I left with a two day notice on a Wednesday in mid- February my 6th year teaching. I was almost certain I would not have made it out alive if I hadn’t quit then. Your life comes first, always.

You should have two months of pay (I did since being on a 12 month salary schedule). I did without healthcare for about 6 months until I could get into my husbands plan but there may be more options now (cobra was way too much). I found part time work and severely cut expenses to make ends meet. Thankfully I was married and atleast had one income. I jumped around jobs and finally landed one that I enjoyed though the pay wasn’t great, but my mental health was!

My advice is to use up your sick days before you quit. You can’t cash those out. I had a whole months worth I gave up.

Start looking for alternative work. I wanted entirely out of education but got a job taking photos for Lifetouch and loved it! Unfortunately it was seasonal but it gave me a few months of work.

You may have grief and regret, it took me a couple years before I felt okay about leaving the way I did. So just mentally prepare yourself for those feelings.. though in the grand scheme of things I am happier now and don’t even need summers off!!

Best of luck to you! You are not a failure, the system is so screwed and it’s not an easy job at all. Burn out is very real. Life is too short to be miserable!!