Desperate to quit teaching - single mom - ideas for new career path?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As you think about switching, remember that you will likely be giving up that your summer break and a week off a Christmas and need before/aftercare.

Parents who don't teach have to juggle a school calendar. Summer camps. Beforecare, aftercare. Random days off. Explaining to the boss that no you can't do a call at 5pm because aftercare closes at 6pm and you live an hour away from work (in the Before Times). It is quite a PITA.

I don’t know a single teacher who doesn’t need before and/or after school care unless they have a partner with a more flexible schedule.

Right? Think about it. Do you think teachers can roll in late and leave early so their kids aren't in before and after care? And all those "random days off" are... teacher work days. Which means they have the same child care issues that everyone else has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a single parent and an ESOL teacher. I really recommend it. Lots of paperwork at the beginning and end of the year but most of the year is not bad. I love my students and love seeing the progress they make each year.

I am a single mom and an SLP. I wouldn't recommend it as a career switch. I am burned out on the paperwork and amount of meetings I have to attend with some being contentious. I agree with the ESOL suggestions (if you decide to stay in the schools). It is not hard to switch to that area. You do have paperwork but you have more time to do it, you get to pull small groups and you have way more autonomy then teachers. I would guess there is less take home work as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try computer science.

huh? this makes no sense.

Computer science pays well enough to support her family and is very work-from-home friendly so she can be near her kids. What doesn't make sense about it? The industry has enough incompetents that look "nerdy".

So she should go back to school? You can’t really walk into a software engineering job unless you can actually code.

[Anonymous]

I agree with others who have mentioned becoming an EL teacher. OR look for a way to switch into a teaching role where you don't have your own classroom--math coach, gifted teacher, reading specialist. I have several friends who have moved into those roles after having kids and find it much more doable.

As for other options--SLP requires a masters and is a lot of work. You might consider a career switch that just involves an associates degree--like a dental hygenist, a physical therapy or occupational therapy assistant, etc. The pay is surprisingly high and jobs in health care often come with good benefits. And school systems hire PTAs and OTAs--if you like the school environment. I'm a fellow single mom, and I personally would not feel comfortable trying to move into some kind of nebulous position---I'd look for a solid, specific career you know is in demand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As you think about switching, remember that you will likely be giving up that your summer break and a week off a Christmas and need before/aftercare.

Parents who don't teach have to juggle a school calendar. Summer camps. Beforecare, aftercare. Random days off. Explaining to the boss that no you can't do a call at 5pm because aftercare closes at 6pm and you live an hour away from work (in the Before Times). It is quite a PITA.

I don’t know a single teacher who doesn’t need before and/or after school care unless they have a partner with a more flexible schedule.

Right? Think about it. Do you think teachers can roll in late and leave early so their kids aren't in before and after care? And all those "random days off" are... teacher work days. Which means they have the same child care issues that everyone else has.

Um, to that last question, yes, this is exactly what parents think we teachers do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a single parent and an ESOL teacher. I really recommend it. Lots of paperwork at the beginning and end of the year but most of the year is not bad. I love my students and love seeing the progress they make each year.

+1 I became an EL teacher (from classroom teacher) after my first child was born and it so much more manageable. I feel guilty, but so much responsibility is placed on classroom teachers that it’s just not manageable for me with kids although I definitely miss it. Coach, reading specialist or EL should help a bit

My friend had kids young and was a SAHM for 15 years and went back to school to be an ESOL teacher in loudoun county and really likes it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As you think about switching, remember that you will likely be giving up that your summer break and a week off a Christmas and need before/aftercare.

Parents who don't teach have to juggle a school calendar. Summer camps. Beforecare, aftercare. Random days off. Explaining to the boss that no you can't do a call at 5pm because aftercare closes at 6pm and you live an hour away from work (in the Before Times). It is quite a PITA.

I don’t know a single teacher who doesn’t need before and/or after school care unless they have a partner with a more flexible schedule.

Yeah but a real corporate job, you need more than before care and after care especially if you are a single parent. Most after cafes close at 6 or 6:30 which means reliably leaving by 5:30 factoring in commute, and that’s not common in corporate positions. It’s why so many are forced to keep a nanny even after their kids are in school.

This is also why corporate training jobs and sales jobs aren’t going to necessarily work. Both of those are going to sometimes require some later nights and/or travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you in public school?

Try private- a whole different environment .

also pays way less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you in public school?

Try private- a whole different environment .

also pays way less.

And worse benefits and no pension

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you in public school?

Try private- a whole different environment .

also pays way less.

Only would be worth it if she could somehow get tuition discount for her kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at Corporate Learning and development opportunities.

My Fortune 500 company has a whole learning and development department (basically, training).

Search for those phrases on LinkedIn jobs.

My friend switched from teaching to this type of job at SAIC and eventually ended up working as part of software implementation teams at PWC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As you think about switching, remember that you will likely be giving up that your summer break and a week off a Christmas and need before/aftercare.

Parents who don't teach have to juggle a school calendar. Summer camps. Beforecare, aftercare. Random days off. Explaining to the boss that no you can't do a call at 5pm because aftercare closes at 6pm and you live an hour away from work (in the Before Times). It is quite a PITA.

I don’t know a single teacher who doesn’t need before and/or after school care unless they have a partner with a more flexible schedule.

Right? Think about it. Do you think teachers can roll in late and leave early so their kids aren't in before and after care? And all those "random days off" are... teacher work days. Which means they have the same child care issues that everyone else has.

? Reading comprehension?

[Anonymous]

Single mom, taught 25 year. This year, I began a children’s craft bag business, teach a morning pod 4 days/week, tutor, give occasional art classes to kids, and babysit. I am making far better money, easier schedule with a child because I control my hours, no boss, no back to school night and class picnic type of events to deal with…… so much better!!

[Anonymous]

Corporate training

[Anonymous]

Medicare plan sales.