If you have not already heard the news, I am leaving the classroom. Not only will I not be returning to the classroom, I will not be returning to my district. After two years of being put through the wringer, I decided it is time to take care of me. Was this decision easy to make? No. Did I and do I still feel guilty leaving my team and students? Absolutely. However, I know it is what is right for me and my mental health right now.
It is no secret that teachers are leaving the classroom. Everyone’s “why” is different. Could be the student behaviors, your admin, the salary, your mental health, or maybe you are just ready for a change. No matter what your reason is, as long as you are doing what is best for you then you are making the best decision.
So how did I leave? What did I say to my principal? How do I find another job? In this blog post, I will explain the steps I took to leave the classroom and find a new position that was right for me. There are some links in here and no they are not ads they are just resources that genuinely helped me.
How do I Leave?
I think as soon as you start looking for jobs it is important to let your administrators know. Why? Because you want to be the first to tell them. Keeping secrets can muddy the water. Especially if you are applying for positions in the same district. Administrators talk to one another. You wouldn’t want a principal from another school contacting your current one and them being caught off guard. You may also need them in the future to write a letter of recommendation or you new employer might request to contact them.
Okay so I am going to tell them but what do I say? Do I say I am leaving because I can’t stand it here? NO! Keep it positive. You never want to leave on a bad note or burn bridges because you never know when your paths may cross. A great way to frame it is ” I have plateaued in my career and I want to be challenged in different ways.” Or “I love teaching but I am ready for a change and to explore other avenues.” Just keep it short and sweet.
So I told my admin now how do I find a new job?
There is no crystal ball for this but what I can tell you is that teachers have so many transferable skills. We are great at multitasking, technology, planning, organizing, instruction, leading and the list goes on and on. If you are struggling with this, The Teacher Career Coach has a FREE QUIZ that can help guide you as well as an amazing podcast. If you already know what type of position you would like, start looking within your district and see if there are openings, or check out this FREE JOB BOARD to see what is available. If you do not see any current openings, it may be worth reaching out to the current administration or HR department of your desired company. Sometimes openings are coming up that may not be posted.
Okay I figured out how to apply but I haven’t interviewed for a new job in forever! 😰
This was me. Y’all I have been in the same position for nine years! I was so freaked out buttttt I reached out to The Happy Teacher Mama and she worked her magic. I did her Resume Refresh and I truly believe this is what got me the job. She helped me write a resume for both corporate and school-based jobs and taught me so many tricks. Your resume is your ticket. If you have a poor resume you may not get an interview so you want to make sure it is top-notch!
Okay so your resume if great and you landed your interview. How can you prepare?
- Familiarize yourself with the job description, the school/cooperation’s mission statement, and just general information. You do not need to be an expert on it but go in with some background knowledge.
- Be natural! Yes, you can practice some question and answers scenarios but you do not want to be a robot. You want to let your personality shine through and guess what? You may not have all the correct answers and that is okay!
- Dress the part! Even if it is virtual. You want to dress comfortably yet professionally. Don’t wear your pants you are too tight and going to be pinching the entire time. You want to be relaxed as possible but do not dress like you are just going out with friends. My go-to is a dressy top and black dress pants.
Where Am I Headed Next?
I applied and interviewed for in district position and corporate. I made it to the second and third round of interviews but then a new opportunity presented itself. A college of mine suggested I apply for this job I did not even know existed one week before I was due to sign my new contract. So I did it! I applied and got the job. If you have not seen my recent posts I am going to be a Special Education Learning Consultant for a private preschool. I will be coaching teachers and parents on how best to serve their students and help guide them through the special education system. This truly came at the perfect time and confirms my theory that everything happens for a reason!