Hey, everybody. I wanted to apologize for my crazy breakdown the other day. I hope you'll forgive me for being this terrible mess. I'm slowly getting off my anxiety meds, and I've been attending therapy twice a week. It's been so hard thinking about going back to my old school. May God forgive me. But maybe you can lead me in the right direction? I got a phone call this morning. A nearby community college has offered me an adjunct teaching position. I'll be teaching three classes for a total of $8500. Obviously, I would need to take another job elsewhere to keep my head above water. The downside is that this job will interfere with my current high school teaching job. It would have to be one or the other. I want (so badly) to take this professor position because I plan to apply for a PhD for Fall 2019. I feel that it would be an asset to my application if I taught college students. But at the same time, I'm scared to leave my high school. Plus, I'm worried about breaking my contract. If I ever come back to high school teaching, I don't want any skeletons in my closet. I want good references and I don't want to burn any bridges. What should I do?
I guess you need your doctor to tell you if you are medically able to return to HS teaching at this time. Then you need to use that information to make wise choices for the coming school year.
Unfortunately your district can (and probably will) get your license suspended if you do not give the proper 60 day notice. Perhaps you can get a medical excuse from your doctor.
Hey, Vickilyn. My doctor said I'm medically capable, but I do have anti-anxiety medication that I must take as-needed.
I want to take a leave of absence because I cannot fathom going back. My family is JUST TERRIFIED of having my school know that I'm mentally ill. They're worried that it will render me "unhirable."
They have no right to the diagnosis, so don't hand them one. If I were you, I would find a doctor who understands the melt-downs and the effect that has not only on you, but the students you are working with. You just need a long enough leave of absence to cover your 60 days, which protects your license. If you were injured in the workplace, your employers would have more access to the diagnosis and prognosis, but this isn't a workplace injury. I strongly suggest sharing with the doctor(s) what you have shared here. Perhaps that will put things into perspective for them.
You're just getting off the meds, and now there are new meds that must be taken as needed. Isn't that kind of how you got to the last couple of weeks anyway? Not sure I would trust this counsel.
If you can, discreetly check if your district will hold your license. My district does not do this; their belief is that if someone does not want to be there, they will not be effective and should move on.
The old medication I was on caused me heart problems, as well as a series of other negative side effects. The hospital said I need to be on something that is NOT daily, as it's messing up my entire body. Not to mention it's not helping me feel any better.
You're so lucky. I desperately don't want to be there. There are things I haven't shared with you guys, some very inappropriate and triggering for me. It scares me to even think about passing by the school. I don't know, I think I need to get some more information. I just have to make a decision soon.
I think you really want to take the adjunct job, and that's what you really want us to tell you to do. I think if you don't take the adjunct job, you will spend the whole year wondering "What if I took that adjunct position instead?" I used to adjunct after school, and it just was not worth the money for me. As you mentioned, $8500 is not nearly enough to live on without someone else supporting you. What other types of jobs would you consider taking with your position to make ends meet? If you decide to go for it, you need a plan. I will also warn you that when I was an adjunct at community college, my students were MUCH weaker than my high school students. I taught math courses, and the students lacked basic skills across the board. The content I taught was much lower. I was teaching precalc to my high schoolers and basic algebra at the community college. I know you teach English, but I would make sure you understand the population of students you will most likely be dealing with.
That's not true. I'm not hoping you guys will tell me anything. That's why I'm here. I really do need advice. I do want the adjunct job, but there are so many risks. I'd love to hear your personal thoughts.
This is quite telling--even if you don't take the adjunct job, it doesn't sound as though your feelings about your current school are going to be detrimental to your mental health.
I taught a class as an adjunct. Its a lot of work and not great pay. While it’s a bit of an ego boost to be offered an adjunct position and it’s somewhat resume building, I’m left wondering why you think college (adjunct and goals of teaching in college full time) are going to be less stressful. You seriously need to get healthy....working at a job that doesn’t pay the bills and trying to fill in the income gap with some other random position just seems to me that it would be very stressful.
Hey, guys. Thanks so much for all your help. I turned down the adjunct teaching position. I spoke to my teacher friend at this district (who retired prematurely because of how awful this place is), and she said if I don't give the proper 60-days notice, they will go after my license. I'm going to finish out this second school year, and I won't sign a contract to return, if offered. They usually let people go after the second year anyway. Time to suck it up, pay the bills, and be an adult. There is something I wanted to tell you. I've had users here tell me that I downgrade my school, and they were right. I didn't want to believe it because I believe a positive attitude can change everything. But I am really sorry. I know this school has a lot of positives, but I now know that it's not the right environment for me. I promise not to post when I'm upset or need to vent. I know I have caused a lot of trouble here. I even cause trouble at home when I'm so unhappy with work or just so anxious. Makes sense why my ex left. From my heart, I am sorry. And please know that I appreciate all your help. I think talking to you guys has made me realize that I'm not really alone. Wishing you luck and solidarity this coming school year. Please keep me in your prayers.
If you are returning to this environment, please work closely with your doctor(s) and therapist so that you are able to deal effectively with the stresses. Your mental and physical health are more important than a job.
You should post here when you need advice or to vent. Most of us have some type of experience and can relate. Best of luck.
Thank you, dear. I've just been a mess. I'm trying to work hard to handle everything myself instead of complain so much. And I don't want to upset anyone here anymore.
