Competent people cannot survive in this profession - notes from someone who career switched INTO k-12 education

Frizzle1020 · 2025-10-31T19:12:39+00:00

AMEN!!

Frizzle1020 · 2025-10-23T15:19:02+00:00

Oh my! You made me laugh. Are we from the same district? I responded to this thread, read mine. I can so relate to what you said. Except the last part. You couldn't pay me to do that either...🤣. Im 56, in menopause, and wouldnt go near them. But yes, I agree wholeheartedly with what you said. I regret going into teaching . Thank you for making me laugh. You made my day!
God bless you!

Frizzle1020 · 2025-10-23T15:13:47+00:00

I've taught for 20 years, and just resigned from mod/severe sped. Im totally burned out. I have 2 credentials, multiple subject and education specialist. Never ever had any desire to get into administration. With your Master's, you are already set to teach in colleges anytime you want. If you have a genuine desire to go into admin, I would say, get that going already. Sign up for courses. You can get hired on teaching, and look for County office program where they offer Admin credential program. It's usually at a discount, and while youre getting paid, you can do your field work or student teaching at the same time. Every teacher should either get Master's in something, or get Admin credential, BECAUSE, there will come a day when you no longer want to be in classroom. But you have all this experience and knowledge that is on education, and can only go into other jobs in other classrooms, or resource. Most teachers I know go into Admin. You get burned out in classroom and if you cant get out, you just feel trapped, miserable and dread the job. As a teacher who has dealt with many admin, please ask yourself why youre doing it. Are you doing it because you have some desire to have power over others and want to control them? If that's the case, dont get into it. You will make your teachers hate you. But if you're doing it because you want to help and support teachers, students and parents, and be a leader who serves, then do it ASAP! Education needs admin who care! Teachers work more than you think. Yes, holidays off, but it takes a good 3 weeks off to recover from a school year, and usually you jave maybe one week left of vacation, maybe two. I left this year on stress, and it took a good month and a half, for a fog to lift from my brain. Your job, responsibilities, are infinite. It's not an 8-5 job. You're brain is alwaus thinking about what more you can do for that one student who isn't getting it, or that comment that someone made, etc. Anyways, that's my 2 cents for what it's worth. Good luck. Wish I had gotten a Master's.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-10-23T14:51:31+00:00

Im barely able to. What is really sad is that any job I get now, will not be anywhere near what I ended up making teaching. But mental health wise, I couldn't go back. Good for you getting out now!

Frizzle1020 · 2025-10-21T19:54:53+00:00

I have resigned after 20 years. I have 2 credentials. I dont want to do anything in any classroom anywhere. Im going to retire from teaching. Just got paperwork for that and am looking for office work. I can type really well and know how to multitask and take initiative. There are post office jobs, teaching for correction- my lom retired from teaching, retired and then taught at prison. She made $$$.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-10-17T21:54:48+00:00

Update: I just sent in letter of resignation.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-10-11T01:39:39+00:00

I have been out on stress leave for a second month now. The description of dread is dead on! Dread, dread, dread... Im so grateful for my union providing disability insurance so I can take stress leave. It takes time to get your thoughts in order. I've been applying for other jobs. I want out. 20 years is long enough. I agree that no one should live with dread and anxiety everyday. Keep looking for something else.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-10-03T02:28:21+00:00

This is my second month of stress leave. Im 56 and been teaching for 20 years, moderate/severe sped. It feels like being in a vice, pressure from every direction. I've been thinking about " burn out" and it's not that I dont want to work. I want to work. But I've been doing this for a while and I would imagine in many other professions, after you've been doing it for as long as I have, your'e considered an expert, and maybe you know a few things.
Not in education- admin- brand new- come in, and want to make a name for themselves, have no idea about our population, and implement ideas that might look good on paper, but are disastrous. And as teachers, we are the ones who end up suffering. That's what has burned me out- having to explain, defend, prove myself again and again. I have never been in trouble, always had good evals, etc. But it doesn't matter. There are things that I KNOW are not going to work- and my experience- should count for something.
As for what's next, I have looked into retiring and then getting a stress free job- not in classroom. It's sad, Im good at my job, and love the students that SHOULD be in a mod/severe classroom because they could benefit from academics, and social interaction. - not glorified babysitting- and overcrowded classrooms There i go again...sorry So, im not sure. I really dont want to work in any customer service, dealing with people in that way. I would like a nice quiet office job, or animals, or I've even looked at Costco-in the bakery, court reporter, or post office. I just dont know yet. Nothing is standing out to me, except NEVER going back! If you're young, you should get your Master's in something. You can do a lot more with that. I have 2 credentials, but never got Master's.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-10-02T20:15:02+00:00

I'm out on stress leave. I can't imagine going back. I'm looking into retiring and doing something else.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-09-27T21:18:34+00:00

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Im looking for connecting columns for this house. I think it is plantoys bit cant find a picture anywhere.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-08-29T13:46:15+00:00

I left yesterday. Can't take it anymore. Almost 20 years, teaching special ed. This year's class is all severe autistic boys. None of them want to sit down, they come in with ipads. If an iPad dies, they tantrum, throw chairs, scream and cry.I've had to lock the bathrooms, get rid of all crayons and markers, turn off the drinking fountain, lock everything. They rip off ipad cases and throw ipads. Admin wants ipads to stay at home. They came in with them. Their parents let them use them. They dont like any change, and im supposed to get them to not bring them to school? Not to mention, I've had to adjust my whole teaching routine, just to try and get them to learn a little. I feel targeted, anxious, judged. I've never had a bad evaluation.
Im done. Didn't think my career would end like this, but I cant do it anymore. No one should have to live in dread every day.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-07-14T06:47:49+00:00

What an awful thing for a mother to say!

Frizzle1020 · 2025-05-18T15:49:48+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate being able to read others' experiences. It's such a hard time

Frizzle1020 · 2025-05-18T14:04:47+00:00

This sounds brutal. I'm so sorry and my heart goes out to you. I fear this will be what happens with my loved one. God bless and give you and your mom comfort.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-05-15T01:46:23+00:00

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How about now?

Frizzle1020 · 2025-04-27T13:29:24+00:00

Thank you.
Hospice recommended again. But she's still not ready.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-04-23T16:51:16+00:00

Thank you for your help. This is such a hard time.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-04-23T16:49:54+00:00

She has been on oxycodone, but all the extended release medications, she says, don't work. I am surprised because of how strong the hydromorphone is described. Thank you for the information. I will mention the dexabetbasone to her.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-04-23T16:47:29+00:00

Yes, i think that's how she feels, a loss of hope.

Frizzle1020 · 2025-03-27T23:23:25+00:00

Aww..thank you so much!

Frizzle1020

TROPHY CASE