Breaking your teaching contract mid-year

[@gregjones7041]

Anytime is a good time to break a teaching contract and never look back.

[@forgottensage-o5o]

I was seriously considering leaving mid-year but I'm going to stay till June. I ONLY cared about the effect on the students. Never even crossed my mind to think or Care about what emotional effect this would have on the other teachers. Every teacher whom I've known in. my 24 years of teaching that quit, left mid-year, or went on to retire early was looked upon with awe and envy by our staff, LOL. I especially loved when one guy who hadn't missed a single day of school in over ten years was told on the first day of school for teachers that he was being moved down to 4th grade. "That's news to me", he said. We all went to the staff meeting but didn't realized he grabbed his keys, wallet, and what he could carry in one arm (he was a BIG dude), went out the gate, hopped in his car and NEVER came back. He is L E G E N D A R Y around here, lol. School got news two days later from the district that he had resigned and taken an early retirement.

[@Coco-lz4gg]

The thing I don’t get is how superintendents and principals can leave in the middle of their contracts and be fine but it’s a sin for a teacher to do so.

[@AK5of8]

Nobody needs the Superintendent or principals to educate kids. When our secretary got COVID, our principal covered her job. No one covers for the principal.

[@glennwatson3313]

No child depends on the principal or the superintendent. They depend on the teacher.

[@Coco-lz4gg]

@@glennwatson3313 Teachers don't deserve to have their contracts suspended for two years and/or have their names announced as such in the newspaper or on the evening news as they do in my state. This is especially so in an educational climate where we have to deal with school shootings, mental health crises for teachers due to their students' poor parenting, and low pay instead of the combat pay we actually should receive. No other career expects this much from people - those in other fields can easily leave and find another job. When teachers can't make it until the end of the school year, we are penalized passive-aggressively for leaving. If a superintendent or principal won't lose their license for leaving, we shouldn't either. It doesn't matter if they're needed less than the teachers. Let us leave for less stressful jobs without dinging our licenses. What's fair for the goose should be fair for the gander.

[@glennwatson3313]

@@AK5of8 I worked in a school once were we had no principal or assistant principal for almost two full years. The school got along fine.

[@maverick9708]

Because administers and stuff are LITERALLY useless like 95% of the time

[@fremontpathfinder8463]

Do not tell anyone you are leaving. Just don't. I transferred using a special transfer form that did not require my principal's signature. I told no colleagues and no friends that I was leaving. In my district, you never know who knows who and I am convinced leaving on the sly helped me get the other easier job in the district.

[@cannibalcatgirl]

We had a teacher kill herself the second week. She already had so much on her shoulders and they gave her a very high maintenance group of kids. I get the impression she felt trapped especially being the beginning of the year. They told the students and parents she moved jobs. I think it’s really telling of the emotional baggage teaching has that she felt that was the only way out of her situation. And very telling of how districts shy away from knowing teachers are treated badly that they lied about what happened to her.

[@richardmelendez2]

Did you mean like actually kill herself? That's terrible!

[@richardmelendez2]

I've seen teachers up their medication to cope. Others turn to drugs too.

[@cannibalcatgirl]

​@@richardmelendez2 I wish I was exaggerating. Thats been a big factor in my decision to quit. If I have to be medicated to tolerate making it through a day in a job when I normally wouldnt need to be I dont want to do that job haha

[@richardmelendez2]

@@cannibalcatgirl yeah I hear you! I'm an educational diagnostician and everyday is hard. I don't want take drugs legal or not to cope with it! I am currently searching other jobs and I am willing to take a pay cut for bigger opportunities down the road.

[@mysterio5837]

thats why you shoul;dnt put so much emotions into a job. Its a job in essence for your time for money. Why put in so much when you dont get paid as much you work for anyways . In corporate world,, you leave if you dont get paid enough. :Oh but the kids...blah blah blah" tell them to teake that load of BS up their ahole . Stop trying to psychologically guilt you

[@soblessed4844]

I left a toxic school district 20 years ago on Dec. 8th. l just could not hold on until Christmas Break. It was a very stressful and difficult decision, but l had to choose myself.

[@pault9544]

Very helpful video. I was so close to quitting a few weeks ago. I used up all of my PTO, then I changed my mind last minute. Im already in a financial struggle and dont have a job lined up. Im gonna try to stay till the end of year as I am having part of my salary held back to pay a big check in the summer. Its better if I quit then as I will have some financial stability to start elsewhere. Just hope my mental health can make it that far.

[@aknudsen93]

I am so glad I found your youtube channel. I have made myself sick from teaching; both physically and mentally. I tell myself just make it to winter break. But I don't think I can make it from January to May. I teach preschool and get scratched, bit and kicked regularly and nothing is done. I've just given to the point where I have nothing left for me. I want to leave but need to find another job first. At this point maybe not having a job doesn't mater either. Making taking an FMLA until I can find another job. Thank you.

[@mysterio5837]

the key to stay in a long marathon til retirement is to work the minimal and not pour in so much energy and emotions into your job. Why bother putting so much effort when you dont get paid as much anyways. Find ways to cut work - auto grade, online work, powerpoint etc- and leave in your contract time. You can finish grading the next day and the day after that etc. Theres also tons of materials on google where you can just print it out for your work. Its practice anyways college does the same so. If you dont get paid as much, why bother trying so hard. "But for the kids blah blah blah" That a guilt tripping tactic. With that same logic, if employee leaves for another job in the corporate world, they should guilted for hurting the company. Does the company care? Nope. They just find a replacement. Same with teaching. Life goes on so dont be sucked into mental guilt tripping cuz they aint paying for your life

[@nostalgicsoul76]

Would like to add that some states have "probationary contracts." I recently moved to a new county/district after teaching in previous county for 7 years. Since I am "new" to the district I was placed on a probationary contract. I am free to resign without breach or penalty. I intend to leave the profession at Christmas break since I am desiring new adventures in my life.

[@jennom2195]

ME TOO!!!

[@lisaallen2539]

Which state are you teaching in?

[@jennom2195]

@@lisaallen2539 FL

[@debihester7284]

Are you going to give a 2 week notice?

[@ZealousAnubis]

Thank you. For me, it wouldn’t matter for my students if I was there or not. I’m a new teacher whose majority of students have no respect for me, and so they don’t bother to listen or learn from me. If those students were split among my coworkers who both have experience and have students truly respect them, they can do a better job than I can teaching my subjects, even if it’s passively and for a few minutes a class period. Which just leaves me, and whether or not I can leave my position without overwhelming repercussions.

[@selenamccool4010]

I relate with so many things you talked about. It has become such an untenable situation for me. It breaks my heart to feel this way after what I invested in this career over years. I hope to find something I can enjoy again

[@pault9544]

Honestly, its messed up that there is a such thing as a contract that can punish you for leaving when the teaching field in general has a high turnover rate due to the exceptional stress.

[@jayscards8640]

Crazy….I just have to give 30 days notice. If I don’t, the school district can have the state revoke my certification.

[@debihester7284]

Yeah, then just give the 30 day notice then.

[@mysterio5837]

Its labelled selfish cuz they dont have the guts to do this. Ppl get jealous of what they dont have. Its their problem they didnt leave. Students or not, thats all BS. You got to take care of yourself. I am mainly in teaching profession for 2 things : Winter and Summer breaks, and teacher pension til i die. Sure, kids , add that little i suppose. But the main motives are winter&summer breaks, and pension. They will always find a replacement for me anyways. Life is too short, take care of yourself and enjoy . Who tf cares what others think anyways

[@dorenemellon5913]

Contract? I was asked to stay one more year. I turned 62 retired and not looking back. If they only knew how many teachers are taking anxiety medicines because of no discipline no education. My motto for 25 years.

[@Creaserunner]

I just started anti-depression meds and that has never been me. 10myears of trauma from principals and students and very few consequences-and parents who have all the power.

[@debihester7284]

@@CreaserunnerI hope you quit at the end of the year then

[@Creaserunner]

People just don’t understand that education is so not like any other job. Any other job in the corporate world you can transfer states transfer businesses make the same amount of money and even negotiate higher contracts. And Education, if you quit in the middle, move, states, move districts, you’re almost always going to take a pay cut. We had a teacher come from New Jersey to Oregon And she had 20+ years of experience and she took close to a $20,000 pay cut. Somebody else said, why is it the superintendents can sign three year contract then leave after one year and get paid the entire contract? I’ve known plenty of superintendents across the country that I’ve done that exact thing. One of them possibly was even running a scam where he went district district would work a year or two and then Bell because he was so bad and they would still pay him his full contract full contract.

[@debihester7284]

It’s bail

[@nodebt6188]

Teachers in my school district quit all the time. Teachers have quit during every month of the school year.

[@tomcruisesmiddlefronttooth9221]

I am someone who struggles with those kinds of thoughts..because at the end of some days I’d rather unalive myself than take another step on that campus…I’m starting to show physical signs of stress now but what can you do? I gotta stick it out a few more months then I’m going back to school for a new career field.

[@debihester7284]

Do not kill yourself!! No job is worth taking your life over! Jesus can help you, He’s real and He loves you. He died on the cross for our sins, and rose again the third day. If we put our faith in Him, confess our sins and are sorry for our sins, ask Him to forgive all your sins, and to come into your life and save you, He will! He will give you hope and peace, He will never leave you. Everyone has sinned, and we need Jesus to be able to go to heaven one day, and we need him in our lives daily. Life is hard, Jesus is the remedy.

[@TeacherKellyTag]

So helpful! Thanks

[@curlykiki8]

wonderful talking and thinking points. 🍎

[@CarolPittenger-yp2dc]

What about when a district doesn't even give you a copy of the contract and on top of that they change the job title on the first day and add different duties in the form of teaching classes I am not licensed for. The reason I need out is the position doesn't pay enough to even get there gasoline wise along with all other new bills due to a life changing situation. Please advice on how to let them know it would benefit my family for me to take a job teaching from home in an online school.

[@ClarkMcK-fj7fm]

Join a union!!

[@rapunzelz5520]

A lot of teachers could get medical leave, given the stress effects on their health.

[@fherrick1]

If you leave school early it will be put on your permanent record. Every future employer will know about what you've done here. And you will never get another job. Ever. Seriously, teachers. Obey your administrators. Or you'll never amount to anything in life. (That's how teachers talk to students. Must be how they think.)

[@courtnayzeitler8564]

I quit in the middle of the day

[@edwardporus8326]

jesus so dramatic quit if you need to