New career options for a teacher

[PrincesCJM]

I am currently a high school math teacher in Maine. When the school year finishes in a few weeks, I will have completed my 10th year in teaching . While I love teaching, I would have to work another 32 years before being able to retire and I'm not sure I can do that. Plus, this thought has been crossing my mind more and more around this time of the year, when you hear about budget cuts, reduction in force, etc. I have no interest in becoming an administrator. For what it's worth, I have a BS in Secondary Education Mathematics and a MS in Instruction and Curriculum Studies. I'm curious if there are any former teachers on the board who left teaching to pursue another career and if so, your experiences.

 

[kimmar067]

....funny you began this post, as I too am a Math teacher (grades 6, 7, and 8) and, with all the statistics that I have had to compile this year, after 16 years, I was contemplating giving it up too and was wondering the same thing.....BTW, a BA in Art/Education, with a concentration in math, and a MA in Instruction and the Art of Teaching.

 

[bunny]

It is funny you should write this. It is right about this time of year I start envying all the teachers with summer break coming up. Just remember most other jobs have two to three weeks of vacation a year. So far this year I haven't taken a single vacation day and over the holidays I was only off a couple. I realize teaching is stressful, but most jobs are and no one I know will be retiring before age 60. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[leebee]

I have no solutions/suggestions, but this makes me sad. I work in special ed in a preK-8 school in Maine. SO MANY of our faculty are retiring the second they have their time in, not even finishing the school year. We have 5 retirees from a teaching faculty of 28, as well as 3 teachers who are leaving the profession. I think all the testing, reporting, and oversight is driving good teachers out of the profession. I will never understand the current trend in education… we educate someone to be a teacher, give them mentors, require continuing education, and then tell them what to teach, how to teach it, when to teach it, how to test on it, and how to document it. Why do we put such emphasis on educating people to become talented, outstanding teachers if we are going to put them in a stranglehold when it comes to actually teaching?

Regarding having the summer "off," I don't know any teacher who takes the time off. There is continuing ed to deal with, new lesson planning, curriculum development, etc. There are also the days we stay after the year to get our rooms packed up for the summer, and the days we come in early to get everything ready for the fall… including parent meetings before the school year even starts. Please also remember that this is for no additional pay; the paychecks we collect are a fraction of the salaries earned during the school year, payments of which are deferred until the summer. While I won't say that no vacation time is taken during the summer, I can guarantee that there is NO teacher who walks out of the building on the last day in the spring and does nothing until they return in the fall.

 

[MrsDuck]

It is funny you should write this. It is right about this time of year I start envying all the teachers with summer break coming up. Just remember most other jobs have two to three weeks of vacation a year. So far this year I haven't taken a single vacation day and over the holidays I was only off a couple. I realize teaching is stressful, but most jobs are and no one I know will be retiring before age 60. Good luck in whatever you decide.

You clearly aren't a teacher. Summer breaks aren't just 2 months of freedom. Teaching isn't a career - it's a lifestyle (as many other jobs are but let's be real - being a good teacher isn't EASY).

OP: one of my coworkers is leaving after 8 years. He got hired at some medical firm that teaches doctors how to use iPads in the office. He got the job through a friend. Best of luck!

 

[yoopermom]

Former jr/sr high teacher here, employed for the past five years at a technical college, and *love* it. I think working at any type of college is wonderful. It may seem terrible, but I don't miss the stress of my former job AT ALL.

My dream job, when I retire, is to be an educator at a national park!

Terri

 

[dbramer]

I am currently a high school math teacher in Maine. When the school year finishes in a few weeks, I will have completed my 10th year in teaching . While I love teaching, I would have to work another 32 years before being able to retire and I'm not sure I can do that. Plus, this thought has been crossing my mind more and more around this time of the year, when you hear about budget cuts, reduction in force, etc. I have no interest in becoming an administrator. For what it's worth, I have a BS in Secondary Education Mathematics and a MS in Instruction and Curriculum Studies. I'm curious if there are any former teachers on the board who left teaching to pursue another career and if so, your experiences.

I just finished my masters program in counseling. I have been teaching high school social studies for 12 years. If I don't get a school counseling position, I will be moving into the private sector.

 

[tina.tina]

Former jr/sr high teacher here, employed for the past five years at a technical college, and *love* it. I think working at any type of college is wonderful. It may seem terrible, but I don't miss the stress of my former job AT ALL.

My dream job, when I retire, is to be an educator at a national park!

Terri

Just curious- do you teach at the technical college? My DH has worked (not teaching) at a 4 year college and a couple of universities. He loves it. I think it's the upbeat, hopeful kind of vibe that the students have. I am in school now to teach math. I totally get what MrsDuck says about teaching being a lifestyle choice. A couple of my previous jobs were definitely like that and it can be an adjustment. I have seriously been considering going for my masters' in math to teach at a community/technical college.

My DD's middle school math teacher has left (with less than a month to go in the school year) to take a job at an accounting firm.

 

[dbramer]

It is funny you should write this. It is right about this time of year I start envying all the teachers with summer break coming up. Just remember most other jobs have two to three weeks of vacation a year. So far this year I haven't taken a single vacation day and over the holidays I was only off a couple. I realize teaching is stressful, but most jobs are and no one I know will be retiring before age 60. Good luck in whatever you decide.

And those two to three week vacations are paid. I have to line up a job every summer to make ends meet while I am "on summer vacation." I haven't taken a vacation in six years (since my son was 5 to WDW). Teachers do not get paid over the summer (it is not even an option in my district). So don't envy us with our "summer break", for many of us it is not a break.

 

[scoutie]

It is funny you should write this. It is right about this time of year I start envying all the teachers with summer break coming up. Just remember most other jobs have two to three weeks of vacation a year. So far this year I haven't taken a single vacation day and over the holidays I was only off a couple. I realize teaching is stressful, but most jobs are and no one I know will be retiring before age 60. Good luck in whatever you decide.

What a weird response. First of all, people shouldn't become a teacher for the summer "vacation". Secondly, teaching stress is like no other type of stress. You say "most jobs are stressful", but aside from social work or nursing, there is no other job where the emotional toll is as hard. Clearly, you aren't a teacher. Here's something I recently wrote about the emotional stress of teaching, if you care to read it. https://tschwertley.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/why-teaching-is-hard/

Finally, as others have mentioned, teachers aren't paid in the summer.

To answer the OP...I think many of us are burned out. I love the kids, but when I see how much more is expected with less pay, the changes in testing, merit pay as a possibility, the Danielson Model, curriculum adoption that is dry and boring and 'to the test', budget cuts, PARCC, lawmakers who have never set foot in a classroom making laws that hurt kids....I think about getting out too.

Teacher Mentoring, Student Teacher Supervisor, Community College Instructor, or even Curriculum Textbook Sales, are a few jobs that you could do. Sometimes, a change in grade level helps renew enthusiasm too. I recently got my gifted ed endorsement, and I love teaching Honors courses.

 

[Sadie22]

What a weird response. First of all, people shouldn't become a teacher for the summer "vacation". Secondly, teaching stress is like no other type of stress. You say "most jobs are stressful", but aside from social work or nursing, there is no other job where the emotional toll is as hard. Clearly, you aren't a teacher. Here's something I recently wrote about the emotional stress of teaching, if you care to read it. https://tschwertley.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/why-teaching-is-hard/

Finally, as others have mentioned, teachers aren't paid in the summer.

To answer the OP...I think many of us are burned out. I love the kids, but when I see how much more is expected with less pay, the changes in testing, merit pay as a possibility, the Danielson Model, curriculum adoption that is dry and boring and 'to the test', budget cuts, PARCC, lawmakers who have never set foot in a classroom making laws that hurt kids....I think about getting out too.

Teacher Mentoring, Student Teacher Supervisor, Community College Instructor, or even Curriculum Textbook Sales, are a few jobs that you could do. Sometimes, a change in grade level helps renew enthusiasm too. I recently got my gifted ed endorsement, and I love teaching Honors courses.

We need more teachers like you. I have been fortunate that most of mine and most of my children's teachers were wonderful.

 

[DisReno]

Regarding having the summer "off," I don't know any teacher who takes the time off. There is continuing ed to deal with, new lesson planning, curriculum development, etc. There are also the days we stay after the year to get our rooms packed up for the summer, and the days we come in early to get everything ready for the fall… including parent meetings before the school year even starts. Please also remember that this is for no additional pay; the paychecks we collect are a fraction of the salaries earned during the school year, payments of which are deferred until the summer. While I won't say that no vacation time is taken during the summer, I can guarantee that there is NO teacher who walks out of the building on the last day in the spring and does nothing until they return in the fall.

I'm sorry...I hate it when people post stuff like this. I'm a teacher and posts like the above make it sound like teachers work every minute of the summer going to conferences, packing up, unpacking, etc. and it's just not true. I come in for one day after school ends to clean up my room. I come in a few days before school starts to set up. I do 'some' work over the summer, but in no way am I working every moment of my summer.

And I'm salaried, so I get paid 12 months out of the year. If you're not working for a school that a 12 month salary, average your salary and save that amount so you have money during the summer.

 

[yoopermom]

Just curious- do you teach at the technical college? My DH has worked (not teaching) at a 4 year college and a couple of universities. He loves it. I think it's the upbeat, hopeful kind of vibe that the students have. I am in school now to teach math. I totally get what MrsDuck says about teaching being a lifestyle choice. A couple of my previous jobs were definitely like that and it can be an adjustment. I have seriously been considering going for my masters' in math to teach at a community/technical college.

My DD's middle school math teacher has left (with less than a month to go in the school year) to take a job at an accounting firm.

I don't teach here, but am a librarian/front office/bookstore (it's a small campus). In an ironic twist, I actually have many students here who were my students in middle school years ago, so I'm seeing them for a second time . Yes, they've "grown up", appreciate the opportunity to go to school and better themselves, are willing to ask for help, and it's really a happy place to be. I truly feel as though I have an influence on their lives and their futures.

Many of our instructors come straight from their (technical) fields, often with little educational background, but that is changing. Our gen. ed. teachers (math, English, etc) and counselors often are former high school teachers, and all seem much happier here.

Terri

 

[kimmar067]

It is funny you should write this. It is right about this time of year I start envying all the teachers with summer break coming up. Just remember most other jobs have two to three weeks of vacation a year. So far this year I haven't taken a single vacation day and over the holidays I was only off a couple. I realize teaching is stressful, but most jobs are and no one I know will be retiring before age 60. Good luck in whatever you decide.

...including ME.

 

[kimmar067]

I have no solutions/suggestions, but this makes me sad. I work in special ed in a preK-8 school in Maine. SO MANY of our faculty are retiring the second they have their time in, not even finishing the school year. We have 5 retirees from a teaching faculty of 28, as well as 3 teachers who are leaving the profession. I think all the testing, reporting, and oversight is driving good teachers out of the profession. I will never understand the current trend in education… we educate someone to be a teacher, give them mentors, require continuing education, and then tell them what to teach, how to teach it, when to teach it, how to test on it, and how to document it. Why do we put such emphasis on educating people to become talented, outstanding teachers if we are going to put them in a stranglehold when it comes to actually teaching?

Regarding having the summer "off," I don't know any teacher who takes the time off. There is continuing ed to deal with, new lesson planning, curriculum development, etc. There are also the days we stay after the year to get our rooms packed up for the summer, and the days we come in early to get everything ready for the fall… including parent meetings before the school year even starts. Please also remember that this is for no additional pay; the paychecks we collect are a fraction of the salaries earned during the school year, payments of which are deferred until the summer. While I won't say that no vacation time is taken during the summer, I can guarantee that there is NO teacher who walks out of the building on the last day in the spring and does nothing until they return in the fall.

....well said.

 

[kimmar067]

What a weird response. First of all, people shouldn't become a teacher for the summer "vacation". Secondly, teaching stress is like no other type of stress. You say "most jobs are stressful", but aside from social work or nursing, there is no other job where the emotional toll is as hard. Clearly, you aren't a teacher. Here's something I recently wrote about the emotional stress of teaching, if you care to read it. https://tschwertley.wordpress.com/2015/03/21/why-teaching-is-hard/

Finally, as others have mentioned, teachers aren't paid in the summer...

....your essay made me cry....beautiful - just beautiful. I too will now think of Tess from time to time....

 

[leebee]

I'm sorry...I hate it when people post stuff like this. I'm a teacher and posts like the above make it sound like teachers work every minute of the summer going to conferences, packing up, unpacking, etc. and it's just not true. I come in for one day after school ends to clean up my room. I come in a few days before school starts to set up. I do 'some' work over the summer, but in no way am I working every moment of my summer.

And I'm salaried, so I get paid 12 months out of the year. If you're not working for a school that a 12 month salary, average your salary and save that amount so you have money during the summer.

Perhaps you misunderstood, but our summer "pay" is what faculty voluntarily defer from their salary lines from the September to June academic year; if you haven't chosen to defer some of your monthly income, you don't get a paycheck in the summer. We also get a "bill" in June to cover our portion of health insurance for July and August, as well as a letter from the superintendent, stating that although the academic year has ended, it is the school department's intent to reappoint in the fall; that way, faculty cannot file for unemployment during the summer months. Along with this letter a notice with the dates for annual training for behavioral management, bloodborne pathogen training, etc. It's usually 3 days in the middle of August… well before school begins. We're not paid for these days, and not reappointed without the training. Caught between a rock and a hard place, here.

Also, every school is different. We have to have our textbook materials ready to go for the first day of school, but as there is only one grade level master set of the curriculum books for math, social studies, and science, we have to come in and photocopy the books into packets for our students. Although it's an option to photocopy these things each month, most teachers do the math packets for the entire year (and yes, we know how many we need, as we are mandated to "complete the book" every year). It's just too crazy otherwise, trying to get all the photocopying done for an entire month or two, especially with other teachers in the same boat, cranky photocopiers, etc.

Yes, it's all legal, according to our union. The superintendent is above board and clear on how the system works before anyone is hired. These are all cost-cutting measures (fortunately the school board continues to pay their share of health insurance during the summer so that we have continuous coverage- it's been suggested they put everyone on ACA, COBRA, or state-supported health insurance for the summer months). Be glad/thankful you work for a school system that has the money it needs to treat its teachers as professionals and to provide a full education for its students. Not every teacher has the luxury of actually being "off" when school is not in session in the summer.

 

[kimmar067]

....a-MEN sistah...

 

[okeydokey]

SO you have to work for 42 years in order to qualify for teacher retirement or you just think she need to work 42 years at something in order to retire?

If you enjoy teaching and think you can get a decent retirement if you teach 20 or 25 or 30 years in total, you could do that and then pick up a second job until you want to retire for real. If you are really just burned out after ten years, then it does make send to change careers now.

 

[Allison]

As far as the retirement piece of your post, most people I know will be in the work force for 40 some years before they retire, no matter what their profession is. Is there something that makes you think you would be able to retire sooner doing something else?