Should I Leave Teaching? How to Know When It's Time

In a recent call with Beyond the Classroom course graduates, several of our group members were approaching their last couple of months in the classroom. Most of them were picking up extra contract work to build experience before embarking on their own. I remember doing the same thing myself— working double duty to secure contracts that would sustain me when I left the classroom. I remember even before that, too, when I was simply starting to wonder, “should I leave teaching?”

It can be exhausting to burn the candle at both ends, but for many of us, lining up other options gives us a chance to feel more secure in our decisions to leave the classroom. Even though these teachers had made the decision to leave teaching, they still felt nervous about taking the leap. 

It’s rare that you’ll ever feel 100% solid on a big decision like leaving teaching for another career, but picking up on clues can help you realize that it’s time for a change.

Still wondering, “should I leave teaching?” These three clues might signal that you’re ready to explore options for working outside of the classroom. 

Leaving The Teaching Profession: 3 Signs You’re Ready to Take the Leap

Clue #1: You can’t stop thinking about leaving teaching 

Do you find yourself constantly thinking, “should I leave teaching?” Do you fantasize about an office job or daydream about working in a cafe, or just sitting in a quiet room by yourself? If these fantasies become more persistent and/or more appealing, consider whether they could signal you’re ready for a change. 

Allow yourself to go deeper into what it actually would be like to have a job that isn’t teaching. And remember, leaving the teaching profession doesn’t have to mean leaving the education field altogether. Consider whether you could do a job that allows you to stay in education, just not in the classroom. 

Maybe you could write curriculum while sitting in a quiet room or work as an education consultant from the comfort of a home office? Likely, what you’re craving from a non-education-related job would be even more appealing if it allowed you to go deep into your passions and areas of expertise.

Clue #2: The things that used to excite you don’t anymore 

When I first became a teacher, I was so excited to have my own classroom. I poured my heart into teaching and loved planning lessons that got students to approach learning in a new way. As time went on, I became more and more exhausted, and the joy I once found in lesson planning waned. I still loved my students, but coming up with innovative teaching ideas took too much brainpower for me to muster. It was around this time that I really started asking myself, “should I leave teaching?”

Upon reflection, I realize now that I was overworked and burnt out. These clues that my former interests were no longer so interesting eventually clued me into the fact that it was time to move on. 

But the interesting thing is that what I moved on to — curriculum design — actually involved the very thing that used to excite me about teaching. Sometimes feeling burnt out on an aspect of teaching doesn’t mean you’re done with it for good. It might actually be a clue that the area you used to love is something you could look into pursuing in a new way. In that case, leaving teaching for another career could actually help you rekindle your love for education!

Clue #3: When you think about other options, you feel energized 

When you realize that there are so many jobs for teachers who leave teaching, do you get excited? It’s more than okay to feel excited about new opportunities! 

Tune into how you feel when you think about leaving teaching. Does the thought of starting a new chapter of your career seem both exciting and terrifying? Excitement and fear are often related, so don’t let feeling scared deter you from investigating your excitement. Allow yourself to truly dream about what you would ideally like to do next. Follow your energy and curiosity as you investigate different possibilities. 

Notice both when you feel energized, but also when you feel scared. Are you suffering from imposter syndrome and self-doubt (it happens to the best of us!)? Do you need to get more confident with your multitude of teacher skills? Examine your self-talk and thought processes as you look at job postings and explore career options beyond the classroom. 

Should I Leave Teaching? What to Do Once You’ve Decided

It’s not easy to make a change - especially one as big as leaving the teaching profession - but it can be so worth it to tune into what you really want. 

Between freelance jobs, online work and even starting an education business, there are so many jobs for teachers who leave teaching. The possibilities are truly endless!

If you’re looking for support to get clarity on your next step and find flexible, rewarding work beyond the classroom, consider joining the Beyond the Classroom course. Remember that your education expertise is so valuable and can be used in a multitude of ways. I’m always cheering you on!