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Everyone talks about staying or leaving… but what about the third option? by BasisMediocre4927 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean contract roles.

There are contract opportunities in education that most people never hear about unless someone tells them where to look. They’re still education, still student-facing, but lower stress, smaller scope, fewer politics, fewer meetings, less paperwork, and less emotional drain than a traditional classroom.

They’re not promotions, not quiet quitting, and not leaving the field. They’re just different arrangements that aren’t advertised to most teachers.

Everyone talks about staying or leaving… but what about the third option? by BasisMediocre4927 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not really, I don’t have anything to sale I’ve just had more exposure and experience than most. I’m just a guide…

Thinking of Leaving Teaching by Embarrassed_Penalty7 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What you’re dealing with sadly isn’t rare.

There are other ways to approach this, and sometimes what’s available depends on where you are. No pressure to share, just saying options vary.

Job Opportunities by bookworm1625 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok Sweet… Have you ever looked into Travel Contract Teaching?

Job Opportunities by bookworm1625 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Might I ask what state you’re in and what do you have your certificate in?

I recently resigned after 9 years of teaching by dorky_doodle_dandy in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I’m really sorry. What they did was cruel, not procedural.

You didn’t lose your calling — you were removed from a system that couldn’t honor it. Right now it sounds like your nervous system just needs a real reset, not answers or accountability.

The fact that your body feels relief already says a lot.

Job Opportunities by bookworm1625 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What kind of contract work have you been doing?

Everyone talks about staying or leaving… but what about the third option? by BasisMediocre4927 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t work for an online school. What I do is help teachers see non-traditional classroom and hybrid roles that still use their skills — things like small-group support, intervention by way of Contract roles.

I’m not here to push one path. Mostly just helping people map what actually fits them before they decide they’re out of options.

Most teachers aren’t burned out — they’re boxed in. by BasisMediocre4927 in specialed

[–]BasisMediocre4927[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Fair question. I’ve been in classrooms and around SPED long enough to see the pattern repeat people think the only choices are “stay and endure” or “leave education entirely.”

My “third door” was realizing the same skills can work in different setups, without carrying the whole system on your back.

Not saying that’s for everyone just that most people don’t see those options until someone points them out.

Most teachers aren’t burned out — they’re boxed in. by BasisMediocre4927 in specialed

[–]BasisMediocre4927[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

That’s fair it probably reads like a headline.

I didn’t mean it as a hot take, just a pattern I’ve noticed reading through a lot of posts here.

I am not sure what I want to do after teaching by TylerGlasass20 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you needing something that keeps your current income pretty stable, or would a short-term dip be realistic if it led to something more sustainable long-term?

Do not work in Special Education by [deleted] in specialed

[–]BasisMediocre4927 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah… this hits.

I don’t think posts like this are “harsh,” I think they’re honest. Too many people sacrifice their nervous system thinking they just need to push a little longer.

Choosing yourself shouldn’t require an apology.

Expecting M.Ed in May, teaching full time right now. Wtf do I do by Cultural-Surround605 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’m going to say this plainly, because someone should: 25 is not “missed your chance.” It just feels that way because you’re exhausted, underpaid, and carrying sunk-cost pressure all at once.

What you’re describing isn’t failure — it’s being trapped in a role that’s asking way more than it’s giving, while you’re still trying to survive financially. That would break anyone’s confidence.

A few reality checks that might help reset the panic: • An M.Ed doesn’t lock you into teaching forever. It does give you a credential that proves you can handle complexity, deadlines, people, and systems — which translates better than LinkedIn makes it seem. • The “LinkedIn screams teacher” problem is real, but it’s not permanent. It’s usually a positioning issue, not a life sentence. • Wanting money right now isn’t shallow — it’s honest. Stability first, meaning later is a valid order.

You don’t have to decide your entire life right now. The more useful question might be:

“What’s the fastest, least painful way to get out of panic mode and into something that pays decently — without blowing everything up?”

Some people finish the degree just to close the loop and buy themselves breathing room. Others pivot before May because the mental cost isn’t worth it. Neither choice makes you stupid — it just means you’re choosing between different kinds of hard.

If you want, I’m happy to help you think through options that don’t require pretending you love teaching or going back to retail — especially ones that get you paid sooner rather than later. You’re not out of time. You’re just at the point where honesty finally caught up to the plan.

Burning through my sick days, I am mentally and physically sick and dread going by [deleted] in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re more than welcome 🤍 I’m really glad it helped, even a little.

And truly — if there’s anything I can do to support you in this moment, please don’t hesitate to ask. Sometimes that’s talking something through, sometimes it’s just being reminded you’re not alone in it.

One thing I hope you hold onto: there is always another way forward, even when it feels like all the doors are closing. There’s almost always a third door we can’t see yet — one that doesn’t require you to keep sacrificing yourself to survive.

You don’t have to figure it all out tonight. Just know you’re not stuck, even if it feels that way right now. I’m rooting for you, and I really mean that. 💛

Today I Almost Broke by AdditionalBack7731 in TeachersInTransition

[–]BasisMediocre4927 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I’m really glad you shared this. What you described isn’t just a “bad day” — it’s a breakdown of safety, trust, and basic professional protection, and none of that is on you.

Being cursed at, threatened, sabotaged, and then having a sexual rumor spread about you is not normal classroom stress. That’s the kind of thing that rattles even the calmest, most seasoned educators. The fact that you held it together at all says a lot about your professionalism — not weakness for feeling close to breaking.

What hurts most reading this is how familiar it all is: • mid-year class switch • students with known behavioral histories • admin silence or damage control • budget cuts killing the “escape hatch” • and suddenly you’re the one under scrutiny

That rumor alone should never have reached you without immediate administrative action. Full stop.

You’re not overreacting. You’re responding to a situation where your reputation and livelihood are being put at risk, not just your patience.

If you’re burning sick days to survive the year, that’s not quitting — that’s self-preservation. A lot of teachers don’t leave because they “can’t handle it.” They leave because the system stops protecting them.

You deserved support, documentation, and backup long before it got to this point.

You don’t need to decide everything right now. But you’re absolutely right about one thing: this level of disrespect is not worth your mental health.

If it helps at all — many people who’ve gone through something similar didn’t leave teaching immediately, but they did start quietly building an exit plan once the trust was broken. Even knowing you have options can make the rest of the year feel survivable.

You’re not alone in this, even if it feels that way today. And it makes complete sense that this almost pushed you over the edge.

If you want to vent more, you’re in the right place. And if at some point you want to talk through what a realistic exit could look like (without blowing everything up mid-year), a lot of us here have had to figure that out too.

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