think of leaving the classroom. Now, family aside, teaching has many, many challenges that make it a struggle to sustain. Think about how many hours you spend working in a week. No more stress, no more guilt, no more doubts. These were parents who were at home telling their children how smart they are and expecting them to get into the most prestigious schools. I had never felt this way with any other job like I was missing something. If youre worried about making that jump or are wondering what life could look like for you outside of the classroom, keep reading. And while talking incessantly about your never-ending list of strengths is definitely a source of annoyance to anyone stuck listening, acknowledging specific strengths you possess is actually a good thing. So I. You always have to remember that different companies have different budgets, so even after doing your research, its not a one-size-fits-all answer. While it made planning for the future easy, I felt like I was chasing a salary that I wouldnt reach until 10 or 15 years down the road no ifs, ands, or buts. Working with children, guiding them to success, and helping them grow their self-confidence is what I used to believe God had designed me to do. Maybe you feel completely trapped with no way out. However, I made my decision to allow me to grow in the right place. However, as I thought about quitting teaching and relying solely on TpT, I did start to panic a little bit. Im also working on an associates degree. I assumed I would love it. I wasnt expecting to make a fortune on Teachers Pay Teachers. At this point, I had made peace with my job. As a new parent, I really wanted to be at home and focusing on my family. I was on fire after my first Teachers Pay Teachers sale, and I had a unit to finish. The bell rang. Our new technology still had not arrived due to pandemic delays, and there was no time for training on how to use any of it. After all, I had dedicated years of my life preparing to become a teacher, assuming it would all work out. I never came home and complained about my students. Ultimately, I realized that the truth was that I needed a break. A fixed mindset believes that being smart is something that happens naturally, rather than the result of hard work and practice. After coming home from a long day at school, I sat down and worked on my own business for a few more hours. Hey, maybe it did make you happy for some time. Would your days be filled with joy and sunshine if you could travel the world while making the income you deserve? At my local technical college, its much cheaper than a masters in education would be, plus, thanks to the pandemic, I can do the whole program online and asynchronously. generic-witty-user 1 yr. ago. Luckily for me, I was "non-renewed" at my old school and ended up finding another job in a completely new district. I remember setting up my classroom, excited for the fresh start. I was proud of myself and happy to not let down my parents. Every year, I thought about quitting. To my surprise, I even had a principal reach out to see if my company was hiring! I will always be grateful and glad for the time I spent teaching. Maybe these are skills we learned at an early age or simply found that came naturally to us. Remember, you are vital to your family and your friends, but you are just another employee at your job. And while this can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it, the world of education has enlarged itself over and over again producing so many unique job opportunities for teachers. Maybe before the end of the year, I could pay myself back. At that point, I didnt have the energy to do anything on most weeknights. Sometimes the water doesnt get hot, our air ventilation systems are ancient, some of our staff was pregnant or otherwise vulnerable. If you ever choose to return after quitting teaching, you have the ability to do so without any black marks on your record. However, I do have years of experience to draw on, and right now I have more ideas for resources than I have time for. But looking back now, I am soooooo grateful that the Lord gave me the swift kick in the pants I needed to make some tough decisions like quitting teaching because its a whole lot easier to stay stuck than to muster up the courage to venture out onto an unknown path. Despite a doctor expressing her concerns for mental well-being, I felt guilty for how I was feeling. This lesson is one people need to revisit again and again. Quitting Teaching Was The Best Thing I Ever Did. I used the extra time at home to add a digital course to my business. It was like a cloud lifted from over my head and a weight off of my shoulders. Feel as though everything will fall apart when you leave, Know teaching wont be done the way you have done it and your students might struggle, Everything you have worked so hard to accomplish to be gone. It was a catch-22. It got to a point where parent interviews were cookie cutter experiences. This particular job gave me SO MUCH free time, that within a few months I already felt comfortable branching out and starting a few passion projects. Surprisingly, I was being offered other jobs on a consistent basis. There are many reasons why quitting teaching was the best thing I ever did. I spent some time searching for ikigai examples to inspire me to find new passion and purpose in my life. I did everything I could to help myself financially. Here is the truthto our families and friends we are irreplaceable, but as employees, we are all expendable. That just leaves three months without insurance. At this point, between the extra teaching demands of the panic, the anxiety of not knowing what teaching was even going to look like, and feeling so completely disregarded by my district, I wept on my balcony. All was well and good! Like I said before, the first time I left the classroom, my husband and I had a plan. I hate repeating myself and having to hold my bladder. As a result, they place blame elsewhere. Not that I had any idea about what I would even switch to. I had spent the summer working on my store and listening to podcasts from full-time TPT sellers. You know yourself and your situation better than anyone else. The school board member looked at me and literally laughed out loud. When I first started teaching fifth grade, I was excited by the opportunity to give back to the community. We'll be back from 6am, but before you go, here are the highlights from today: NHS nurses walked out on strike . Fast forward to 2018: where I left the classroom, went all in, launched my first course, and made $445,000 (most of which was made in the week of my course launch). It would get better. I shared my heart with my principal and superintendent, thanked them for the opportunity I had to work at my school, and told them how much I would miss all of the students and the faculty. So, if and when you reach the point when it's time to move on, I want you to feel good about the years of your life you dedicated to teaching. The district emailed us to let us know that from now on, we would need a doctors note for any sick day taken. When were not in a pandemic, my classroom is so small it can only hold twenty students; theres no space for distancing. By 30, I was finished. My advice? As I already mentioned, Ive always felt very comfortable working with kids and helping them be confident and capable learners. Student entitlement is one of the major issues teachers experience these days that makes them want to quit teaching. Perfectionism is a tricky thing. Obviously, I didnt run. I left my position as an Educational Consultant for a position as an Instructional Designer and viewed it as growth, not failure. You might be curious about how someone else managed to do it, so this post is for you. I was worried that after I left teaching, I would miss having the summers and holidays off. At that point, I didnt realize the true scope of the term. No person should ever be held responsible for another persons inability to find growth. I plan on looking into the Affordable Care Act marketplace when the time comes to see if I can get coverage for those three months, even if it might be more expensive than I would like. The truth was I was miserable. As a teacher, I was confined to my four walls every single day. And not a typical this-wasn't-the-best day but an honest truly B-A-D day that has you ready to burst into tears. I told myself that the job only sucked because I was inexperienced and unprepared. . While I enjoyed parts of the job, I didnt love it in the way I wanted to love my job. I want to help you get some clarity in the options available to you. The more job descriptions I read, the more I realized I could use my skills in other places. This was incredibly draining and led me to quit. And I could barely make my rent in Los Angeles, despite having my Masters degree. I wont simply walk away from teaching and never think twice; its impossible. I had made money without taking on another job or abandoning my dog alone for more hours. Your life, mental health, and physical health are more valuable than sticking it out through any career. I started over several times. However, I refuse to suffer financially or emotionally over a profession. Start building that network! I remember feeling like it was my way to give back to the community. While the overall number of teachers has kept pace with an increase in pupil numbers, the recorded rate of vacancies and temporarily filled positions rose from 0.5% of the entire teaching . I dont know if its because I act their age or because I have no shame when it comes to acting silly, but I seem to have a knack for connecting with them. My job was putting these values into question almost every day. By the end of my worst (and final) year as a teacher, it had become routine for me to break down in tears on my way to school. I had no idea what I was dealing with then, but am able to see it now so clearly. I wanted to be able to do what I love, apply my strengths, and make a difference in the world. This is not a sudden decision on my part. If youve realized you do want to leave teaching, there are plenty of resources to help find that next job for you. At that moment, any ideas I had ever had about pursuing teaching further was put to rest. If you speak with the parent of an entitled child, you will quickly realize a few things: These are very fixed mindset type reactions. What if, after a few years of being out of the classroom, I lost my edge? But as with anything, we have to be careful not to overlook new information assuming we already know everything there is to know. Sales would eventually rebound. Ive watched another former teacher quadruple her salary within 3 years of leaving teaching, something that would have been impossible for her in the classroom. But when everything is said and done, our families will stand long after our jobs have faded away. This got me thinking. My time teaching with diverse students had kindled within me an understanding of the importance of diverse and engaging literature. Please. Worst of all, my efforts to introduce the power of the growth mindset to the school and its students was being tarnished by the complex relationship between parents, students, and the school administration.
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quitting teaching was the best thing i ever did