Teaching is a career that offers many rewards. Aside from the long holidays and fairly short school days, it can be very fulfilling. After all, how many people can say they routinely make a positive difference in a child's life?
This profession can also be rather exhausting. Historically, it's never paid much and that doesn't look set to change anytime soon. These are just two examples of the reasons teachers give for walking away from the profession. Do you feel like doing that, too? Let's take a look at a few more before going over your options.
Reasons for Resigning from Permanent Teaching Job
Teachers are tasked with report writing, marking papers, parents' evenings and lesson planning. These 'behind-the-scenes' administrative functions skew teachers' work-life balance. One might go so far as to say they have no such balance, considering all the out-of-hours labour they do. It's no wonder then that many teachers are unhappy with their choice of career and looking to retrain in a different field.
Perhaps you are, right now, actively thinking about relinquishing your post. Or maybe you have already handed in your letter of resignation and are now moving through your notice period. Whichever situation you find yourself in, you are certainly not alone in wanting to leave.
Statistics show that, globally, teachers are quitting the profession in droves. They have been for at least the past decade. The Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the trend.
We're not just talking about newly-qualified teachers (NQTs), though they certainly are making hasty exits. In fact, more of them leave within one year of hire nowadays (just under 60%). Ten years ago, that percentage was a third lower.
Experienced teachers quitting is, by far, the greater concern. We're talking about those with more than 20 years in the classroom, walking away ahead of any planned retirement. With these educators, it's not just that their departure shrinks the available pool of teaching talent. It's all of the experience that leaves when they do.
As senior educational staff reach retirement age, fewer and fewer faculty members are coming up behind them to fill those ranks. And another grave situation: experienced teachers tend to fill high school instructor positions. If all the experienced instructors flee from their profession, who will teach adolescent students? Even before the pandemic, authorities projected a teacher shortfall in the thousands. That number has grown exponentially since then.
Poor pay, long hours and ever-increasing workloads are generally to blame for teachers leaving the profession. Constant changes to the curriculum run a close second. Increasingly stringent assessment standards factor in the Top Five reasons as well. And, of course, the huge amount of data that teachers are now expected to collect and record for each pupil.
It goes without saying that stress is a major reason for leaving the teaching profession. The aforementioned unequal work-life balance doesn't help bring stress levels down. Some of it is due to ever-increasing levels of bad classroom behaviour and lack of respect from both pupils and their parents. Much of that results from a lack of trust. Parents don't trust teachers to educate properly; their kids follow their lead.
In June 2022, The Guardian published an article about Australian teachers and the situation they find themselves in. Unsurprisingly, heavy workloads and lack of administrative support feature among other common complaints. Sometimes it just feels like an uphill battle just to be heard, valued and respected.
Being physically engaged in school can be rather tedious. Often, it feels as though you're ruled by a bell. It rings and, like a well-trained dog, you go running to where you need to be. There is no flexibility in your routine. You know exactly where you will be and what you'll be doing at any given time.
School life can make you feel rather institutionalised. Some people like this aspect of teaching while others find it suffocating. It might make some faculty feel a little like robots. That, in turn, prompts them to conduct lessons on autopilot. Nobody benefits from that kind of teaching.
Thinking Beyond Resigning From a Teaching Position
Did any of these reasons strike a nerve for you? At the risk of this article becoming a novel, we could give plenty more. For instance, some educators resign because of a family situation. Maybe their partner got a promotion and they have to relocate. Or they simply want to spend more time with their own kids.
Some teachers have long supplemented their wages by tutoring after school hours, either online or in person. Indeed, many such educators aver that they took on extra tutoring jobs strictly to help make ends meet. Some of them quit teaching because they decided to launch themselves into business as an independent tutor. That way, they could exercise a measure of control over their workload and hours.
Before you resign, you need to think about your next moves. It's hard to say this in these economic times, but money might not be an issue if you have other sources of income (or are independently wealthy!). Do you have any savings? If so, how long would they support you if you were unemployed? What financial commitments do you have? Do you need to find employment immediately or can you afford to pick and choose?
Besides your current economic situation and how no income might play out, you should start thinking about what you want to do next. Obviously, if you are retiring, that question might come at you with less urgency. But if you are going to be looking for a new profession, you have lots of fast thinking to do.
What type of situation would you like to find? Are there any slots in that field open where you are? Should you consider getting more education? Having a degree can lead to many opportunities in the business and marketing world. Having teaching experience is generally viewed favourably, even in career fields unrelated to teaching.
Your particular brand of knowledge also offers possibilities. For instance, instead of teaching English, you could become a freelance writer. Or you might consider teaching English as a second language, either abroad or online. The demand for experienced English teachers remains high around the world. Quitting your current job could be the start of a great adventure.
If you taught science, you may easily find a place on a conservation team. As a prospective ESOL educator might, so too could you head abroad, to do some fieldwork. If you'd rather not travel - A daunting prospect these days, you might seek employment with a local charity or non-governmental organisation (NGO).
No pressure, though. You may be unsure of your next steps. For now, it's enough to know that you'd like to move on from teaching. Start planning your future by counting out your assets. Your education and professional background alone weigh a lot.
Regardless of whether you have a concrete plan, leaving teaching can open many doors. The end of your time in the classroom doesn't necessarily spell the end of your time in education. You can still pursue that passion. Or, if you wish, you could explore a whole new career. Even if you're just looking for a change of scenery, you have so many options for what to do when you leave teaching.
Resigning From a Permanent Teaching Job
Resigning from a permanent teaching job is not so different from quitting any other job. You can't simply shout "I quit!", send a tweet or write an email. You have to hand in a formal resignation and remain up to your stated resignation date. You probably won't have to train your replacement, though.
You may or may not have to submit to an exit interview. It might take place in the weeks before your departure or up to six months afterwards. You may be invited to a face-to-face discussion or be emailed a survey. Whichever format and whatever time, the administrators are looking for reasons why you left. As your separation from service might not officially end for several months, keeping notes is a very good idea.
Those are the similarities between abandoning the teaching profession and any other. For you, timing your resignation is crucial. A corporate employee wouldn't walk out in the middle of a big project they're working on. In that same vein, you shouldn't plan to depart mid-term. It's not just bad form. It could cause hard feelings and make any letters of recommendation you might receive less than favourable.
Unless you have some personal situation that compels you to leave as soon as possible, you should try to give as much advance warning as you can. Such emergency situations might include serious health concerns and relocation. Giving at least half a term's notice is a good rule of thumb to follow. But you should check your contract for the exact terms relating to your employment.
Note that if you fail to give sufficient notification as specified in your contract, you may not be allowed to quit. Nobody is going to chain you to the school and force you to teach. It becomes a legal matter at this point. You may be sued for breach of contract. You may have to compensate the school for damages or be denied any redundancy compensation you might have been entitled to.
Before quitting teaching, make sure you know what severance pay you are entitled to. Severance (also called redundancy) is a sum of money paid to teachers upon leaving, regardless of circumstances. Only those who have been at their school for a minimum of one year are eligible for the payment. The size of the award depends on your years of service.
There is a cap of 10 years for redundancy calculations. So if you taught for 14 years, you automatically forfeit four years. Only full years of service contribute to the sum. A service record of 6 years and 2 months would be counted as 6 years.
Walking away from teaching may be a daunting prospect. You can make it less so by being clear on your rights and responsibilities. Make sure you know how far in advance you need to notify your school administrators. Pro tip: you should do that informally - a verbal notification, followed by a written notification of resignation.
These first steps in your transition away from teaching should be smooth and stress-free. The last thing you need is even more stress, right? So, in addition to being clear on your resignation responsibilities, get familiar with the etiquette of formally separating from your job. Read on to find out how to structure your resignation letter.
A Letter for Resigning From a Teaching Position
The tone you convey in your letter of resignation may very well depend upon the reasons motivating you to leave. You might have been recruited into another job in a different field. Then, you may talk about where your new career will take you.
Conversely, you might hate your job, you might no longer be able to bear being a teacher and you can’t stand your head of department. If that's you - to any degree, it is probably better to keep these reasons to yourself. You never know what might happen in the future. One day may wish to return to teaching. Or you might need a reference from the said detested person. So there's no use in burning any bridges, tempting as it may be to unload.
The best resignation missives are concise, semi-formal and neutral. You want to leave the administration and faculty a positive view of you. If you intend to pursue teaching ESOL abroad in the future, you will be able to count on a good reference from them. And if you're walking away from teaching altogether, your new employer will want to know about your work ethic. Departing from school on a high note means those administrators will be more inclined to speak of you in glowing terms.
Professionals recommend that your written resignation follow a business format. After the headers and the salutation, you should state the job you intend to resign from. Be as specific as you can. Write something along the lines of "This letter signals my intent to resign my position as a Year 3 teacher... ". You'll follow that with your proposed final day of employment: "... effective (insert date).".
Note that you might receive some pushback if your chosen resignation date doesn't accord with the school calendar. If so, consider adjusting your departure date - but only if necessary. Extending your tenure for a few days because your students need you is good. Doing so because there will be a two-week teacher in-service beyond that date is not.
in your next paragraph, briefly mention your reasons for quitting. You might have accepted a new job or started your own tutoring business. Your partner just received a fat promotion but you have to move across the country. Your elderly parent needs full-time care, you've found something that engages you more... Whatever your grounds for quitting are, touch on them.
Conveying your excitement and anticipation of the new life ahead of you makes your Offer your thanks feel more sincere. Even if you're burning with resentment - the cause for your departure, you should still express gratitude for the opportunities you had. You are (most likely) grateful, deep down. Frustration and agony aside, one day soon, you'll look back on that employment period as a profound learning experience.
Don't end your missive without assuring the administration that you intend to maintain the quality of your work during your final notice period. As you surely know, there's no such thing as a lame-duck teacher. You'll be 'on' until that very last bell rings. Impress that fact upon whoever will read your mail.
It might seem redundant to include your contact details when relinquishing your teaching job. After all, the school and the district office already have your mobile number, email and physical addresses. Doing so is a business formality. The school principal might have your note in front of them when need to contact you. Having to search their database for your information would cause them an unnecessary step. Particularly if they're in a hurry to nail down the logistics of your departure.
This missive's structure may not suit all situations. It should be adapted to your personal circumstances. You can find more targeted advice on resignation letter templates online. The more input you have to help you create a written resignation, the better it will reflect your experiences and your future intentions.
Before handing your letter in, make sure the intended administrator has room in their schedule for you. Pick a time when they are not about to rush off to a meeting so that you can talk with them about your decision for a while. Turning in your message in person will leave a positive image of you in their mind.
At the end of the day, whatever your reasons for deciding to resign from teaching, try your utmost to be present at school every day. Present, in every sense. Even though your mind might be on your new job and you're now in your notice period, counting the days until you can leave. Your students deserve your best. And you deserve the chance to give your all.
Abandoning with Heat
Sometimes it may be necessary to tell it like it is. If at all possible, reserve the worst of your ire for your exit interview. Those surveys are often once-removed from the actual school staff - those who write letters of recommendation. It might be unwise to confront your school's staff and faculty directly. It should only be done in exceptional circumstances. And only if absolutely necessary.
For instance, a fiery letter may be appropriate if you are quitting the profession for good. If you cannot ever envisage needing a reference from anyone in that facility. Offloading like this can be a positive experience for some people. It may even draw attention to discrepancies and problems within the school and the teaching profession. It would be best if your comments don't get personal, though. Try to focus on the organisation or the establishment itself.
Can I Resign as a Teacher?
Like so many other teachers walking away from the career they aspired to, you're probably not happy to quit teaching. Some have likened it to a panicked animal gnawing its leg off to escape a trap. It doesn't take too much imagination to see how apt that description is.
If you're abandoning the profession because you're looking for a change of scenery, you might not have a clear idea of what you'd like to do next. It's perfectly fine if being an educator isn't all you expected it to be. Few jobs are.
For many educators, teaching is the only post-university career they've spent any time in. But this doesn't merit discredit and disregard when you apply for non-teaching jobs. Education is a profession that builds and hones a multitude of valuable skills. If drafted properly, your CV will stand above the rest.
This is why former teachers have such a big advantage when it comes to changing fields. In your time as a teacher, you will have developed multiple proficiencies. For one, your ability to communicate must be outstanding. The business of teaching is, at its heart, public speaking. You've likely become more creative and adaptable thanks to your time in the classroom, too.
Patience, resilience and the ability to lead... All hallmarks of a competent teacher. Think about how each of these qualities may help you in a new career. Taking a personal inventory can help you decide what you'd like to do next.
For example, if you made good use of your ability to communicate in your teaching job, you may want to pursue opportunities in fields with a high need for effective communicators. Those include public speaking, marketing and broadcasting. Conversely, if patience was your virtue, consider social work, particularly with at-risk youths You may even apply for a spot on your local council.
Taking your first successful steps beyond teaching relies on your ability to market your personal qualities and professional competencies. That means tailoring each CV you submit in such a way that showcases each of those traits relevant to the job in question.
After so many years in the classroom, the thought of picking apart your masterpiece of a teaching resume may be painful. However, it is a necessary step if you're truly serious about starting a new chapter in your professional development. By no means should you downplay your time as a teacher. On the contrary, use your time in the classroom to demonstrate your work ethic and talents.
Bear in mind that your CV should serve as a snapshot or taster of your professional self as an applicant. Your entries should provide a basis for further questions during your interviews. So keep your CV and cover letter short and sweet. Save any anecdotes that prove your worth for further stages in your interview process.
Options After Resigning From a Teaching Position
So, what options are available to former teachers when it comes to switching careers? The ones you consider are largely dependent on your reasons for abandoning the profession. For instance, you're likely talented and passionate about the subject you teach. But felt that sticking to the curriculum stifled any opportunity to explore the discipline in depth. You might choose an occupation that allows you to become more involved in your area of expertise.
For instance, you might try coaching sports or becoming a personal fitness trainer if you're a former PE teacher. If you taught high school science, you might apply for a place on a scientific research team. You may even consider going back to school, particularly if you find your Masters of Education degree won't quite get you where you want to be.
If you're certain about quitting the education system but you'd still like to act as an educator in some capacity, think about tutoring. Becoming a personal tutor, whether as a sole trader or you join a tutoring company, is a brilliant way to continue doing what you love. It's a path to continue influencing the lives of young learners. And, even better: it gives you the chance to focus on students as individuals.
As a school teacher, you may feel that the one-size-fits-all approach to education let many students down. This is why tutoring is a great option for former teachers who value individualised learning. As a tutor, you'll get the chance to adapt your teaching methods to the strengths and weaknesses of each student. You will be able to use your teaching skills to ensure that each individual learner has the best possible chance to achieve academic success.
Private tutoring does not require any formal qualifications or certification. However, your background as a teacher gives you a big advantage over an undergraduate offering the same services. Beware, though, that you won't be hired simply based on your credentials. You will need to demonstrate why you're the best person for the job. However, with 'Teacher' on your tutoring profile, you're more likely to receive requests for service.
Starting out as a tutor is simple. All you need to do is decide on the subject and levels you will teach. Will you welcome students into your home for lessons or would you rather travel to theirs? You may decide to offer tutoring sessions online, too. And how much you will charge per hour?
Make sure that you consider all of the opportunities available to you. You may have a degree in English but that doesn't mean that you have to stick to teaching literacy. If indeed, you've decided to pursue freelance writing, you might also host writing workshops or give writing lessons. If you're bilingual, you may also wish to teach your other language.
Once you've decided which of your many talents to exercise as a tutor, you need to let it be known. Teachers are community figures anyway so it shouldn't be too difficult for you to get the word out about your services. You can also turn to the internet to get more people interested in taking lessons with you by building a profile on tutoring websites.
Superprof provides each tutor with the ideal platform to advertise their services. You may list as much or as little information on your personal profile page as you're comfortable with. You can set your hours and preferred lesson delivery method; online or in-person, at yours or theirs. And best of all? Your students can leave feedback. Those testimonials will help you grow your tutoring business.
Becoming a tutor after leaving teaching is a natural step. It's one that you can use to bridge the gap between careers - especially if you're unsure of what to do next. Quitting teaching is not a decision you'll make lightly, to be sure. But if you're certain that transitioning away from institutionalised teaching is the right move for you, first, do your research. Consider all of your options before settling on a new career path. That's key to making your professional transition as smooth as possible. And to avoid a repeat of this upheaval.
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saya sangat stress disaat saya diminta untuk mengajar. takut dan trauma batin terus saya hadapi setiap hari.
andai saya menemukan kerjaan yang jauh lebih baik dari ini saya sejak dulu sudah resain. apabingung apa yang harus saya lakukan.
terhimpit masalah keluarga yang terus memaksa saya, dan bekerja di bawah tekanan mental