Former teacher explains her decision to quit

A teacher shortage affecting districts nationwide has impacted the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) District as well. According to data shared with WCNC Charlotte, since Aug. 1, 524 teachers left the CMS school district. By Dec. 31, 93 more teachers have plans to leave.
The district says it has 9,205 active teachers.
“Over the past 10 years in particular, there's just been a chipping away of benefits and extra pay incentives," CMS School Board Member Jennifer De La Jara said. "And it has left many of our educators feeling undervalued and underappreciated.”
One teacher who left the CMS school district, and teaching in general, is Stephanie Misko. Misko left teaching for a job in the tech industry in June of 2021 after teaching English for eight years.
"It felt like every year as a teacher, the job became harder and a little less of what I love about teaching," Misko said. "I felt a lot of guilt about leaving students that I care a lot about. And maybe in some ways giving up on something I'm passionate about.”
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[@Acherrywithasmile]

It is my first year as a teacher, and I am already ready to quit. I love my job, but it is taking a toll on my mental health. There is so much paperwork. Half the time, teachers aren't teaching cause we are doing so much paperwork. It is insane. I didn't sign up to sit behind my desk and fill out paperwork all day. I'm a special education teacher btw. I have to deal with a horrible administration that refuse to support me. I've many students go into crisis, and my admin doesn't offer support. I felt very disrespected by the admin and sometimes parents. I love what I do, but that doesn't mean I should tolerate the disrespect and degrading behavior. I wish more people understood that.

[@budcunningham6732]

Good grief, every job has stress. Teachers work 185 days a year, time off at Christmas and Eater and every other holiday . Teachers work 7-430... sounds like a great work schedule to me. Teachers have very good retirement and healthcare Once they get out in the real world and work 50 weeks a year, have mandatory overtime , an average income and below average benefits they will return to the classroom

[@lordpezl5424]

@@budcunningham6732 funny that you think teachers only work 8 hrs. During those yearly breaks they have to plan lessons that are constantly changing due to the ineptitude of administration. In the real world they would love the OT cause it'll be nothing compared to their teacher duties left behind. They'll be happy to actually make a living wage with time off.

[@ketofitforlife2917]

@@budcunningham6732 Absolutely clueless, BUD. I'll give you one week in the classroom. You might last that long.

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

@@budcunningham6732 Go teach, smart guy!

[@Justrespect2112]

Bud. Trying doing your job with 30 traumatized kids in your cubicle.

[@carollutz8253]

I've been teaching for over 25 years. What she says totally resonates with me. The amount of support (and $) that teachers get is... (searching for right word) demoralizing, it's absurdly low and WRONG. My district is at an impasse, we haven't had a raise for years. The work keeps getting harder and the rewards keep getting smaller. As a profession, we are way-undervalued. Lip-service is given to our importance, but it's not backed up with any changes/tangible rewards.

[@Justrespect2112]

Demoralizing is spot on. My district is offering one hundred dollars if we inform them early that we’re not renewing our contract. That amount causes my business peers to chuckle. How can we expect others to respect us when we fail to respect each other ? I’ve been teaching for 39 years and find it difficult to find a job in another district because no one will pay veteran teachers. Our own profession, treating our veterans as disposable, as you say, Carol, demoralizing.

[@jaydel3]

Firefighters and Police get paid double the teachers pay and most of them are high school graduates with low emotional intelligence. Granted, they are risking their lives and that’s understandable. But they get paid for every single hour they work and double when in overtime (which they get plenty). Teachers are ONLY paid 6 hours a day but work 8-10 (depending on grade and situation). We also work on weekends lesson planning and grading papers. Teachers should at least get 80% of the average cop salary. I mean most of the time it is just giving tickets not like a shootout. And fires are once and awhile not year long. Just wondering why there is a huge budget for their salary yet teachers .. ohh we have to think about it… we don’t have the funding. In CA you have to pass 7 tests to be a teacher then do an induction (mentorship) to be fully credentialed. Cop .. police academy and an essay. Even a nurse.. one paper test.

[@kaycee1226]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@link4253]

I see the biggest issue is most teachers have to deal with destructive toxic kids who don't want to learn and disrupt the learning environment, and these brats are enabled by their mindless parents to continue their rude behavior.

[@alanparedes2034]

You nailed it. 👏

[@Justrespect2112]

100 % agree, perennial elephant in the room. Why are we taking more PD on instructional strategies when the kids are hanging from the rafters. The message seems to be that if we were just better teachers then the behavior issues would evaporate. The truth is kids today are a out of control and nobody wants to have an honest conversation.

[@angelizdaboss]

What I’ve heard is that it’s partly because of classroom behavior but mostly because of a lack of support from administrators and other teachers. If a kid acts out in the classroom the administration and the laws basically restrict teachers from doing anything about it at all. Their is no repercussions for the child whatsoever, not even counseling. Nothing. And teachers are reprimanded for not being able to control their classroom in a class of over 35 kids all with different individual needs and different learning styles. And if lil timmy is having a bad day for whatever reason and is super disruptive he ruins the learning experience for everyone else in the class, and he gets to go to the principals and come back with a lollipop the next day like nothing ever happened.

[@jaydel3]

Bingo. I have a class with 5 boys having AdHD. They can’t sit down, ever. No aide to help out despite their needs and I can’t control them AND teach at the same time so something is always sacrificed. I have a French kid who doesn’t speak English and he just draws and does nothing else. He keeps waiting for recess and lunch and PE, everything else is irrelevant. If he does work in the rare occasion he does it in 5 minutes and it’s all wrong with unintelligible gibberish. Talk to admin - “Just build a relationship “.. Talked to parent -“Ill have a chat with him.”

[@proletar-ian]

I’d but more blame on the parents, but yeah.

[@nathanjohnson7098]

low pay and terrible student behavior are the biggest issues

[@xnihilo64]

And narcissistic headstrong principals on power trips who fault every problem on teachers. This is the final straw for me. Putting in my retirement after 25 years this June.

[@astarisborn9820]

To bring teachers back they need to bring back discipline and consequences!!!! Hold students and their parents accountable for their behaviors or lack thereof!!!!

[@gasparma2316]

Parents just making their children less dependable, not teaching them consequences and just letting them do whatever they want making it more difficult for teachers to discipline them in school

[@nikoknightpuppetproduction369]

Sadly, teachers are not allowed to properly discipline students and when the students get out of control, they blame the teachers.

[@timbaker7744]

Restorative practices dictate that holding students accountable for patterns of antagonistic behavior is now considered teacher bullying.

[@TheCasualRealtor]

What did the states think would happen when you treat people poorly?!?! Keep treating teachers like this and you won’t have any. ✌🏻

[@doesntmatter2505]

Dealing with terrible student behavior and low pay is the biggest issues.

[@Tarotlynx]

Topped by parents who insist on acting like their kid is an angel, and administration that sacrifices teachers to appease parents continuously.

[@itsablessingbeinganamerica1401]

Exactly! The behaviors in the classrooms are out of control and teachers are not in safe environment. SMH

[@Tarotlynx]

@Chip Belori Gay grooming isn't a thing. Either one is gay or one isn't. Kids don't turn gay. That doesn't mean kids are totally safe. There are people there who want to abuse kids. But typically we don't call those people teachers. We call them preachers & priests.

[@Tarotlynx]

@Chip Belori TikTok? And you believe it?

[@Justrespect2112]

It’s crazy that teachers who walk into classrooms with over 30 kids, unscripted have to be on for seven periods a day. TV reporters reading teleprompters make far more money . Sad commentary on US culture priorities .

[@milzmusician]

More and more scripted lesson plans are required these days

[@GabyR3177]

Low pay + student behavior + overworked + wokeness + not appreciate + COVID-19 = teachers quitting

[@Tarotlynx]

Wokeness isn't a problem. But administration is.

[@beautysupply4]

Wokeness? I think you mean the acknowledgment of biases that exist in the classroom and in society would be a better launching point.

[@pistoffpussycat5778]

@@beautysupply4 oh shut up! We're tired of hearing it. YOU'RE the biased one. That's why you think it's such a problem.

[@loriar1027]

Yeah your list was accurate for me except for “wokeness.” That’s not even a thing. 🙄

[@Justrespect2112]

We had schoolwide protests, students walked out because they were protesting there were not enough teachers of color. The truth is students witness how teachers are treated. Why would you choose a profession where you’re chronically disrespected and underpaid. Sometimes the explanations are very simple but the contemporary woke default is always racism.

[@lookout97]

The negatives far outweigh the positives in teaching: 1. A parent have all the legal power and none of the responsibilities for their child's education. When a student fails a standardized test, the parent does not lose her or his job. 2. Many administrators are failed or burned-out former teachers who should be out of education. 3. Insubordination laws prevent teachers, including tenured, from speaking their minds on issues like busy work and being treated with disrespect by administrators and board members. 4. IP's (Improvement Plans) can be given to teachers without any prior warning. The union will not stand by those teachers for public relation reasons. 5. Tenure means nothing when paperwork is being directed against a teacher. It only gives him a year or two before he is terminated. STAY OUT OF TEACHING!

[@thaintriguing1]

CMS, Wake and Durham Counties are the worst and take advantage of teachers; the state really doesn’t respect us, they refuse to pay based on education level, the high salaries are at the top beginning with principals, the curriculum doesn’t fit all students life goals, they only focus on “college ready” and not “life ready” per se; many classes are over crowded, state legislature doesn’t really care, they just make laws and have no clue what it’s like; not to mention schools are increasingly becoming unsafe for all.

[@jzwalz51robin45]

In California, the "Restorative Justice" method has enabled students' bad behaviors (vulgar language, disruptive behavior, physical assaults, destruction of personal and public property, etc) by eliminating consequences. Teachers are blamed for "not having proper classroom management skills."

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

$41,000 a year? LOL Teachers need to stop saying, "I don't do it for the money." As long as you keep saying that, you won't ever get paid what you are worth.

[@byeteaching]

As a teacher considering a career change, this video couldn't have come at a better time. I appreciate the valuable insights and reminders to avoid these common mistakes. Keep up the great work!

[@estherhope619]

“..................but the District says it has over 9,000 active teachers,” meaning it doesn’t matter who wants to leave, we have the “residue” so we don’t care. BUT ONE DAY THE WORLD WILL HAVE TO CARE. ONE DAY THE WORLD WILL BE FORCED TO UNDERSTAND THAT TEACHERS ARE TO BE VALUED, NOT DEMORALIZED.

[@danielabilez3619]

As far as I am concerned, I am proud of you. I teach and will continue to teach. When one leaves the profession... it is personal and go with God. It is a hard profession to be in, ... if.... You are there to make a difference. Thank you for your service. If you can read, thank a teacher!

[@charlottesmail8376]

as a teacher of almost 30 years (retiring) I have watched these from all over the US and all are the same. Pay, violent students, no support, admin doesn't listen, etc. The last 2 years I have felt like I have betrayed students and parents and watched my special ed program go from one of the best in the are to one I'm ashamed of. It's horrible.

[@mchaeltebo786]

It's overtime, you are not compensated for. No other industry allows this. Teachers are professionals without the status, they should be allowed to bill for their extra time. The lawyer who works insane hours is financially rewarded, teachers are not.

[@MzNoir_Rain444]

I have 39 students in one class. We don’t even have enough desks for them to sit in. The educational system will likely fall apart. We have 100’s of vacant jobs in my county years ago you would’ve only seen a handful.

[@eliza57947]

I got fired from school jobs over dumb stuff. I can’t tell you that I don’t want to be a teacher anymore. Is for the better

[@ak5659]

I wish I could take credit for this gem but I can't: Name another profession that generally requires a Master's degree to enter, yet those working in that profession are almost universally regarded as the least qualified people on the planet to discuss that profession regardless of how many years they've been working in it.

[@Senacacrane]

This is very worrying because if you have teachers who are quitting like crazy that should send a message. That's something is wrong.

[@factsmatter8449]

Politicians and their corporate money siphoners to education make it absolutely impossible to teach. First step, pretend that teachers are demons and dont know what they're doing, convince the public with lie upon lie. Step two, tell any teacher who opposes their opinions and directives to sit down and shut up. Step three, create a system that makes it impossible to teach or learn, ie: test students rigorously , (for about 6 mos of the 10 mos. they're in school and remove all aspects of discipline) . Step four tell teachers to do an infinite amount of useless , time consuming bullshit paperwork, OR ELSE!!!!! with the main goal of keeping them from teaching and keeping students from learning. Step five , make sure every teacher is completely demoralized by lies and political theater. Step six, rake in all the money in education that should be used to pay teachera and buy supplies and put in the pocket of test making corporations and politicians. Step 7 watch teachers leave what used to be a profession , and America become an Idiocracy.

[@minombre5555]

The mainstream media needs to stop blaming the pandemic. It is the horrible kids who have no consequences. I speak native-level French and am a pretty imposing guy. In spite of that, behavior was THE issue, not the other minor stuff the media likes to mention. We need expulsion and draconian detentions brought back. I left teaching French after a year and went back to the private sector where I earn more, work from home and have zero work on the weekends. The good kids are silently BEGGING us to impose structure and discipline. The liberal university education establishment has ruined teaching with their garbage methodologies. Like someone else said in this thread, discipline is the elephant in the room the education establishment doesn’t have the cojones to address.

[@ninosawbrzostowiecki1892]

I’m a part time lecturer in college and I make so little it’s astonishing. During the pandemic my live in gf lost her job and with only me working at two schools we almost ended up on the street. Bitch left me but it’s still hard. Have to get a third and fourth teaching job.

[@drbonesshow1]

America once a melting pot is now just the pot (i.e., the toilet). Yes, I was a physics professor.

[@geraldobrien7323]

They might give teachers a small pay raise, but when they do that, it comes with twice as much work.

[@hollycurtis2843]

I retired last September and so glad I don't think I could have made it another year.

[@THERSC216]

Don't blame her. It is NOT the pay it is the higher ups, kids, and parents

[@charlessantee8329]

To get more teachers / substitute teachers into the classroom they need to pay these teachers a living wage otherwise, they will pursue higher paying jobs, and the shortage will continue.

[@modolief]

Lol, a three to ten percent pay increase for teachers ... as a maybe. I left teaching ages ago, and, yes, am in tech. The correct pay for teachers would be approximately 3x more than they are making now. Nickel and dime pay raises is just funny. Or tragic.

[@Vapor_Man650]

That’s 3 minutes! Thank you

[@kaivrock]

Their voices aren’t heard and don’t matter because education is a business now where the parent especially, is the customer and the customer’s always right.You can partially blame this on “school choice” where a kid can decide to go where they want but really, the blame mostly is on spineless administrators who use their job as a stepping stone to politics.

[@catherinewilliams9680]

Teachers need to run for state legislator positions, to better advocate for educators and their support.

[@Strad1969]

Was it in 2012 that kids were using social media?

[@erikgil5901]

I am getting my associates in Education but for my Bachelors program, I went into Psychology. I love Education and students but I know that I don’t want to be in this position.

[@mickeyjones5311]

Have a nice day dadx

[@muthaafrika6137]

Glad they quit. SHOULD done it sooner

[@ninosawbrzostowiecki1892]

Why do teachers quit? Because them damn minns (administrators) and them g’damn pules (pupils, i.e. students) give them hell everyday!

[@halharris2317]

The jobs that matter the most, teachers, military, police, emergency, are always underpaid. No one becomes a teacher or joins the military to become rich.

[@muthaafrika6137]

Nobody wanna go nohow

[@ohhnooo7759]

Sounds exactly like the military 🪖

[@muthaafrika6137]

😆

[@vickiebarbee9669]

How demoralizing do you think it is for Christian Homeschooler Mothers? We have to quit our professions to homeschool, but we're steal being robbed by the atheist schools.

[@spidernymph8964]

I don't understand, how are you being robbed?

[@vickiebarbee9669]

@@spidernymph8964 I can do math. My husband and I are forced to pay approximately 10K to public schools every year in taxes. We want nothing to do with it. It's shocking that a teacher would be so ignorant of the unscrupulous way you get paid. When in your education were you taught it's okay take money from people who get nothing in return. The public school is a Godless monopoly on K-12 education. Plus you are paid more than the fair market value of your service. Every child in America would be better served by private education. It's less expensive and does a much better job. I'm tried of be forced to pay for an amoral system that's exploting children and their parents. Teachers are responsible for how THEIR PROFESSION operates.

[@spidernymph8964]

@@vickiebarbee9669 I'm not a teacher. You sure you're gonna make being angry at overworked underpaid teachers the hill you're gonna die on? Whatever floats your boat.

[@vickiebarbee9669]

@@spidernymph8964 Good for you! Yes! The cause to save mothers, children and America from the grip of the atheist public school is the hill I will die on.

[@DR-hy6is]

Lady, you don't know capitalization rules and cannot spell. You cannot teach anything. Please, please, PLEASE! Do not try to educate a child yourself. They would be better off being raised by a pack of vagrants scooped up from the streets of North Hollywood.

[@cunumicito12]

So you all were in for the money not for the love of teaching but you knew you will not get paid well. I hope teachers get paid better IF they are great teachers. Get rid of unions and deal directly with the boss. If you are a great teacher, you deserve the best pay. I had horrible teachers throughout my school days. A teacher in this country was able to speak my education language and helped me a lot.

[@kaycee1226]

No one does a job for free, especially teaching. No one went into teaching for the money because they all knew the pay was low. However, they do want to be paid what they are worth. Stop with the ridiculous statement about going into teaching for the money like teachers want to work for free taking better care of your children than you do. Damn right teachers want money from all of those stressful moments, time, effort, disrespect, no support, rude, lazy parents, unmotivated children, working hours beyond their paid salaries, cooking dinner and grading papers, and more... You're damn right. Pay those teachers more than doctors. All professions needed the help of a teacher.✌ Teachers you rock!

[@Rose-ku2ss]

one word sums this up BLACK KIDS

[@bigbawlzlebowski8886]

That's two words. Should have stayed in school