needed a change

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Home : 2001 : November : 10

needed a change
By Marsha

I think that after 16 years on the job, maybe you needed a change. Maybe some time off now will help you reflect upon why you left teaching in the first place, and if you ever want to return to it.

After teaching for
13 years in one school, I moved to another state and began to teach in a brand-new school. I really, truly, and totally HATED the job! This was my low point, as I contemplated if I was burned out (at last) in teaching or if this just wasn't the right job for me. I quit my job as a fifth grade teacher in October, 1998 because: 1) I didn't like the mix of students I was teaching; 2) I

had no positive support from administration (it was, in fact, very negative toward me); 3) I did not like my "mobile home" classroom. After feeling as if I had done a good job of teaching for 13 years, I felt like a failure. I said as much to the principal when I left.

After leaving that job, I considered that I never wanted to teach again. I was totally committed to taking on a new career. I was relaxed, having made the decision to move on, but I was also tense. Being out in the world with no job prospect was a scary experience. Granted, my husband had a job, but we had a son in college and we had been trying to foot the bills for that. We had a son who would be entering college in two years. Not exactly the best time to be on a limited income.

I searched for a job. I considered some sort of sales position. My father had been a salesperson. I interviewed by people for an insurance position and never heard from them again. I realized that I didn't have the experience to do a lot of things, nor did I have anything to offer in the way of skills outside of teaching. No computer training, etc.

I happened to be wandering through our local department store with nothing else to do and saw a "Help Wanted" sign for Christmas employees. Before I could stop myself, I was walking into the Personnel Office and applying for a job. I had nothing else to do, so it seemed appropriate. I got a job working in the shoe department--$7 an hour. When I got my first paycheck I nearly cried. It was nowhere near my teacher's salary. It was a dismal display of the long hours I had put in each day on the job. The only good thing I could say about it was that I had that needed time to reflect and relax from the stress of moving to a new state and a horrible new job.

The turning point was in November when I saw a job posting for a fifth grade teacher (in another school district) which was to begin in January. I wondered if I should apply for it. I was now rested, somewhat adjusted from the move, and maybe ready to give teaching a try again?

I interviewed for the job and got it. I began working in January. And the rest of the story: I am still in teaching.

Moral of the story: Take some time off. Think over your career decision carefully. You may decide to return to teaching after some time off.