Last updated on October 18th, 2023 at 03:19 pm
Teaching is an inspiring and important career– I’ll cheerlead anyone making a positive difference in kids’ lives. But if you want to leave? I’ll probably encourage you in that, too. Because I’ve been there (twice, actually).
How to know when to quit teaching
The simple test for quitting teaching is this: the disadvantages of the job start to outweigh the advantages.
And the question that closely follows after: Can you afford to leave the classroom?
I made the decision to quit teaching twice, for different reasons each time. It was a complicated decision, but it was based on the simplest determination– the insurmountable challenges of teaching started to weigh heavier than its joys.
First consider if it is a specific school or district problem
This post assumes you’ve already given the job a chance. Sometimes the dissatisfaction is tied up in a specific school, district or grade level. Some teachers find a renewed love for the profession just by making the switch that’s right for them. A fresh start at a new school, with new admin, or teaching a completely different level and group of students can do wonders.
Like I said– I’m assuming you’ve tried these options. I am not some eagerly drooling Leaving Teaching proselyte– if you can make it work, I think that can be so beneficial to the students to stay. But I know the reasons for leaving can be numerous and sometimes a change of scenery won’t make enough of a difference.
Four important reasons to consider quitting teaching:
1. You feel chronically defeated, depressed, or anxious because of teaching
Observe yourself during long breaks– does the anxiety or depression pretty much evaporate? It was like I racked up years maxing out my adrenaline every weekday from August to May. It was like the push of some dreadful buzzing button, from the time I hopped in my caramel-colored Corolla onto the highway to school to the time (often in the dark of the evening) I returned, competely spent and exhausted. The intense point my anxiety had gotten to was a sign for me to look for other options.
2. Your teaching career is significantly impairing family relationships
I know what it’s like to spend all day with other people’s children and feel like you have nothing left to give to your own family. Try to pare down your teaching role to the essentials– to free up more time and energy for your family. But I also understand if you can’t do this meaningfully– the demands placed on teachers can be truly overreaching into life’s most imporant areas. In that case, I’d say you need to figure out a different way to make room for your family, and that may mean quitting.
3. You can make the decision with a clear head
Please don’t decide to quit in some hasty grass-is-greener rush of emotion. The dramatic exit you may fantasize about during tough times would needlessly burn bridges anyway. Carefully make plans for your departure. Look at the logistics. Sit with this decision on good days and bad days, testing yourself to not base the decision solely on feelings. Every job has downsides. It’s up to you to measure if the downsides of teaching are insurmountable for you, and if the drawbacks of another career or situation would be more acceptable.
“It’s up to you to measure if the downsides of teaching are insurmountable for you, and if the drawbacks of another career or situation would be more acceptable.”
chocolate for the teach
4. You could do something else.
Financially, this frees you up to change jobs. Maybe you have a degree or expertise or background in another field. Brush up on it. Capitalize on it. Tailor your resume and LinkedIn profile to those skills you have. (You may have to revamp your resume if it’s teaching-focused!) If you’re not sure what else you could do, try to hone in on what transferable skills from teaching you possess that could help you land a new role. Just be curious and open– you could find yourself planted right in front of some awesome, unexpected doors. Take a class or training, get that certification, rock your interviews. You don’t have to teach forever and you can take on roles outside of the classroom.
Coming alongside you in this career decision
I hope these signs help– it can be a really difficult decision to leave this profession, especially if you feel defined by teaching.
This kicks off my Leaving Teaching blog post series, so keep your eyes on the site for more content focused on guiding you through the transition. I’ve also written about the myriad of side hustles and other endeavors I’ve tried since leaving teaching, from substitute teaching to house cleaning to transforming my little kitchen into a home bakery. I even compare them and share my honest thoughts about each side gig.
Former teachers who have already made the leap out: Do these signs resonate? What else would you suggest? Let me know in the comments!
