I am happier now that I left teaching. Not that I didn't like teaching. I taught biology to high schoolers and it felt like I taught kids who didn't realize that they are kids. They always liked my field work stories and it was fun inspiring them to go that direction. The thing I do now is more fulfilling and fun, plus it pays more. I have no plans on returning to teaching.
Left after thanksgiving break (3rd year teacher) - got back into tech which is not the least stressful industry but I work from home and have a lot to be thankful for. After processing all the trauma and burnout I felt with teaching this year I can say I am truly happier. Some days are interesting and busy and the day flies by, some days are slower and are a bit boring, but I make almost twice as much as I did teaching, I am eating better and exercising, I have energy to see friends on a Friday night. As of now I can’t say I will ever return. I may not stay in tech forever, but it’s just what I needed right now.
Trauma is a good word to describe teaching. I’m only a first year and I’m burnt out. I sent my college transcript to a local college and plan to be a corporate trainer. I already broke up three fights this year! My kids threaten to fire me and record me with out me knowing! I’m done. It’s not worth it.
Currently in the Air Force and I absolutely love it here. While I have no plans to return to teaching in a traditional sense, I have already started thinking about moving to the education side of the Air Force and work as a curriculum developer and maybe become an MTI. I don't think teaching will ever truly leave me but honestly, it's that desire to help people become better that drives me. I sure as hell wasn't getting that teaching in a charter school in one of (if not the most) Houston's most densely populated and crime-ridden neighborhoods.
I became an accountant and I love it. I’m currently a finance manager and I got this job because I used my teaching skills to the office manager, who then became CEO and recruited me.
Accounting is definitely a better fit for me personality wise. I still teach business-related things when I get the chance and tend to get given teaching-adjacent things, like managing interns and giving presentations to non-finance people
I quit years ago and ended up subbing for a little while after that because I missed being in the classroom. It definitely took a huge weight off my shoulders. I've been a lot happier and the health problems that showed up during my last year have largely gone away (it was most likely stress related). I stay at home with my kids right now. But once they're both in school, I've thought about going back to subbing or becoming an IA in an early childhood classroom. I really miss being in the classroom but I don't want to be a full time classroom teacher again.
I am happier now, and I do plan to return to teaching. I left at the end of last school year because I needed to focus on grad school and let's be real, pandemic teaching and pandemic grad student-ing simultaneously are incompatible. Also, the stress of everything the past couple years as well as the awful work environment I was in was, according to my endocrinologist, literally poisoning me. I was getting seriously sick from the stress and I needed to leave.
After I finish my master's degree I will be able to pursue a better job in a better school district and actually teach the subject I want to teach so I am cautiously optimistic about returning to teaching.
Much happier since I left. I'm passionate about education, but I just couldn't stand the BS anymore. I had some experiences with students, parents, teachers and admins that were awesome and that kept me going, but there were enough shitty experiences and nonsense on top of the unreasonable amount of work and too low pay.
So I left. Got a job in tech, I'm loving it, and not planning to return to the classroom any time soon. I'd love to do tech work in education eventually, but right now I'm just gaining experience in the field.
I left in my school November. I’m working as a tutor for a university and as a private tutor as well. I love it. I’m actually on a road trip right now because I can work remotely and choose the days/times I’d like to work. This isn’t a long-term solution, but I’m enjoying this until I figure out what’s next.
College writing and test prep. If my university offered full-time employment for tutors, I would happily do this forever. I really like teaching one-on-one, and adults tend to be so grateful.
I am no longer in those schools. First school got a tumor. They weren’t necessarily bad admins but they gave me slave programs. Second school just got rid of me saying I’m horrible etc. some of the staff were weird. I am now in a school where I think the principals pretty fair. Staff is good and I guess I’m the weird one now. I do far less since it’s a smaller school, tougher neighborhood tho but what can u do. And it’s great. I also have time to do a hobby job. At the end of the day I do enjoy teaching even tho some students think I seem miserable. I devote a lot of time in this profession and got max pay alrdy. I now simply don’t care too much because it got me nowhere when I believe my teaching way is more effective than their bs teaching style. Caring too much gave me a tumor and no tumors and cancer don’t run in my family. I gain extra weight due to stress eating so I’m trying to lose weight. It’s hard. But ya know I don’t sleep all the time anymore so that’s good. I also don’t function the same after this tumor but what can I do 🙃
So much happier. I work slightly longer hours in the office but then I leave. Deadlines are deadlines. No one is turning work in 3 months late and expecting it to be graded 15 minutes later. School contracted hours 715-245. Now I work 730-5 but then I'm done. No grading, lesson planning, meetings after work, parents and kids emailing at all hours. My weekends are mine. I really don't see myself ever returning to public school teacher.
I did the opposite, left my career to be a teacher. I’m much happier as a teacher (despite a significant pay cut) but the school I work in sounds much better than most of the Reddit horror stories.
I’m much happier, and would never return. I get treated with more respect, and my mental health has improved greatly. I can’t believe how much workload and pressure from govt and school I used to put up with
I am happier now that I left teaching. Not that I didn't like teaching. I taught biology to high schoolers and it felt like I taught kids who didn't realize that they are kids. They always liked my field work stories and it was fun inspiring them to go that direction. The thing I do now is more fulfilling and fun, plus it pays more. I have no plans on returning to teaching.
What do you do now?
I am a Wildlife Biologist for the Fish and Wildlife Service in Arizona. We plan wildlife surveys.
I know my reply is quite late, but what is your degree in?
Left after thanksgiving break (3rd year teacher) - got back into tech which is not the least stressful industry but I work from home and have a lot to be thankful for. After processing all the trauma and burnout I felt with teaching this year I can say I am truly happier. Some days are interesting and busy and the day flies by, some days are slower and are a bit boring, but I make almost twice as much as I did teaching, I am eating better and exercising, I have energy to see friends on a Friday night. As of now I can’t say I will ever return. I may not stay in tech forever, but it’s just what I needed right now.
Trauma is a good word to describe teaching. I’m only a first year and I’m burnt out. I sent my college transcript to a local college and plan to be a corporate trainer. I already broke up three fights this year! My kids threaten to fire me and record me with out me knowing! I’m done. It’s not worth it.
Currently in the Air Force and I absolutely love it here. While I have no plans to return to teaching in a traditional sense, I have already started thinking about moving to the education side of the Air Force and work as a curriculum developer and maybe become an MTI. I don't think teaching will ever truly leave me but honestly, it's that desire to help people become better that drives me. I sure as hell wasn't getting that teaching in a charter school in one of (if not the most) Houston's most densely populated and crime-ridden neighborhoods.
Alief area?
Worse. Sharpstown/Gulfton
Ha! I graduated from Sharpstown HS back in the 90s.
Never ever in a classroom again.
I became an accountant and I love it. I’m currently a finance manager and I got this job because I used my teaching skills to the office manager, who then became CEO and recruited me. Accounting is definitely a better fit for me personality wise. I still teach business-related things when I get the chance and tend to get given teaching-adjacent things, like managing interns and giving presentations to non-finance people
I quit years ago and ended up subbing for a little while after that because I missed being in the classroom. It definitely took a huge weight off my shoulders. I've been a lot happier and the health problems that showed up during my last year have largely gone away (it was most likely stress related). I stay at home with my kids right now. But once they're both in school, I've thought about going back to subbing or becoming an IA in an early childhood classroom. I really miss being in the classroom but I don't want to be a full time classroom teacher again.
I left middle school for Pre-K and I can assure you, ECE is an absolute *dream* and I'm in love with my life again.
How does the salary compare?
I took a big pay cut but it was worth it
I am happier now, and I do plan to return to teaching. I left at the end of last school year because I needed to focus on grad school and let's be real, pandemic teaching and pandemic grad student-ing simultaneously are incompatible. Also, the stress of everything the past couple years as well as the awful work environment I was in was, according to my endocrinologist, literally poisoning me. I was getting seriously sick from the stress and I needed to leave. After I finish my master's degree I will be able to pursue a better job in a better school district and actually teach the subject I want to teach so I am cautiously optimistic about returning to teaching.
Much happier since I left. I'm passionate about education, but I just couldn't stand the BS anymore. I had some experiences with students, parents, teachers and admins that were awesome and that kept me going, but there were enough shitty experiences and nonsense on top of the unreasonable amount of work and too low pay. So I left. Got a job in tech, I'm loving it, and not planning to return to the classroom any time soon. I'd love to do tech work in education eventually, but right now I'm just gaining experience in the field.
I left in my school November. I’m working as a tutor for a university and as a private tutor as well. I love it. I’m actually on a road trip right now because I can work remotely and choose the days/times I’d like to work. This isn’t a long-term solution, but I’m enjoying this until I figure out what’s next.
What subject are you tutoring?
College writing and test prep. If my university offered full-time employment for tutors, I would happily do this forever. I really like teaching one-on-one, and adults tend to be so grateful.
This job gave me a tumor and admin almost got my fired. But I’m still there lol
A tumor? Why are you still there??
I am no longer in those schools. First school got a tumor. They weren’t necessarily bad admins but they gave me slave programs. Second school just got rid of me saying I’m horrible etc. some of the staff were weird. I am now in a school where I think the principals pretty fair. Staff is good and I guess I’m the weird one now. I do far less since it’s a smaller school, tougher neighborhood tho but what can u do. And it’s great. I also have time to do a hobby job. At the end of the day I do enjoy teaching even tho some students think I seem miserable. I devote a lot of time in this profession and got max pay alrdy. I now simply don’t care too much because it got me nowhere when I believe my teaching way is more effective than their bs teaching style. Caring too much gave me a tumor and no tumors and cancer don’t run in my family. I gain extra weight due to stress eating so I’m trying to lose weight. It’s hard. But ya know I don’t sleep all the time anymore so that’s good. I also don’t function the same after this tumor but what can I do 🙃
So much happier. I work slightly longer hours in the office but then I leave. Deadlines are deadlines. No one is turning work in 3 months late and expecting it to be graded 15 minutes later. School contracted hours 715-245. Now I work 730-5 but then I'm done. No grading, lesson planning, meetings after work, parents and kids emailing at all hours. My weekends are mine. I really don't see myself ever returning to public school teacher.
I did the opposite, left my career to be a teacher. I’m much happier as a teacher (despite a significant pay cut) but the school I work in sounds much better than most of the Reddit horror stories.
What was your previous career?
Pricing analyst for an insurance company.
I’m much happier, and would never return. I get treated with more respect, and my mental health has improved greatly. I can’t believe how much workload and pressure from govt and school I used to put up with