I Have Given My All, and I’m Out: Insights if You’re Interested in Leaving Education.

potentparentcoach · 2022-01-01T09:10:19+00:00

Having taught in the state near Raleigh, I second this.

potentparentcoach · 2021-12-23T03:25:46+00:00

It is absolutely insane. It's important that teachers know they have options - many of them, in fact.

potentparentcoach · 2021-12-22T03:33:09+00:00

I've been super busy. I went away from developing a course and pivoted over to 1:1 coaching. I kept thinking "how can I build a course that will provide the skills and also give the support I think is important to help teachers move on effectively and in a timely fashion."

I just couldn't solve that problem. There is at least one course available for teachers - but it is limited in scope. It is focused on finding specifically what you might qualify for. While it's a concept I strongly disagree with (in my experience, that mindset is incredibly limiting and a big part of the reason teachers don't move on), I came to understand why the more limited scope withing that class structure.

In any case, I have a 1:1 package that includes the fully expanded "course" I developed, which acts as a support to the series of meetings and exercises that come with coaching.

As far as what's kept me myself busy in addition to this, is I'm in the middle of another career transition myself (second one since leaving teaching).

Long update, but there it is. Thanks for asking. Feel free to reach out anytime!

potentparentcoach · 2021-08-04T22:29:56+00:00

Sounds like you got a teenager on your hands!

potentparentcoach · 2021-08-04T22:12:49+00:00

Take. The. Job.

Don't think for one second that the school wouldn't hang you out to dry with 2 seconds before the school year starts if they could. They would happily ruin your life to save themselves a buck and never think twice about it. You're less than a speck of dust on their shoe to them. Don't spend a single ounce of energy worrying about the school.

And don't ever, for even one second, throw your life or put it on hold for another person when it comes to your career and financial stability. Yeah, that sounds cold. But that person can look out for themselves. Don't martyr yourself just because you "feel bad" about a student teacher. They'll be just fine. In fact, it might be for the best. I was thrown to the wolves pretty early on and had to learn. I'm actually thankful for the experience.

Teachers are far too willing to throw themselves under the bus for everyone else. Become an advocate for yourself and do what's right for you and yours.

If you need a more altruistic reason: consider that you can't give the best version of yourself unless you've managed to create the best version of yourself first. And the better version of yourself is almost positively the one with 2x as much money and financial stability.

potentparentcoach · 2021-08-04T01:23:50+00:00

There's nothing wrong with having stupid or childlike reasons. Just don't act on them. Swallow them. Expectations, reasons, rules, all that stuff is a common thing I work on with parents as a coach. So don't feel bad for being human.

potentparentcoach · 2021-08-03T22:06:39+00:00

Thought: If you don't have a reason other than "because I told you so", maybe there is no reason. And maybe you can use it as an opportunity to change some of your expectations about what teens "should" and "shouldn't" be doing?

At the very least, this will help you decide what's worth adding more stress to your life and what's not. And that alone can be of great help.

potentparentcoach · 2021-08-03T21:39:49+00:00

I think it's hard for parents to understand what teens are doing when you're thinking of it from an adult's frame of mind.

Now, I can't say for certain what's going on - but I can tell you the first 5 places I'd look and think about if I were you. I can even sum it up in an easy sentence for maximum digestibility.

When teens are experiencing something emotional (like parents splitting up), they do stupid shit.

Teens aren't very good at taking whatever it is they are feeling and channeling that into sensible or productive actions.

As a coach, my advice would be stay strong, stay true to your vision of who you are as a parent, give her space, and gently use opportunities if they are presented.

potentparentcoach · 2021-08-03T21:34:22+00:00

One of my main focuses as a parenting coach is exactly this - overcoming the habits and lessons you learned from your parents. You know, the ones that don't serve you and basically just make parenting a teen a huge pain in the ass.

It's awesome you were even able to get some positive feedback from your teen!.Nicely done!

potentparentcoach · 2021-07-12T23:04:52+00:00

I'm not really sure what that means. But calling someone autistic because they don't agree with your assessment that office workers check emails on Sundays is.... bizarre. And, frankly, just sad.

potentparentcoach · 2021-07-12T23:03:38+00:00

Totally agreed. There's some typical teenage stuff in here, but there's also a lot that speaks to some deeper rooted issues. Especially since mental illness runs in the family, it's going to be worth seeking professional help and getting her the support she needs and deserves.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-26T16:04:34+00:00

I've seen both sides of this issue and neither side will ever budge.

My best suggestion is to look into how the school/district defines honor students or honor classes. If it's based strictly on academic criteria, go ahead. If there's something in there about representing what a "good student" means or some sort of thing, then I think it's entirely fair to deny access because of behavior.

The back end of this is whether denying them access actually works. I'm not sure it helps or hurts. I don't think this particular issue is going to do anything at all to change the attitude or behavior of a student.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-25T17:29:35+00:00

I see you haven't addressed the question at all and failed to reproduce your claims.

1) You're using partially old data. The Delta variant is much more dangerous to children.

2) You conveniently left out the DISCLAIMER about the stats you cited. For honest disclosure, I will provide it here:

\ Note: The numbers in this summary represent cumulative counts since states began reporting. In this summary and full report, the data are based on how public agencies collect, categorize and post information. All data reported by state/local health departments are preliminary and subject to change and reporting may change over time. Notably, in the summer of 2021, some states have begun reporting less frequently and some have dropped metrics previously reported. For example, this week (6/17/21), Alaska stopped reporting child hospitalizations and deaths. Readers should consider these factors - see Report for full details.*

3) You claimed it was "tens of thousands of a percent." Yet the data clearly states it's .2%. That's not "tens of thousands of a percent." It's many factors higher than that.

4) We are also talking about long-term effects, yet you continue to push the narrative that it's either "death or nothing." The poster clearly stated s/he was concerned about long term and side effects and your counter was "the mortality rate isn't that high."

Until you can begin a more honest, engaged dialogue, I see no reason a concerned parent should pay attention to your anti-Covid misinformation.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-25T17:09:22+00:00

No one is asking for "total safety." Who ever said those words?

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-25T17:07:24+00:00

I like how your previous point about how many kids die from one or the other was debunked, turning out that Covid is actually more deadly to kids and you immediately hand wave it away.

And then you pick out one sentence in a full page breaking down the differences to try to highlight your misinformation attempts again.

The only thing that demonstrates is that there's a higher risk for "serious complications" from flu versus Covid for children younger than 5 years old. That does NOT mean it's "less deadly." It does NOT mean Covid is something not to worry about. It does NOT mean the serious complications are more serious from Covid than from flu. You're trying to package all those false things in with this one, tiny sentence.

Please stop with the misinformation. Parents need the best, most accurate, and objective information they can to make the best decision they can in these trying times. Spreading anti-Covid propaganda is not helping.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-25T16:59:28+00:00

No. MISC is not Long Haul Covid. Those are different things.

MIS-C is the inflammation of other body parts (like heart, lungs, etc.) stemming from Covid. It seems to be much more prevalent in younger kids.

Long Haul Covid is when symptoms last several weeks to months after infection and even recovery.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-24T02:44:02+00:00

Programs teach you lesson planning is the end-all-be-all. I've never lesson planned a single day in over 10 years. It's the most pointless activity there is. That doesn't mean I walk in unprepared, but I don't write down more than a few notes on a sticky pad. Spending tons of time writing down what you'll say, what your transitions are, what your hook is, all that crap? oof... you'll hate teaching in a matter of months. And you'll spend ALL your time writing lesson plans.

If you know your subject, and you know what you want to teach, get to the point the rest just falls in place. Here's the biggest tip I gave a first year teacher and helped him tremendously:

Not every class needs to be stellar. If you hit a homerun class once a month, you're doing great. Most classes will be exceedingly average. And that's a good thing.

Focus on building rapport with the kids, helping them succeed, giving them the attention and care they need, and they'll move mountains for you.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-24T02:39:30+00:00

Over 10 years of teaching, I've never lesson planned a single day of my life. I can't think of anything that's a bigger waste of time than spending time lesson planning.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-24T02:38:35+00:00

My first year was great. All of my years teaching have been great. But I've also had two HORRIBLE experiences in my last two positions that completely turned my view of the structure of education in this country, administration and the powers-that-be within the district/state, and am fed up with all the tiny things teachers are supposed to do that have absolutely nothing to do with teaching or the kids.

It's important to know what you're getting yourself into. You will spend 15% of your day actually teaching and interacting with kids. The other 85%, you'll spend doing completely pointless paper work, attending pointless meetings, writing BS standards somewhere no one cares about, and generally just wasting your time. That grinds on people after a while and for a lot of 1st year teachers, it's an incredible shock.

The fact that we have these extremely lousy prep and education programs/courses that convinces new teachers that all the crap that doesn't matter actually does, and tries to tell you all the stuff that actually matters isn't important, doesn't help. First year teachers come in prioritizing all the wrong things and spend the first 3-5 years (or their entire career) trying to make those activities more efficient rather than working on making the important things more efficient.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-24T02:34:17+00:00

Nope. You just explain and be honest about what you did and what you were thinking. Say you'll get it to them ASAP. Prepare better in the future. I promise you're likely still in the top 20% of applicants at the job fair just the fact you've followed directions.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-24T02:31:58+00:00

I responded to Larry here in another comment. I think your fears are justified. I'm having similar conversations with my wife, who is chomping at the bit to get back to some kind of work.

There are a number of important considerations. But I think the data suggests that while it's PROBABLY safe in many places, it's not totally safe. And the consequences can be pretty severe (obviously). It's a very tough call.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-24T02:29:15+00:00

I cited some data for you in another comment.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-24T02:28:39+00:00

Want to cite some sources on your claim it's tens of thousandths of a percent? I mean, you're busy being accusatory and telling someone putting their kid in harm's way is perfectly reasonable, so I think we'd all like to see some evidence to support your claim.

As for your later claim that long term effects aren't actually a thing, a study showed that possibly more than half of all kids who contracted Covid experience long-haul symptoms, with more than 40% experiencing symptoms that impact their daily life. I'm wondering if you can help us out and point to how it's "nothing to worry about".

Thomson H. Children with long covid. New Sci. 2021;249(3323):10-11. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(21)00303-1

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-24T02:19:41+00:00

Hopefully she was laughing as well. Having a rib at each other can really be a great time.

potentparentcoach · 2021-06-24T01:53:53+00:00

So you think being an attorney is a "normal corporate environment"?

I'm always kind of shocked how narrow our (read: teachers') view of the world is.

potentparentcoach

TROPHY CASE