How I Knew It Was Time to Leave the Classroom
Thinking about getting out of teaching? Explore the first-hand experiences of the Educator Forever team and learn how we knew it was time to leave the classroom.
There comes a moment in many educators' careers when the familiar rhythms of the classroom begin to play a different tune — one that signals it might be time for a change. In this blog, our Educator Forever team members share the stories of how we knew it was time to transition out of the classroom to pursue new career ventures.
Through these stories, you’ll hear about the moments of realization and the turning points that led us to seek alternative paths that aligned with our evolving passions and life circumstances. Each story is unique, yet they share a common thread — the pursuit of a more sustainable career that allows us to continue impacting education in different ways.
As we dive in, we invite you to reflect on your own journey. Whether you're an educator thinking about leaving the classroom or you’ve already left teaching, you’ll gain insights, inspiration, and reassurance that there are many alternative career paths and ways to stay connected to education beyond the classroom.
5 First-Hand Stories of Getting Out of Teaching
Not sure if you’re ready to leave the classroom? Read the stories of these members of our Educator Forever team to discover when they knew it was time to transition to alternative careers for teachers.
ALLISON, BUSINESS MENTOR (AND OWNER OF TUTOR TOTS ONLINE)
I realized it was time to leave teaching when my enthusiasm for the job changed. In the beginning of my teaching career, I was the dedicated teacher who arrived early and stayed late. I used to stay so late that people thought I ran the afterschool program. But then, I started arriving just in time for the bell and leaving as soon as possible, even beating the school buses. This shift from being deeply involved to wanting to leave the building as quickly as possible was a clear sign that my passion for teaching had faded, leading me to consider a new path.
I found a new spark for teaching when I had the chance to work from home. I discovered it wasn't the students or their families I lost passion for; rather, it was the school environment and leadership that no longer inspired me. Teaching from home reignited my love for the job. Now, in the comfort of my own space, I’m in charge, like the captain of my own ship. This change helped me rediscover the joy in teaching.
APRIL, DIRECTOR OF LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
My transition from the classroom happened after giving birth to my daughter in 2016. I enrolled in my M.Ed program before getting pregnant, and knew that I wouldn’t be able to finish it while teaching and parenting. Plus I was suffering from postpartum depression and OCD and barely keeping my head above water. My family ended up moving from Belize, Central America back to the States, and once we arrived, it was even clearer that I didn’t want to take all of the tests required to recertify. The prospect was exhausting after graduating from my Master's program.
So I decided to reach out to an ed-tech company I contracted with while teaching in Belize, and they had a part-time position open for me. From there, I found the Beyond the Classroom course and realized I could positively impact education in a variety of ways while spending the majority of my time with my daughter. This allowed me to get the support (and time) I needed to recover from a pretty dark place.
I’m forever grateful for the Educator Forever community and the way we are reimagining what it means to be an educator. We deserve to live sustainable and joy-filled lives. And just like we say about our students, “one size doesn’t fit all!”
EVONNE, PROGRAM COORDINATOR
I realized it was time to leave teaching when I discovered I was expecting my third child in a span of four years. Despite more than a decade of teaching in the public school system, we could not afford to pay the childcare costs for three young children on the salaries earned by two teachers. Additionally, the pace that I had struggled to maintain, coordinating after school clubs and programs, tutoring, and creating my own curriculum while parenting a neurodiverse child and juggling her appointments and therapies led me to feel divided. I wanted to do it all, but physically and emotionally knew it was impossible. I couldn’t give my best to everyone, and my young children and spouse deserved better.
I left the classroom in 2008 and immediately began homeschooling my kids and dabbling in curriculum curation. I enjoyed creating preschool and elementary curriculum for my older two and exposing my youngest to the outdoors as much as possible and exploring. I began working with a local homeschooling organization and eventually became the regional director of eight different communities and over 200 students. At the same time, I began studying for my second Master’s degree in Library and Information Science.
LILY, CEO OF EDUCATOR FOREVER
I left the classroom when my daughter was born in 2012. I was teaching kindergarten and first grade and really couldn’t fathom leaving my tiny baby to spend my days in the classroom. I also had to make up my teaching income, so I knew it was a risk leaving the classroom. I felt confident enough to do so after landing a 20-hour/week virtual education consulting job that would match my teaching salary.
Though I was relieved to find flexible work in education, I was also terrified to take the leap. When I first left the classroom, I felt major guilt about leaving my school, colleagues, and students. But I found that there are so many ways to make an impact in education, both within and beyond the classroom. I also found that I was able to build a more sustainable and joyful life for myself and my family. Showing my daughter— from the time that she was a tiny baby— that I could be a present mom and go after my professional dreams was incredibly important to me.
BLAIR, MARKETING MANAGER
I had taught for 9 years and had been pursuing other interests and skills (writing, graphic design, marketing, etc.) as various side hustles while teaching. I reached a crossroads where I knew I would always wonder if I didn’t try another path full-time. I wanted to be challenged in new and different ways and step out of my comfort zone. I also dreamed of having a more flexible work environment, where I could travel and work from anywhere.
When it came time to decide to leave the classroom, I knew at that moment I had to take a leap of faith and bet on myself. There were many emotions and uncertainties at the time. I loved so many things about teaching, but I knew that to truly grow, I had to step into the unknown and embrace a new chapter.
I’m so grateful for the Educator Forever Network, which opened my eyes to combining my passions and interests. Knowing I didn’t have to leave education entirely made everything easier. I realized I didn’t have to abandon my career as an educator; I could reframe it. I love that now I get to continue making an impact in education and helping educators and students in different meaningful ways.
Should I Quit Teaching?
Chances are, after reading the inspiring stories of the Educator Forever team, you’re wondering if you should also leave the classroom. Maybe you want to start an education business or work virtually as an online tutor. No matter what role you pursue, you can still make a difference in the lives of students, teachers and others.
In the end, the decision to quit teaching and leave the classroom is a highly personal one. You are the only one who can decide if you’re ready to stop teaching and pursue a more flexible education career.
Ready to explore a new path where you can thrive and make a lasting impact?
It takes courage and resilience to recognize when a shift in your career or life is needed.
You’re not alone as you embrace new beginnings and redefine what it means to be an educator.
The Educator Forever community stands as a testament to the endless possibilities for those who want to pursue alternative careers in education.
As you navigate your own journey, we encourage you to join the Educator Forever Network. By joining this vibrant community, you gain access to a supportive network of like-minded individuals, resources, and opportunities to reimagine your role in education.
Through the Network, you get our signature course that gives you step-by-step guidance on pursuing flexible work beyond the classroom. You also get engaging and empowering weekly sessions tailored to various aspects of your professional and personal life, including:
Community Calls: Benefit from career, mindset, and skill-related content and enjoy networking with other inspiring, like-minded educators.
Coworking Sessions: Find motivation, community, and accountability as you work on projects such as your resume, cover letter, applications, or client work.
Wellness Circles: Prioritize your well-being through activities like gentle somatic movement, breathing exercises, mindfulness, and resilience-building practices.
Creativity Sessions: Get creative advice and inspiration for using Canva (for curriculum projects, business endeavors, websites, portfolios, social media, and more).
Workshops: Enjoy workshops on various career and mindset-related topics such as job applications, curriculum development, goal setting, etc.
Sign up now to start your next exciting adventure, whether you decide to leave teaching altogether or pursue flexible work in education on the side!