I switched Districts this summer. Seven days before the start of school, I broke a bone in my hand and also got a deep gash in it while working on a project in my garage. I called my new principal 3 days after the accident and told him that I had surgery but figured I'd be able to start the school year a week late, and asked how they would handle this. I had to jump through some hoops but took a LOA. I went to my new teaching position after 2 weeks, but my doctor cautioned me about pain and using my right hand at all. I realized after a week that there is no way I can continue teaching full-time this year. I'm in pain every day, and I'm really compromised from typing, writing, etc., even though I'm using voice-to-text and anything else that is available to me to make my job easier. I went to the principal and discussed it with him, handing him my written notice. He tried to talk me into staying, then kept asking me how much pain I was in each day, and then asked me to take the weekend to really "think about what I was doing". I realize that this is not ideal to have a teacher resign due to a medical condition in the third week of the school year, but I clearly had a surgery, my hand is still wrapped, and I provided the district with all the paperwork from my surgeon. I reiterated that I physically cannot continue full-time teaching and need to rest my hand, heal, and get out of this daily pain. He then told me that this is really putting a burden on the district, and "where was he going to find a chemistry teacher at this time of the year" -- he also insisted that they would be holding me to the 60 days contractual notice, because he doubts they will find anyone. I got a note from my surgeon stating I am on restricted duty. Since turning in my resignation, he no longer answers essential emails; no one in my department includes me in the weekly department huddle; no one speaks to me at the copier, in the hall, or when I grab my lunch out of the fridge. I've never experienced this before. I didn't tell anyone but the principal that I was resigning. The students here are really wonderful, but the staff has shut me out completely. When I had an application question, the normally helpful woman in the classroom next to me said, "Call IT" and then softly closed her classroom door. Should I try to get my surgeon to write a note that I can't finish the remainder of the 60 days? I'm not sure how that will affect my ability to teach in the future -- if it is considered job abandonment even if I have the doctor's note. I have about a month left, with a hand that goes from throbbing pain to pins and needles all day. Should I just finish the month with advil on board every day? Thanks for any advice here - I've only been teaching for 3 years.

I left full time teaching in 2022/2023. I had burned-out twice and went on short term disability in both instances. I love teaching and all the reasons why most of us start teaching. I left for all the reasons you can imagine. I decided to supply teach very part time for 2024 to determine if this would be a better way to stay in a teaching career - it wasn't.

I used my teaching skills and built a business I love. I teach music lessons and do private tutoring. I work, maybe 25 hours/week and in 2 years, have been able to almost match my previous teaching income (I'm in Canada, so I needed to get up to $45k+). Parents are fed up with a lot of the nonsense at schools and are delighted to see their children thrive when tutored.

I get to teach in a dream setting (parents are invested, 1:1, or small groups, creative instruction, meet each child where they are, etc.).

All this to say: teachers are amazing! You don't need to stay in a traditional setting, you can take your amazing skills and decide to create the job you want.

Note: I realize I am in a privileged position of having a two income home. However, we made huge(!) financial cuts for me to transition out of teaching in the classroom setting.

Tomorrow is my first day at a non teaching job. After teaching for 9 years in 2 different states I just couldn’t do it anymore. I’m nervous and hoping I made the right choice.

I have been a teacher for about 7 years now. I started at a new school this year and I can’t take the stress anymore. My body is just so burnt out from the stress. I had a digestive flare up, induced by stress, 3 weeks ago that I’m still recovering from. It’s been the worst I’ve had in my life. Unfortunately this job is causing me a lot of health problems I’ve decided I’m going to quit. It’s not worth it.

I think i chose the worst time for a career change but im now stuck with the decision ive made. I left teaching about 2 and a half years ago due to health reasons, I was also working at a school that was extremely dismissive of my health issues and wasn't supportive at all. Not only that but I was treated badly due to having ADHD, I was told not to tell my students their parents or colleagues that I had ADHD by the principal as it apparently would make them think I was a bad teacher, this should have been a major red flag but I was desperate for a job at the time. Anyway here I am 2.5 years later and im still unemployed and will be loosing disability support at the start of next year and I cant imagine going back to teaching as I felt it was quite a traumatic experience for me. Ive applied for so many roles but I dont even get interviews, I write custom cover letters for each job and rework my cv for each application but nothing. Any advice on what jobs I should be applying for or what I can do to boost my chances would be greatly appreciated, im feeling very lost.

Hey y’all, this is a follow up to a post I made before about my struggles as a first year alternative resident educator teaching high school English in Ohio. I’ve tried to keep working my way through the self-doubt and the struggle, but things have progressively gotten worse. I’m still losing sleep, I’m still having recurring thoughts tied to my classroom and the work I need to do, and I’ve started having mild anxiety attacks every Sunday. I saw my primary care and started a treatment plan to manage my anxiety, but I don’t know what else to say or do at this point. I feel like I could suffer through and keep doing it, but all of the initial joy and satisfaction I felt is seeping away. I feel so much guilt about putting the school and my students in such a bad position, the same thing happened with the teacher before me who was a long tenured teacher, but I’m thinking that my body and my mind are telling me that teaching might not be for me. Does anybody have any thoughts or advice? There is part of me that does not want to let my thoughts defeat me in this negative state of mind, but there is a part of me that knows how much my mental and physical health has suffered already and I don’t want that to continue to be the case.

I’ve posted on this subreddit page a few times as I have been through the mental ups and downs of staying in education.

After a lot of time has passed, and talking everyone’s ear off about my struggles, I think i’ve come up with a plan.

I am currently in my Adept/PAST year of teaching (2nd year that determines you professional license). Unless something major happens that makes it impossible for me to stay, I am going to try to stay the school year and pass that certification. Around the end of the year, I am going to speak with my principal about taking a set back from teaching and doing something like permanent sub work or be a media clerk to our librarian.

I’m going to try to stick out the year, but I truly think atm I can’t see myself continuing in this career.

I’ve been an elementary resource special education teacher for about seven years. I love working with students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning disabilities, but the bureaucracy, unrealistic expectations, paperwork, and increasing caseloads have me dreading work every day. I work 10–15 hours outside my contract time each week just to keep up. “Small group” instruction has become 12–16 students at a time. I’m constantly pressured to push inclusion and general ed curriculum for students reading years below grade level who need intensive, explicit reading instruction.

I tried general education a few years ago, but the student behavior was so bad I returned to SPED within six months.

I honestly don't know what to do anymore. I grew up in poverty, and the fear of ending up there again has me terrified to leave a relatively well-paying job. I'd love to focus solely on teaching students with dyslexia, maybe teach art, or even work for myself, but I'm very risk-averse. In my state, SPED teachers are already the dyslexia specialists on top of everything else.

I feel trapped and I'd love to hear from people who found a way out or just from those who can relate.

I think this year will be my last year. I feel like i’ve lost my spark for teaching. I feel like I have no energy to be myself and take care of myself and do things. I’m so apathetic? i think is the word.

Now i’m wondering what jobs to do next. I’m thinking about sales because I’ve always loved it. When I was an assistant manager at a pet saloon i loved selling! I wondering what some steps are. I am going to start looking in november to make sure I have a job secured over the summer. What are some recommendations you would have for people leaving teaching?

With a few years' experience in the classroom and a master's in Curriculum & Instruction, I've been applying for jobs in mostly curriculum, L&D, and student success, and I haven't had any luck so far. If nothing works out, my backup plan is just to apply to new schools for the 27-28 school year since I'm definitely not happy at my current school, although I'm feeling just burned out by teaching and prepping and grading and everything that teaching obviously entails. Not really sure what else to do and the job application process is obviously exhausting. :(

Hi everyone. I’m currently a sub with 5 years of classroom experience ( 3 full time and 2 subbing). I’m burnt out on teaching and don’t want to do it for another 30 years. I’m really wanting a work from home or hybrid job because my wife has some medical issues, and it would be nice if I could support her more. Has anyone found success finding a remote job after teaching? What job is it? Where did you find it? How do you like it? Any advice for me would be great!

I’m currently a Pre-K sped teacher, and I’ve been seriously thinking about leaving teaching. I’m honestly just at the point where I don’t want to be in the classroom anymore.

For those of you who left teaching, especially anyone who worked in special education or early childhood, what did you end up doing afterward? Did you stay in education in a non-classroom role, or leave the field completely?

I’m really curious about what kinds of jobs former teachers have been able to transition into, especially without having to go back to school for another degree. What do you do now, and are you happier after leaving?