You will think about leaving the classroom. It might happen after a few years of classroom teaching, or even just one year if it’s a tough one. Even if it’s still a mostly satisfying place to be and even if it feels like where you belong, you might wonder if there is something else out there that you should be doing.
My goal in this post is not to talk you out of leaving the classroom. I want to provide some tips and encouragement for your situation.
First, I get it. I’ve been there. I have been a classroom teacher for 21 years, but I left the classroom to serve as a coach for teachers for seven years. Despite those 21 years in the classroom, about every three to four years, I considered leaving the classroom and doing something else.
Let’s be clear. It’s not usually the students that make us want to leave. It could be any combination of these reasons:
lack of support from your team or your administration
lack of support from your students’ family community
a particularly challenging student or group of students
lack of resources
resentment about working so many hours for so little pay
burn out
feeling ineffective and helpless to make any changes
Some things to consider before you leave the classroom:
First, make a list of what you like about you classroom teaching job and what you do not like. A few times, when I compared my lists, I realized that staying in the classroom was what I really wanted to do. A few other times, I made a change.
Are you just tired of where you are? If you are feeling “stale” at what you are doing, could you make a change such as switching grade levels? How about transferring to another school in your district or teaching in another district? Either one of these would help re-energize you because you will have to learn something new and have to change up how you are currently doing your routine tasks.
Speaking of feeling “stale” — if you are not learning and growing and feeling supported by other teachers and the administration at your current school, consider a change of schools before leaving education altogether.
I have known so many teachers who were reluctant to do this (moving is never fun), but now claim that it was the best decision they ever made. Think about whether this might be the right decision for you.
Are you enjoying the planning more than the actual teaching and being with students daily? Consider searching for some kind of job where you help create curriculum or learning materials. Opening your own store on Teachers Pay Teachers or Etsy is a great way to get started and to see if this is something you really want to do.
Are you enjoying time with students? Is there some other role where you could still work with students, but not be a classroom teacher?
This might involve getting another certification or degree. Many people find it very satisfying to be an exceptional education teacher, an academically gifted teacher, or a teacher for ELL (English Language Learner) students.
Keep in mind that these other jobs are not necessarily less stressful — they are just different. Each group of students has its own challenges, paperwork, etc. But having a smaller “caseload” of students can be more rewarding, so it’s worth thinking about.
Consider a job where you train adults. This might be a coaching role in your school or district (which also may require another certification or degree).
But there are adult education opportunities in the private sector as well. Many companies and organizations employ their own training teams for various topics.
You could also search for an educational consulting job and consider leading professional development for teachers in different schools. Some cautions with this: adults have different learning needs. You will need to study this topic and consider whether that is something you want to do. Also, some of these types of jobs might involve travel, which may not fit your current life situation.
Would you like to impact the profession in an administrative role or a policy role? This will no doubt require you to go back to school, but investigate the options in your area. Many colleges and universities are working to revamp their programs and make them more accessible and “do-able” for classroom teachers.
How about teaching at the college level and training future teachers? This, too, will require more education on your part, but your experience as a classroom teacher will bring enormous credibility to your work with student teachers.
Then, there is always the option of leaving education altogether. After careful consideration of your options and what you think will really make you happy, this may be the best choice for you.
While I hate to even suggest it, I have known many people who are much happier in an entirely different career. They miss the students and the camaraderie of working in a school environment, but doing something different was the right choice for them.
The bottom line to think about — what will make you happy AND earn an income? Think about what really gives you joy in your current work situation and how you might be able to use that and replicate it in some other place or in some other way. Share your gifts with the world and enjoy what you do.
Please share your questions or stories with me!