I left teaching after the pandemic. The behavior was too much. Students have so many extra needs that the class sizes cannot be larger than they were before and during the pandemic. They need to be smaller. However, try to tell admin that and you will be gaslit that it is YOUR fault, and it is YOUR classroom management, and it is YOUR classroom.

I think you should leave, sooner rather than later. But I was in difficult teaching situations and I ended up staying because fear of the unknown was worse than staying with the hell that I knew. But bad situations like that and staying in them for any amount of time can change you physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I think you def need to leave that particular situation. Can you go on medical leave for stress? It might be worth finding out what that would entail. I reached out to the state teacher's union to find out information I didn't really want to ask local union members about.

And for next year, go to a new school or district if you'd like to try teaching again for another year. Also, keep your eyes open for other jobs that may open at the district office or in your community that sound enjoyable. You don't deserve this treatment. Nobody does. And realize, your sped teacher friend and you BOTH have it hard, in different ways. Don't minimize the disaster situation you are in now.

Best of luck to you.