Ideas and actionable steps for a teacher to leave the classroom

[Anonymous]

It’s only October, but I know this will be my last year.

I’m 42 years old and have only a bachelors in education.

It’s so heartbreaking and frustrating, but I need to step away.

I’d love some actionable steps and ideas for remote work or thoughts on what I can do next.

I feel stuck, and stupid. Is teaching all I am good for but I’m not even good for that?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I was you. I quit with no plan. I was going to go back to school and go further into debt with loans and eat ramen every meal before going back into the classroom. I managed to find a job doing office admin work. It wasn't remote, but it was something. I switched jobs every few years to something better, and it was always project management focused. Look for office or association jobs that are project coordinator positions. Document every project you run or manage, Study for PMP. You can do it! People know that teachers are organized, level-headed, realistic, so many things. Your teaching background is an asset.

[Anonymous]

Can you tutor higher level high school classes? I am paying through the nose for Spanish 4 and Pre-calc tutors. I always look to hire former teachers who know the curriculum over the tutors who just got high scores on standardized tests.

[Anonymous]

Are you in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you in DC?

No

[Anonymous]

1) Start looking for jobs
2) Look at what they pay and what they require. If you meet 60-70% of the requirements, consider applying.
3) Create a budget and decide just how much of a pay cut you could live with. Do you make 80-90K now? Can you go down to 50K? 40K?
4) Do you have any special skills? Do you speak Spanish? Can you code? Are you awesome at organizing?
5) Can you make an appt. with someone in a potential job field who might help you rewrite your resume to change the language so that it aligns better with another field?

Good luck to you. I hope you can get out. I left public and went to private. In some ways private is better, in some ways, its the same old same old. I'm close to retirement and look forward to leaving it all behind.

[Anonymous]

This was me-
I tutor and teach children's art classes.
I have also taught children's STEM classes, create seasonal craft kits, and organize playspaces.

[Anonymous]

If you’re public, consider looking into private schools. Many of us have made the switch already, and we often tell each other how grateful we are.

[Anonymous]

look in higher education- universities, etc. can look at admin roles (coordinator, manager, work your way up) or look at universities that have teaching programs and apply for admin or maybe some kind of lecture role there and then pivot in a couple years of doing that.

Look at education non profit, think tanks, and foundations that specialize in K-12. Google go get ideas of where to potentially apply.

[Anonymous]

A BA in education is worth very little. One way you could lean into it though is tutoring. You could also consider entry-level admin jobs with the gov that require nothing more than a BA, but they are hard to get if you don't have veteran status. Think about returning to school to get an advanced degree or learn new skills for a career change.

[Anonymous]

I second the notion of at least applying to, talking with, and exploring private schools. Each private will be different. Some might well be worse than your current position, but also possible you will find something much better than current position. Cast a wide net.

One caution, private schools often pay less than local public schools, and benefits will vary widely from school to school.

Worth a look see at least.

[Anonymous]

What grade or subject do you teach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re public, consider looking into private schools. Many of us have made the switch already, and we often tell each other how grateful we are.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Start looking for jobs
2) Look at what they pay and what they require. If you meet 60-70% of the requirements, consider applying.
3) Create a budget and decide just how much of a pay cut you could live with. Do you make 80-90K now? Can you go down to 50K? 40K?
4) Do you have any special skills? Do you speak Spanish? Can you code? Are you awesome at organizing?
5) Can you make an appt. with someone in a potential job field who might help you rewrite your resume to change the language so that it aligns better with another field?

Good luck to you. I hope you can get out. I left public and went to private. In some ways private is better, in some ways, its the same old same old. I'm close to retirement and look forward to leaving it all behind.

THANK YOU!
And LOL I make $50K now. Soooo….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What grade or subject do you teach?

Elementary school, 1st