Why I Quit Teaching in 2020: Starting Over
By: Melody Johnson
Tags: Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Teachers, Career Change, Education

Why I Quit Teaching in 2020: Starting Over

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You don’t quit after you get beat. You pick yourself up, and you start rebuilding to accomplish your goals. — Daniel Cormier

One of the HARDEST things for a teacher to do is to quit.

We are taught not to quit by parents and, well teachers. It is instilled within me NOT to quit. We as teachers instill this very same thing in our students. Don’t quit. Keep going. Push harder and dig deeper.

This is the story of why I decided to leave the traditional classroom.

I’ve worked for over 10 years in a traditional class setting. I loved it. It was also hard work. I worked in pre-k, 5th grade as a special education teacher, kindergarten and first grade, and as a grade-level chair in first grade.

In August 2019, I began an amazing opportunity to work with another team I felt I knew fairly well. Little did I know how different things are when you are going from a regular teacher to a leadership position.

I did many professional developments independently (I still do — because I love learning) and needed to apply them quickly. I was embracing this new position since I loved helping others and it gave me the opportunity to do just that.

From reading all of those books, I learned immediately one single thing. I can’t do everything. You simply cannot be the “Jack of All Trades.”

Focus on one thing. But, I ignored it and did try to come up with a basic schedule in which I did my work at home and at school and tried to do everything else.

Realistically, it’s pretty much a one-way ticket to failure and to be average and experience burnout.

With the number of things that are asked of teachers, it is impossible to lead a balanced life. Teachers give up their personal time, time with friends and families, and most likely staying up late and waking up early. Being a teacher is a sacrifice. You give much of yourself for the good of the students and as a team leader, for your team.

Many times, a person that goes into this type of position has to be able to multitask and handle way more than the regular gen ed teacher (Which they already do many things.) So please hug that teacher when you see them!

I started flipping through a family album and noticed that I saw my husband and kids but not me. I started asking them — where am I? Only to be told by my kids — “Oh You were working on…. Or you were working late for something for school. Or, remember that day you had to enter all that data”

“I cried. I cried deeply like I lost a dear friend. I cried because I realized that I have spent so much time on others, that I did not pour in that valuable time with my own family. Years passed until I finally noticed. I drifted and was simply busy with being busy.”

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My daughter and I then prepped that Sunday for the week. I was not feeling great but, ignored it cause I just had too many things to do for school.

The next day I was sick. Really sick. My head hurt, stomach hurt, and thought my head was gonna explode. (It was just the flu) But, it was the first time in a long time where I felt relaxed and at peace. Looking back, I think I subconsciously did this to myself (being sick) because of the place I was in mentally.

The next day was still just as bad but accompanied by my daughter getting sick.

Since my daughter has epilepsy, small colds are a major issue. It’s an unfortunate trigger.

In the middle of this, I dealt with my oldest son’s being concerned about my health and my daughter. It was at that very moment, I realized I needed to take a step back and focus on myself and my family.

This did not help. I needed to get well and quickly.

Since my daughter has epilepsy, I realized that life is a gift. She was suffering, from anxiety and having a hard time.

I had to take a step back.

It was one of the hardest things that I ever had to do.

I had to step away from relationships with parents, co-workers, friends, and, my dear students which I loved dearly to this day.

I gave too much. I am a giver. I cannot help that. Won't apologize for that. I love helping people and I love being able to see people succeed in what they want. Without saying who, I was told by two individuals that I simply was not engaged enough in meetings and seemed not present. Even told I needed mental help.

It was at this moment that I stopped.

I needed a change.

I started asking myself some questions. Serious ones.

Questions that would be life-changing.

Do I really want to do this? On a scale of one to five, where is my passion for teaching in a classroom like this? What is it that I REALLY want in life? In my career? In my family? In my personal goals?

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Okay, I then felt disappointed. I’ve lied to myself. I chose not to listen to my inner thoughts and feeling for a while because I was not focused on the one thing I loved. I have done it for a while. I did it for years. I did not want to teach from this aspect any longer. I just wanted to be able to go where my passion awaits.

Teaching online.

I needed the flexibility to have to be with my daughter and to do things my way.

It was time to close that chapter.

I am married with three kids, got a master's degree in literacy, and have only done one freelancing job recently. Where do I start?

I decided that I needed to shift my attention to another thing that I love. I still love teaching. I decided that while I teach, I will still implement and create the courses I want and still do another side hustle.

As I threw away my entire classroom at the end of the year, I realized that I have many talents I've developed and that I don't need to do the traditional job. I can simply do side hustles and still be happy! Some side hustles that I do is a podcast, a web page, I teach(yay!), teach teachers to do self-care, and advocate for themselves and I also create courses online on my own terms.

It's bittersweet. But I am looking forward to starting this new chapter in my life.

UPDATE:12/20/2020

I have not only created a great tutoring business, but I also spun off to do two more business because I kept LEARNING. (Just so you know there is a happy ending.) If you want to learn more about my side hustle and how to create your own, feel free to comment below!!