Do you ever get into such a stressful rut that you feel like leaving teaching? Grading papers, creating lesson plans, a mountain of paperwork, and the pressure from high stakes testing are enough to drive anyone into another profession. Then, factor in the stress from your personal life, and how do we all not lose our minds?
For those of you that know me on a more personal level, you know that I have a son who has severe autism and is non-verbal. You can read more about him in this post that I wrote. Now he is 12 years old, but still functions at a 2 year old level cognitively. This school year is his last year in elementary school. After weighing many options, I made the very difficult decision to take some time off from teaching to have more time to devote to my family.
I see so many posts and hear so many stories about teachers who leave teaching. I wanted to share why I went BACK to teaching, even though I had a million reasons not to.
At the beginning of this school year, I started tackling my long to-do list. While the boys were at school, I was at home working away on my blog and creating resources. After a while, I lost the motivation to create. It became a struggle to blog and create resources, because I wasn’t able to use them to help a room full of students master a difficult skill or engage them in a new way.
Despite all the to-do lists and big plans, I quickly became uninspired to create and share. I was unmotivated and had lost that something special that I had while I was teaching. It didn’t take me long to realize, I need students to inspire me. Without knowing it, my students had been inspiring me just as much as I had tried to inspire all the students I had taught in the past.
I thought volunteering in Brody’s classroom would help satisfy my need to be in the classroom, but that didn’t turn out well. Every time I came in, he would grab my hand and was ready to leave. Then, I tried to volunteer once a week at my old school, and then at my other son’s school. However, I still felt like part of me was missing. I didn’t have students to call my own. I didn’t have anyone who proudly said, “Mrs. Williams is my teacher!” My heart was broken.
I had written a letter to myself before I quit last school year, because I knew this would happen. I knew as I distanced myself from teaching, I would forget all the negative and only remember the positives. In the letter, I wrote about all the reasons why I chose to take a year off: the kids, my husband, the stress, my growing business. I read the letter almost every week in an attempt make myself feel better about not teaching anymore. It didn’t work. No matter how many times I read that letter, I still felt like part of me was missing.
I couldn’t help but wonder about the students who I would have had this year. I wondered if they would have a teacher who cared about them and worked hard for them like I did. This sounds cheesy, but it was almost like I was grieving for the students I wasn’t going to be able teach this year.
I spoke with my teacher friends regularly and was reminded, on an almost daily basis, of all the reasons I should not want to be a teacher. I saw the stress and pressure first-hand when I visited the schools and the classrooms. However, there was one huge reason why I wanted and needed to be a teacher again: the students.
I needed to be there for them. I needed to make a difference in their lives. I needed to give them the skills to be successful, the confidence to keep trying, and the desire to learn. Here’s the thing I never saw coming, I needed my students just as much as they needed me.
I applied for a couple of part-time positions in my area throughout the first semester. I prayed that there was something that was a perfect fit for me. I thought about teaching every. single. day. So when the opportunity to teach middle school part-time became open, I took it and have never looked back.
I have been teaching part-time since the beginning of January. It is very different than elementary school and there have been some adjustments and growing pains. However, I feel hope and inspiration again. I look at the students I am teaching, and I know I am there for them. This position is the best of both worlds: I can get my inspiration and fuel my purpose, and I still have that much needed time for my family.
Not everyone will be as fortunate as I am to be able to work part-time, however if you are thinking of quitting teaching, I urge you to:
- remember why you became a teacher
- remember all the students you have helped and made a difference with – even if it is just one
- seek support from a positive tribe of teachers – even if they are online
- look for a different teaching position that better suits your needs – transfer to another district, take a chance with a new position, ask for another grade level
But most of all, I urge you to never give up. If you are truly meant to be a teacher, you must find a way to stay motivated and stay inspired, for yourself and for your future students. Putting my story out here for the world to see has been really difficult for me. But I hope that my message will inspire others to remember why they deal with the pressure, the stress, the behavior, the two hundred other parts of the job that make it difficult. Thank you for letting me share my story with you.
I also left teaching at the end of last school year. I am working part time right now as well. The time off helped me with perspective. I could not have kept going the way I was this time last year.
Sometimes a break from the normal is definitely needed to gain some perspective. I am glad you were able to work part time as well. It is the best of both worlds! Thanks for visiting, Mary!
I am currently on a FMLA. I have been a teacher for almost 25 years. I thought I needed something else. During this leave, I took a job at the university. There is some teaching involved but not with high school students. After six weeks and a lot of therapy, I am ready to come back. I miss the students. That is where I lost my focus. I got so caught up in all the other stuff-attendance, grades, discipline, etc…I forgot why I went into it-the students. They make me smile, laugh, cry, and get angry. They are smart, dim-witted, lazy, energetic, good, bad, ugly, beautiful.
I need them to be alive and I am scared to death right now what I am going to do if I cannot return to them.
I love this! I have considered…actually been to the point where I was DYING to LEAVE teaching. I moved around to 3 districts in 4 years, but I’m thankful I stayed because now I have a boss who is amazing and understanding and honest…something we don’t see always in administrators (or any human being in the workplace, really), and my school is just perfect for me. I have a hard time imagining a different profession and I feel like I’ve made a complete 180 in just 6 months. I went from absolute and unquestionable misery every day to actually looking forward to seeing my students.
So thank you for writing this!!! I feel lucky that I can finally read posts like this and this YES! This is so true.
Admin can make such a huge difference for sure! I am glad you found a school that is just right for you! Thanks for visiting, Elizabeth!
Thank you for writing this! I left teaching for 6 months to work for an education nonprofit and had the exact same feelings as you. I missed the students so much and being a part of their everyday lives… It’s all about the relationships. I called my principal and it just so happened that a teacher in my grade level was leaving and I came back mid-year! It’s still a struggle, but it’s worth it. I do need to explore other options in terms of districts, though! Thanks for this post.
Yes, Brittany, I agree with you! The relationships and the difference we make in our students’ lives is like no other! Thanks for your comments!
What a beautifully written post, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing your story. May it inspire teachers to remember why we started this adventure in the first place. Our students are the reason we teach. We need them just as much as they need us. Cheers!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth! Teaching is quite the adventure!
I love the idea of “shopping” around to find a good fit for your teaching, realizing that what is a perfect fit today may not be a good match in 10 years. But it seems the hiring practices of districts make teachers prisoners of their school or district by financially punishing them for their experience. In other words, teachers don’t think about leaving because it may mean a pay cut by only giving credit for X number of years even if you’ve taught more. Teaching is an amazing profession but so hard and we need the freedom to be able to find supportive administrators and peers.
Hi Mo, I am very fortunate to work in an area that does not do that. I am sorry you are experiencing that.
Love this! I too took a year off to spend more time with my family when I had 3 kids under 5. I missed it so much that I went back part time this year.
Part-time really is the best of both worlds.i am glad you were able to find that position.
I completely understand your need to leave teaching. It’s so easy to become consumed with something you love. I was doing that with my teaching job and realized after a life scare of almost losing my husband that I needed a change. I realized that I needed to balance my life and my job because they are both different and I wasn’t able to do that teaching at my former school. I didn’t leave teaching but I changed schools and grades. My new school allows time for planning, grading and collaboration which I was having to do at home at my old school. Most days were so hard I hated going to school, the hardest part of my change was leaving my students who I adore.
Now I am much happier and more balanced doing what I love! Glad you found your path too. I love your blog and creativity.
Thank you, Beth! Change is hard, but can be amazing! I am glad you are enjoying your new school.
Thanks for sharing Jennifer! I too went from full time to part time this year, and I feel like it’s the best of both worlds! It’s like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I’m glad you were able to find something that works for you and your family!
Thanks, Lauren! I am glad you are able to teach part time as well!
Aw, friend, I feel like I’ve been on this journey with you. Your post brought tears to my eyes. You are an amazing person and what a great read for anyone thinking of leaving the classroom. <3 you!
Thank you, Cyndie! You are pretty amazing yourself, friend!
Jennifer, you are one of my favorite bloggers and TpT selles. I am happy to learn that you have found balance. Your words our true. It is not just what we give our students, it is what they give us back! When you have a calling to be a teacher, as you do, you truly understand this.
I am going to be retiring soon, and at the same time that I rejoice in what lies ahead, I am sadden with what I will be leaving. Thank you for this beautiful post, and much joy to you in the coming year!
Thank you so much, Debbie! Congrats on your upcoming retirement!
Jennifer,
You truly are an inspiration to many including teachers, parents of children with autism, and your students. I loved reading this posts and have learned so much from you. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to share your special gift with others.
I have a son with autism and know how challenging yet rewarding they can be. I have also worked at a school for children with autism.
I am so happy that a part time job opened up for you. I look forward to your upcoming posts and any new resources you will be sharing.
Thanks again for all you do,
Loren
Thank you so much for your kind words, Loren! I am so fortunate that I am able to share my ideas and resources with other teachers. Children with autism are definitely rewarding. Brody makes me a better person on a daily basis. Thank you so much for visiting and leaving me this kind message!
Thank-you for sharing this. I’m in exactly the same situation at the moment. Our school year, here in Western Australia, starts next week and I’m sad I’m not going to be part of it. I’m currently on maternity leave and will return in a few months but I miss the beginning of the year preparations and the buzz of a new school year. You are right about being born a teacher. I’m glad there are others out there who feel the same as me.
Congratulations on your new little one, Rebecca!
love this
you are an inspiration
Thank you, Sande! That means a lot that you say that!
This post came at the perfect time for me. I’ve been struggling with quitting teaching to do TpT/blogging full time. I keep going back and forth. I finally made my decision to continue teaching just a week ago. After reading your post {specifically this part: ” I couldn’t help but wonder about the students who I would have had this year. I wondered if they would have a teacher who cared about them and worked hard for them like I did. This sounds cheesy, but it was almost like I was grieving for the students I wasn’t going to be able teach this year.”}, I knew I’d made the right decision to stay! Thank you!
Hi Megan! It is so hard to make a decision like leaving teaching. Teaching is such a huge part of who we are! I am glad you made a decision that you are happy with.