A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I’ve been teaching in a public school for 6 years. While I adore the children and love making a difference in my community, I think I’m starting to get burnt out. I live in a high rent city but teach in a state that was recently ranked one of the worst to be a teacher in. The pay is atrocious. The past 5 years of my life have been paycheck to paycheck and minimal savings because after rent, utilities, student loan, savings, food, and gas I barely have anything left. I have an active social life and frequently have to turn down events because I can’t afford to do what my friends are. I rarely go out to eat, shop at a discount grocery store on a strict list, and my only extra monthly charge is my YMCA membership (I have a low rate thanks to income based rates). I’m driving a 10 year old car that is banged up and dented. I’m used to being thrifty, but I cannot do any necessary updates in my life. I babysit, tutor, and petsit as often as possible. However, I am also in graduate school while working full time. I’m not opposed to working another job, but I’m exhausted after 10 hours of entertaining children. I wanted to further my education with my Masters degree and it comes with a nice pay raise, but after the student loan payments, there won’t be much of a gain. I recently moved into a cheaper apartment. I’m living with a roommate, as I cannot afford to live alone. Our apartment has cockroaches weekly, toilets do not fully flush, loud neighbors, thin walls, cars being broken into, and broken heat. This was my option to save money, but I’m living like a college student. It’s really frustrating to come home after a long day to a frat house with no heat!Every year, I’ve experienced more pressure put on teachers with no raise or incentives for us. I work at a good school, but the parents can be demanding and our administration recently changed. The new principal and his assistants are hardly ever at school and not supportive. I’m at one of those hover parent schools and the principal constantly bends to please them instead of supporting teachers and finding a mutually beneficial solution. The work culture is really poor. The teachers are unhappy, our campus is poorly maintained, dirty and outdated, and a lack of leadership has caused virtually no communication and confusion among staff. Lately, I’ve really considered looking into new careers. I thought teaching was my calling and feel humbled to work with such amazing kids and great families, but I’m getting worn out. I’m there from 6-4 everyday with a 40 minute break twice a week- that’s it. I can’t go to the bathroom, have to sit with the students at lunch and now our administration has been planning lots of after school events that we are expected to/guilting into attending- with no extra pay! I feel that they exploit our passion for the kids into doing more for nothing. I’ve spent the last 10 years of my life working with children and preparing to teach. I feel it’s part of my identity and who I am. I feel immense guilt when I think of leaving, but I want a better life for myself too. I want fair hours, liveable pay, and benefits. I’m single, 27, and getting tired of this. I need to be able to support myself and create a savings account. I have some in there, but I want to make a 401k also. I need health insurance that doesn’t break the bank when I get sick. There are many things about the job that I love and fear I would miss. However, I see no end in sight with this current career. Besides becoming a principal, there is no room for any growth. Should I look for new jobs or stick it out? I feel so guilty and shallow for making a change based on money. It’s not the only option, but I don’t think I can be the creative, inspiring, involved teacher that I want to be in these conditions. Thanks for your help!
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (20 November 2018): Do you have a teacher's pension and do you participate in that benefit? this would be there for your retirement so you wouldn't have to worry as much about contributing to an IRA or 401(k). Most states have these and they are quite generous in my experience.
It may be that you should research what other states pay their teachers, and provide in benefits, and apply elsewhere. You may be in high demand since most places are in need of more teachers in the grade schools, and I bet you could find a position at a school/in a state that pays better and gives you more benefits that you need.
My husband is a teacher in Georgia, and has the option of a pension or 401(k) with a very generous match, and I know most other states have this as well. Also, look into the Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and Teachers Loan forgiveness, as well as the income based repayment plans that are available to you. If your income is low enough, you may even get a $0/mo payment for your student loans, while still having this count toward your 120 payments before the rest of the balance is forgiven.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/
Also, since you are in graduate school, see if you can qualify for any grants. Sometimes if you do research, or are studying a certain subject or major, there are scholarships and grants available. Check with your college administration or grants committee to see what they have there. You can also search for others just about everywhere. Many organizations give money to students, especially graduate students.
As for the after school activites with no pay, check with your union rep (you are in the union right?) to see what your options are there. They cannot force you to work for free. If you don't have a union rep, complain to the department of labor. This is called wage theft and illegal. They may do an audit of you school and administration to straighten this out.
I hope some of this helps you and gives you some ideas. There are resources out there for you. Make use of them.
Best,
R
A
female
reader, Honeypie +, writes (19 November 2018):
 Honestly? I have SO much respect for teachers and I feel it's ATROCIOUS that GOOD teachers are not paid better.
As a parent of 3 kids, I can tell HOW important GOOD teachers are. Those who are involved, engaging, creative and GOOD at their subject and job.
So I'll start by saying THANK YOU. Teachers are overworked and under-appreciated. That is a fact.
My second piece of advice is to look outside the area you are now living and working for a better paid job. Some teachers, I know from my daughters high school, often have 2 jobs, but they seem to be doing well, even the couple of single moms I know. Still it shouldn't BE like that. That is, IF you want to stay in teaching.
As much as I understand that you WANT to do good for kids, and that is ADMIRABLE, I think you need to put yourself first. Which means, you need to find a way to reach your goal of getting a Masters and see where that takes you. Preferably without getting into deep debt. Which means, you need to get a better paying job NOW.
My husband and I both volunteer (he more than me) for certainly school events/activities and classes and we do it 1. for the kids (ours and others) and 2. because these teachers gives exceptionally good classes and life experiences to their students. We still help out our middle daughter's old choir teacher from Middle-school because she gave and give so much to her kids.
I'd say if you change job you might be able to still do teaching to some degree, be it for evening classes or subbing. A neighbor of outs was a full time teacher but ended up working for first a bank and now The Postal Service and subbing on the side.
You aren't shallow for wanting a decent living and to be paid a living wage.
you have giving teaching 10 years of your life, time to put yourself for for a while. It's OK.
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