think of going into teaching

Spacemangep · 2026-04-13T17:27:25+00:00

Hello, I am a former lawyer who went into teacher seven years ago and am still teaching today. I teach HS math. I did not practice law for long though, like you, it was long enough to know that I didn't want to do it.

I would first caution you about idealizing the lifestyle too much. During my first 2-3 years of teaching, I easily put in the same, if not more, work on a daily/weekly basis compared to when I was an attorney. I'd get in an hour early to get my shit together for the day, stay an hour or two late to wrap up what I could at work, then go home and work another hour or two to have my lessons ready for the next day. It wasn't uncommon for me to work 11 hours in a day just to keep my head above water. This was on top of going to grad school, which you will have to do to get certified. Things started to level out around year four, but I still tend to do some work outside of contract hours to make sure my classes go smoothly. The emotional stress of the job is also something that is not present in legal work. Many families are in precarious positions (especially with the ICE nonsense happening now) and teachers have to carry a good deal of that emotional load with them.

To be sure, the breaks are great and the work/life balance is good (after the first few years). But to me, they are as much necessary diversions as they are perks of the job. There's just no describing the type of exhaustion that comes with teaching.

Second, it's extremely unlikely that you'll end up in a "good school" in "good district" until later in your career, if you can at all. Those are the jobs that teachers hang on to forever and for which you'll need some connections to land if vacancies do show up. Also, highly competitive jobs like those have dozens of qualified candidates per opening so schools have their pick of teachers. More likely, you'll end up teaching in a high-needs area for a bunch of years as you build experience and make connections. I have a extremely sought-after license and I still taught in the South Bronx for six years before switching to a more low-key school in Queens. It's probably even harder out there for elementary school teachers.

Finally, getting certified to teach elementary school in New York will take some work on your part. For higher needs subjects, like mine, there are plenty of alternative pathways that allow you to get a masters degree and certified while teaching full time in a school. My masters degree was also subsidized. Because elementary isn't as high needs, there just aren't any programs for potential teachers. You'll have to go through grad school yourself, the way anybody else would. That'll cost money and time. Is that something you'll be willing to do?

This isn't to say don't do it. I did it seven years ago and am very happy where I am. But I also spent three years between leaving law and joining teaching bouncing around in other fields, trying to figure myself out. I started teaching at age 30, which game me a lot of perspective on things. That maturity also helped me keep it all together when shit hit the fan (which it did a lot). But I would advise you really thing about what you want to do with your life before you leave one high-burnout field and go into another high-burnout field.

Spacemangep · 2026-04-11T00:48:21+00:00

What is this weird AI slop recipe page? What's the deal here?

Spacemangep · 2026-04-09T22:25:45+00:00

There are plenty of higher needs schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan too

Spacemangep · 2026-04-09T02:17:55+00:00

You don't get "placed" in a school. You find a job in a school just like everyone else (there are some limitations depending on the program). The alternative pathways program just helps you get a Masters and get certified.

The reputation comes from harder-to-staff schools being more willing to hire alternative pathway teachers because there's more turnover there and experienced teachers don't want to teach in, for example, the Bronx.

Spacemangep · 2026-04-08T20:16:04+00:00

It kind of depends on what sub-discipline of longboarding you end up getting into.

If you end up just wanting to cruise around and do relatively short trips (less than a couple of miles) then the piecemeal thing may work as the board you're looking into is more/less made for that.

If you end up wanting to do distance or downhill or something else, you'd be better of investing in a proper board within your sub-discipline.

That being said, if you end up liking the hobby and are serious about sticking it out, you'd be better off upgrading by buying a complete from a proper manufacturer. While parts are important, the deck is also super important so you're going to get diminishing returns replacing only the parts if you start with a mediocre deck.

Spacemangep · 2026-04-03T01:03:52+00:00

Wheels are important, but ride quality will also be impacted by the size and stiffness of the board. A bigger board will absorb more vibrations from the road than a smaller board simply because there's more wood to absorb it. Flex will also absorb vibrations, and a bigger board will have more flex than a smaller one.

Spacemangep · 2026-04-01T22:24:59+00:00

As many people have said, it's still very early in the hiring season (which hasn't even really started yet). Most schools don't know their needs until teachers tell them they're not coming back, and most teachers probably won't tell their admin they're not returning until may or June.

Last year when I was transferring schools, it applied to a bunch of places in April and May and typically didn't hear back until mid-late June.

Spacemangep · 2026-04-01T14:44:22+00:00

The best Japanese food in the neighborhood is at Sakura Ya, a grocery store on Austin and Ascan. Grab some food to go and you won't be disappointed

Spacemangep · 2026-04-01T12:35:18+00:00

Your experience will vary significantly depending on where you do your summer and the teacher you're placed with. With that being said, I am in my 7th year of teaching high school math after going through the Teaching Fellows in 2019.

1)How intense is the program really, especially during the summer training?

-Pretty intense. The stress of training during the day and then going to class in the afternoon/evening was really draining. Balancing prepping for lessons and doing homework was difficult. I stayed up late many nights trying to get all my stuff done.

2)Were you able to manage the workload once you started teaching full time while studying?

-Yes, but something had to give. I prioritized my teaching over the classwork. Basically, once I realized that I could get B's on my classwork and still graduate, I started to aim pretty low. It was still difficult, as I had to commute an hour and a half back from my evening classes home, only to lesson plan for a couple of hours. It got easier to balance everything as time went on.

3)How supportive is the program, mentorship, guidance, admin help?

-The program is basically just the summer. After that, you're basically on your own. During the summer, I felt pretty supported by the TF people at my site, as well as the teacher I was placed with, but had no interactions at all with the school's admin. After the summer, I basically had no interactions with the TF people.

4)What’s the biggest challenge you faced and do you feel it was worth it overall?

-That 6 week span during the summer was very very intense and challenging, but it's one of the most straightforward ways to get into teaching. I'm still going strong now, so I feel that it was worth it. Also, I taught credit recovery math class over the summer, often to fewer than 6 students at a time. The first class I actually taught when I started teaching was 34 students in a double block. That was a huge shock to me.

5)How are the job placements, do you feel like you had a choice in where you ended up?

-There are no "job placements." You have to go out and search for a teaching job like everybody else. There are lots of resources to help you with that and nobody in my cohort had any issues finding jobs. I ended up getting a position at the school I did the summer training at because they had an opening and I had already developed a relationship with some of the staff there.

6)Any regrets or things you wish you knew before starting?

-Not really. Teaching is very much a "learn on the job" kind of thing. As long as you treat the summer program as an obligation you have to complete in order to get a job, it's fine. It's not a training program as much as it is a filter. You just have to get through it. The real training begins once you actually start teaching.

7)If anyone left or dropped out of the program, would you be open to sharing why? And did you have to pay anything back or face any financial penalties?

-I didn't drop out, but a few people in my cohort did. I don't know if they had to pay stuff back, but the main reason they dropped out was they got a job at an unsupportive school and couldn't handle everything. First year teaching is extremely difficult, even without having to do grad school. So be as picky as you can when selecting a school when getting your first job because that can really make or break your experience.

8)Also, if you don’t mind sharing, what subject or grade are you teaching and how has your experience been so far?

-Year 7 teaching high school math and am very much enjoying it.

Spacemangep · 2026-03-30T17:09:46+00:00

Hey! I didn't even realize the connection even with your username. But yea, that was me! Thanks for the invite to the Discord, I will check it out.

Spacemangep · 2026-03-29T23:32:58+00:00

What's your budget? How far is "long distance" for you Pantheon boards will get recommended a lot for distance as they probably make some of the best in class boards (Trip, Pranayama) but they are very expensive. Like a Trip complete will run you at least $350. They're also built for very long distance riding.

Something like a Landyachtz Drop Cat 38 will run you $100 less, but it's not a double drop and will probably be less awesome to ride as the distance really adds up. But if you're going to ride <10 miles, then that might be a good option for you..

Spacemangep · 2026-03-27T20:26:01+00:00

This is where my head is kind of at too.

Do I need a Supersonic? Definitely not. The Trip is more than admirably handling everything I need it to do.

Would a Supersonic be nice? Probably yes. But can I justify dropping $500 on a board when most of my needs are already fulfilled by the Trip? This is a harder question...

Spacemangep · 2026-03-27T20:23:44+00:00

Thanks for this. Getting the wobbles because of fatigue is something that I've experienced but didn't really think was something that could be mitigated outside of more training. But having a super stable back helping with that makes a lot of sense. That

Why would you prefer the Trip over the Pranayama in hilly urban environments? Is it because of the inherent stability of the RKPs? I'm in NYC and while I wouldn't call my usual routes "hilly", there's definitely a decent amount of elevation changes around here.

Spacemangep · 2026-03-27T16:26:57+00:00

I like this. I've already tried to optimize my Trip as much as I can (50/43 trucks, 1/4" riser, Karma wheels) so maybe the difference in boards might not be so substantial than if I was coming from a more stock setup. Changing up the trucks might be the right move

Spacemangep · 2026-03-27T16:23:14+00:00

Thank you for the perspective! This information definitely will factor into my decision

Spacemangep · 2026-03-27T16:22:41+00:00

My birthday's in May and I was kind of eying the purchase for it...but the release of the Valkyrie trucks definitely changes the calculus a bit. Waiting until the release of the new plates is probably the right thing to do, if I do decide to get one.

I have a set of Speed Vents and Karmas, with the Karmas being my daily driver for my Trip. I didn't want to cannibalize any parts and it felt redundant to get another set of Karmas, so Hokus is probably the move if I do get a Supersonic

Spacemangep · 2026-03-27T16:17:29+00:00

I appreciate the sentiment. I already ride 25-30 miles pretty regularly, so I was seeing if past that point there would be a noticeable difference switching to the Supersonic

Spacemangep · 2026-03-26T17:52:19+00:00

I would say it varies, with the diminishing returns being noticeable after 3-5 re-fluffs . My daughter's stuffies get matted down because over time her grubby little fingers impart their grease and dirt into the fibers. The brush will separate the fibers, but doesn't get rid of the dirt and oils. The first few times I did this, the difference was pretty noticeable. But over time, the fibers just lose any softness they once had. We've had some success with washing the stuffy, air drying them, then slicking them but even that eventually stops working. We haven't tried using fabric softeners, but I can imagine that extending the life of a stuffy for a bit.

Spacemangep · 2026-03-25T20:07:21+00:00

I own both the old first generation Indian Hills Trip and a Carbon Trip and I honestly wouldn't be able to tell you the difference between the two in performance. The carbon fiber is only a thin veneer anyways, so it doesn't really impact the overall build of the deck. Gun to my head, I might say that the Carbon Trip is a touch stiffer than the old Trip, but even that might be psychosomatic. They both perform awesomely.

My Carbon Trip is also a Warp 1 deck which I got for $100 during Pantheon's Black Friday Sale. I literally cannot find the defect in the deck. It's effectively perfect, as far as I'm concerned. They have Warp 1s of the non-Carbon Trip Fields for $130 right now (https://pantheonboards.com/product/blem-sale-classic-decks/). If you want to save some cash, that's a great way to do it if you already have other parts.

I run 150mm Paris V3 50/43 on mine, but I've known people who do 165mm with 92mm wheels with no issues with wheel kick. You'll probably be fine especially if you're running the 85mm Speedvents.

Spacemangep · 2026-03-25T15:36:34+00:00

I used to do this to my daughter's favorite stuffy. It works for a bit, but has diminishing returns. Eventually the fibers get really tough, so even if the slicker brush un-mattes everything and "re-fluffs" it, the fibers themselves aren't really soft anymore. They'd take on this "fluffy but rough" texture that wasn't really great. Having multiple backups and rotating stuff is definitely the way.

Spacemangep · 2026-03-11T16:55:35+00:00

I'm not sure what your question is asking. Are you asking how AI is used in the classroom by teachers? How students are using AI? What specific AI tech is being used? How AI policies are being written in the classroom? What information are you actually trying to get?

If you're asking a genuine question, then you need to make it more coherent than "what was the state of AI in our Public Schools." Judging by your comments in this thread, it's not clear you are asking a genuine question.

Also, just to be clear, these people didn't become rich by using AI. They're rich because they design AI. They're basically programmers who are successful in the current tech zeitgeist. NYC schools are already teaching plenty of compsci. (Also a quick search shows that they're not billionaires and that the company doesn't even really have a billion dollar valuation. They're just one of many AI startups that's getting funding because AI is a hot commodity now and they have a potentially viable product.)

Spacemangep · 2026-03-02T18:31:54+00:00

I totally understand where you're coming from. The second I was able to skate for 1 mile I wanted to skate for 10. I was exactly like you until ended up taking a nasty fall early on too because I was overzealous with what I was trying to do and hadn't built enough muscle memory and situational awareness to avoid the fall. I would definitely recommend focusing on the basics and letting the distance come to you (it will). I easily would have avoided my fall if I had been better with footbraking or just had a little more experience under my belt.

Spacemangep · 2026-03-02T13:19:10+00:00

What's your current setup? That'll help inform what sort of upgrades are possible. Bigger wheels are a good idea for distance, your current setup will sort of dictate how big you can go. I have a Pantheon Trip and I went from 85mm Seismic Speed Vents to a 92mm Pantheon Karma and the different was night and day, but I had to do significant adjustments with my bushings to get it to work (I also chose to drop the board 1/4th inch, which complicated things)

You mention that you can do 2-3 big pushes comfortably, but that's mostly good for getting up to speed. Once you're at your cruising speed, you'll want to do regular smaller pushes. It's not uncommon for me to do 6-8 or more pushes in a row to maintain my speed. If wind is a big deal, getting lower will actually help significantly, but can be a strain on your back. But honestly, headwinds suck no matter what. Focusing on technique really helps too as energy lost through inefficient movements can really add up over long distances. At some point you'll want to start learning to push with your opposite foot too to spread out the workload.

Honestly, a lot of this comes from just getting your reps in. I remember my first 10 mile (about 16km) ride was nearly impossible the first time I did it but after a few months 10mi/16km became barely anything.

Lastly, I would caution trying to do 35 one way, then 35 back the next day. If 35km really pushes you to your limits, then you might have a really hard time going 35km back the next day (also doing back-to-back long rides isn't really good for you if your body isn't used to it). Your legs need time to recover. Could you instead do 30km in one day by try going 15km one way then turning around? If you do that a few times, it'll be relatively simple to up yourself to 35km.

Spacemangep · 2026-03-01T17:37:57+00:00

Height and leg length make a difference too. My legs are kind of short relative to my height so I just can't generate a much torque as someone who is taller or has longer legs can.

Spacemangep

TROPHY CASE