![]() How many other professions have workers who stay in the same cubicle for 35 years? In the exact same role for 30? Very few. To add to all of it, I think one of our biggest hurdles in education reform is stagnant thinking. Lots of amazing things have been said already. I think it's in the blood of teachers to feel responsible and guilty, which is why we are able to connect suggest students against all odds and mandates teaching is truly a labor of love. Unfortunately, it breaks my heart not to renew my contract this year, but I am going to do everything I can to ease my transition out of here and to do right by my students." Something like that.Įdited Februby thread. ![]() I want to continue to do great work in education, and the right path for me to do that is to take the next step into a PhD program. I'm probably going to print out my admission letter to the program I'll choose to attend and say something like, "It has been an absolute honor to begin my career in education at this school. I am also going to give them my contact information so they can keep in touch and let me know if they need any encouragement. I teach at the same low-income and underperforming high school I attended, though, so I am hoping my matriculation to a really good PhD program will inspire my kids to reach for their goals, as well. Like most of us, I adore my kids and would do anything for them, but I'm itching to do research and have a broader impact. This helped somewhat in my last school with the guilt aspect and I also requested an exit interview with the head teacher so that I could ensure I passed on what I believed were the good/bad practices in place and concerns I thought he may be in a position to remedy (or at least should be aware of) that way I left knowing I had done everything I could for the kids. I have seen some teachers mentally check out on students and I think this is the most unfair thing, I intend to 'go out with a bang', as they say, and make sure I do my utmost in the last few months for the students. ![]() My advice is to make the most of the time you do have left - as I am sure you will. I think that the same is true of any profession where you feel you are aiding people and responsible for improving their lives (social workers / doctors for instance), but truthfully the guilt you feel is a marker of the respect and love you have for job, colleagues, students, so actually not feeling guilty would be a more worrying sign. You simply have to come to terms with this fact and accept it. In my experience as a teacher you always feel guilt when leaving your students, whatever the reason is (new job/career/maternity leave - you name it). That being stated, I don't have as much letting my school administration know (since they have not been that supportive) but will have a lot of difficulty saying it to my students. But, I haven't gotten into a PhD program yet (but have received an interview / practically an acceptance to an ed analytics firm). I really want to have a more global impact, and believe that I am more capable doing this in a different capacity (in research / politics / innovation). ![]() I also hate the fact that I feel that I am reiterating the issue with Teach For America as a Corps Member, but I just can't be content giving impact to students simply. I am almost legitimately in the exact situation, but as a mathematics teacher. Is anyone else in a similar position? How are you breaking the news to your principal and department head? I have already been accepted to 2 of the 3 graduate programs I applied to, though, and I'm going. I feel super guilty, though, because my school has had a terrible turn over rate for English teachers, and I really care about my students. ![]() I am a full time teacher at a small charter school, but I am too much of an out-of-the-box thinker to be completely happy teaching at the K-12 level. ![]()
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