Teachers Resigning or Retiring mid-year

We're only in October and it seems like more and more teachers have already resigned or retired. That's not good considering we're only two months into the year. I work at a dozen schools and it seems like all of them have had cases of teachers (sometimes first year teachers) resigning or veteran educators retiring. In a post I wrote on this fourm a few weeks ago, I asked if the kids are just tougher and nastier this school year. I'm just curious, are things tougher for teachers this school year than they were last year? Last school year, I don't recall any teachers at the schools where I work resigning or retiring during the school year. I would be very curious to hear your opinions.

 

I've only ever worked with one teacher who resigned during the year (in fact, she's the only one I've known who resigned from teaching at all). As far as retirement is concerned, many teachers work until the end of the year during which they are eligible to retire, but some leave as soon as they are able. None of the decisions to leave mid-year have been because of the students.

 

I know that there are a couple of teachers at my school who were forced to retire because of how the county changed their policies.

 

I doubt the kids are different from last year. I have only known one teacher who resigned in the middle of the year, and I am not sure what the issues were. Other than that, I am not sure what's going on in those schools. In my opinion, it's very sad for the kids, not to mention tough to transition after a teacher leaves.

 

I've taught for 19 years. I've worked with three teachers who retired mid-year. One was having medical issues. The other was having a grand baby born at the time she could retire. The third had worked past the year to retire and was ready to move on to another part of his life.

The only two who resigned mid year were forced. One left after a week because he lied on his application. He had a drug arrest that was pending in the court. The other came to school drunk and was arrested.

 

I've been contemplating resigning. This is my 2nd year of teaching. I stuck out my first year because it was my first year and I know it's supposed to be tough. I moved due to my husband's job so this year I started teaching a new grade at a new school. It is much tougher than my first year. I teach 2nd grade. I have 11 of my 14 students far below grade level. Most of them can't read and don't know letter sounds. My biggest factor for wanting to resign is all the other pressure and expectations put on teachers. I want to teach and not worry about all the other crap I have to deal with. My heart just isn't in it. I'm still teaching but if another job were to come along similar in pay, I'd take it.

 

My thinking is that it all really depends upon where you are in the country. I can only speak regarding what I see going on in Pennsylvania specifically, but it seems like a lot of areas in the northeast and various pockets around the United States are places that have really declared war on teachers.

Our governor is presently pushing a bill to make all schools in Pennsylvania charter schools. (Which would allow schools to pay teachers a LOT less than they're worth as well as bust the union and allow schools to take away a teachers livelihood at the drop of a hat.) He's already modified the pension program, which will affect anyone coming into the profession. He wants to take away the 10 sick days we're allotted each year. There's also another bill in committee to allow certification to people who don't have a college education....but they really won't need that if they make all schools charter schools.

This summer, Tom Corbett (our governor) stated "How can 99% of the state's teachers be rated 'satisfactory' when our test scores are so low?" So, he wants to see more firings. And he's taken steps to change the way we're evaluated to help increase those firings. (It also plays well with the public, too! It's a win-win for him.)

All this along with increased duties (making us more and more like social workers), lengthening the school day and the school year, all the work you have to take home with you, is making more and more people ask themselves, "Do I really want to put up with this nonsense?? I got a masters degree to be treated like a factory worker???"

What's going to happen in the long run is that first there will be lower quality teachers in the classroom and eventually a teacher shortage. But in the meantime, these politicians will look like heroes to the general public, the cost of education will go down in state budgets, and by the time people realize that all of these steps have turned out an army of illiterates, these politicians will be long gone. All that will be left will be people scratching their heads saying, "How did it get this way??"

So it's no surprise that people are leaving the profession for better working conditions and salary. It's no surprise that I'm reading how more and more college students are changing their majors from education because they see what's going on, too.

 

I think if I were in the process of deciding to become a teacher right now I would think about it very hard. I love teaching; but I did not know I would love it when studying to become one (I thought I would like it). Part of the reason I decided on teaching versus other things was the decent job security that came with teaching, the retirement, and the benefits which made up for the lower pay than some of the other things I was considering. All of which are things politicians and corporations are trying to gut in many states right now.

 

Words cannot describe how much I loathe this statement and the attitude that accompanies it. I'm sure you're a great person, but if I snipped these words in a rally for reforming education, you'd bet your butt this would light the fire. Choose your words wisely, please.

 

I have never, in my life, heard of so many teachers thinking of quitting as I have this year on A to Z.

In real life, I've only seen it happen 2 or 3 times.

 

I can only speak to Florida...but with the new evaluation system (now tied to Pay for Performance), the sheer amount of work we are required to do is unbelievable.

We're now being evaluated on FORTY-ONE aspects that are tied into best practices. 41. That I have to show evidence of in the classroom. The style of teaching required is different from anything we've done before. I have more conferences this year than ever before. My paperwork has tripled. It takes me five hours to write my lesson plans for three preps each week due to the new lesson plan format. And another two to gather/create the materials for the week.

I'm now required to keep portfolios of student work - for 154 students. I have to keep a portfolio of MY work - document phone calls, emails, meetings, meetings with other teachers, and document my efforts to increase student learning.

And at some point, I have to go into my room and teach. And then grade their work and give feedback. I'd also like to clean the house at some point, but I'm just too dang tired.

So, I can see why people are dropping out of the profession like flies. We lost one teacher already - came in from another state and declared that this was sheer insanity.

But most of all, I don't like looking at my students - seriously, the sweetest, hardest-working group I've had - and thinking, "If they don't make AYP on the FCAT, I'm going to be out of a job."

 

I don't really get what the problem is with what she said. Is it insulting to factory workers? I don't think it was intended to be. She is not saying that she is a better person or higher class person than a factory worker, but that her level of education and training should be enough to have some degree of autonomy at work. A person with a Master's degree and continuing education should be considered an expert in their field. She is also perhaps implying that children are not "one size fits all." You cannot reach all children with an assembly line approach to education. I think it's an excellent choice of words to make her point.

 

Seems like every effort would be made to keep a teacher until the end of the year. But the state education department in my last state didn't seem to care. They took away my certificate in December one year, just because I was missing one credit in some cultural course. So it was mid year that I had to quit teaching at that school.
It was a school on the border of the state and there was another job opening in another school just across the border. So maybe I didn’t push hard to stay. But I really didn’t know if the school across the border was going to hire me, because that job went unfilled for years!!!! They kept hiring subs. I never understood why. It was closer to a moderate size city. Why hadn’t that position been filled? But when I explained what happened to me, they hired me!
So this has me thinking that some schools might rather keep some subs just for consistency. Also it probably saves them some money. Well, yeah it probably is more about the money.
I heard that my previous school (where I had to quit) got a new teacher who only lasted until June.

 

QUOTE=pete2770;1531974]Words cannot describe how much I loathe this statement and the attitude that accompanies it. I'm sure you're a great person, but if I snipped these words in a rally for reforming education, you'd bet your butt this would light the fire. Choose your words wisely, please.

[/QUOTE]



We all deserve respect.

 

Yes, I have known some teachers in Florida who are very good, but they seemed similarly overwhelmed. It is similar in my current location (another state). I don't know what is at the root of all this. Last I checked I think Florida is one of the stupid states. Like many places, there is greed and very little consideration and understanding of education. Also I think Florida schools are being accredited by people who either don't have a clue about what really goes on in the classroom, or by teachers who hated to teach. I have met some of the members of the commissions on accreditation and they do not seem to be very good. For example, in my state the commission made a group of us spend hours on trying to figure out how to solve some issues with the counseling department. After two years of this (meetings every few weeks), the problem was suddenly solved when we got a new counselor. Every time those meetings seemed so stupid. We talked about all kinds of stupid things. Just this past week we revisted the issue and I asked the group leader to motivate me because I didn't even know why we were meeting. She said there really wasn't a problem now. The problem we had was that the previous counselor really didn't do anything. That is all it took, but I guess we spent hours trying to do a work around so the counselor we had could stay on the job! Why would an accreditation committee behave this way? But honestly, in talking to some of them in person, I really am not surprised.

 

My district is very strict about proper licensure. If your license expires at any time, even if you're in the process of getting it renewed, you'll be pulled from the classroom for a minimum of 90 days. It's possible that you'll be permanently separated from the district (terminated).

Both the state and the district make it crystal clear to all of us teachers that it is our responsibility to know the status of our license, to ensure that it gets renewed in a timely manner, and to avoid letting it lapse.

I'm sorry for what happened to you, but I sort of think that it's your fault. I hope that it doesn't happen again.

As to the original topic, I've witnessed a number of teachers resign or retire mid-year. When it comes to teacher retirements, it's not unusual in my district for a retiring teacher to begin a year only to retire midway through the year, very often in September or October (because retirement dates are tied to hire dates). It's inconvenient, yes, but it's pretty standard protocol and everyone knows who is planning to retire. I think admins have replacement teachers and subs already lined up and ready to go for once the retiring teacher leaves.

As for mid-year resignations, I've seen quite a lot of those as well. At my school we've had a handful of teachers who just didn't come back to school one day. One of them packed up and moved back to their home state. One of them decided to do road construction. I'm not sure what happened to the rest of them. Most of the others who resigned mid-year gave some sort of notice, usually a couple of weeks or to the end of the quarter/semester. I'd say that probably 90% of the time, the teacher quit because s/he couldn't hack it in our school setting with our student population. In a few cases the teacher quit due to health problems.

 

Things are tougher this year at my school, and more than one teacher is considering leaving before the year is up.

Part of the problem is budget cuts, which stresses the teachers more than in other years. I am exhausted and don't ever remember this feeling by this time of year! It feels like May!

 

I think our school is being affected by budget cuts as well. Enormous classes, a lack of supplies and resources, technology that's always down combined with a huge increase in paperwork and other administrative tasks....It's all adding up to speedy burnout.

 

Can an entire state be stupid??

 

My system is having a large number of teachers retiring because of changes in the insurance and benefits for retirees. The state is cutting back the benefits, so those teachers who are borderline or just past retirement have decided to go. About half will retire before Thanksgiving and the other half at Christmas. I do not think they will be replaced.

As for the increasing amount of paper work-I have decided if they want it done two things need to happen: 1. Give me time during school hours or 2. Give me a secretary! :soapbox:

 

:thumb:, pete! In my bank, his reality check would bounce.

I'm in NJ where we are now paying more into our retirement and healthcare. Some at the top of the scale and within retirement eligibility keep a close eye on current and upcoming legislation. We had 8 retire at the end of the year two years ago due to such changes. But I know of NO ONE who has left this early in the year...and only one who retired mid year.

 

My initial reaction was that it was in fact insulting. I like what you have added, though I'm not sure if that was Reality's intended meaning.

 

I just like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I'm starting to feel like the students in "Another Brick in the Wall." I guess that's the imagery I went to when I read the original statement. They are different types of jobs, with different skill sets needed, and to say that one should not be the same as another isn't insulting one or the other, just pointing out that by the nature of the job they should be structured differently. Maybe I'm just thinking too nicely about the intent of the original poster...

 

I am a second year teacher and was inquiring about Tennessee because of the budget slashes, dices and shreds. I started college 11 years ago to become a teacher, at that time, teaching was a stable, decent paying, great benefits, excellent retirement option...Now....teaching is very unstable, the pay is decreasing dramatically, PEEHIP is going up on our end, retirement...well just ask about that 2.5% extra retirement we are forced to pull out our butts because the gov't didn't take all the required Math classes to add and also subtract on the budget.
is there a can of worms smiley on here....i think i need it.

 

I agree with you. Though I don't know the intent of the OP, I did not take it as an insult towards a specific job, more a statement that there should be different standards. Going to school and earning a degree, or multiple degrees should earn you more benefits, options, freedoms, and overall opportunity in the work place. I don't believe it has anything to do with respect, everyone should be given respect regardless of their occupation.

As for resigning mid year. It has happened a few times while I have been at my school, and I can admit, if or when the opportunity comes along for a different job that I am looking for, I will take it regardless of the timing. I can't constrain myself to only looking for that new job in the summer time, because I can't control when they become available.

 

Agreed completely. In fact, in my mind, this brings up an important idea--you get the respect that you demand. Honestly, as a teacher, do you want to be treated like a factory worker? Clocking in and out and being micromanaged? That's appropriate for a factory worker, but not for a professional with a Master's degree. I thought his comments were pretty spot on, even if they might ruffle feathers.

 

That is just really insane.

 

MissCeliaB - Thank you for your accurate explanation.

(For whatever reason, my original "thank you" was deleted....I guess it's alright to insult ME, but if I do anything to counter an unwarranted attack, it gets deleted.)

There are people that just look for a reason to hate and for someone to go to that extreme to pick out the most minor thing and twist it into something that it isn't must give them satisfaction of some sort.

And as I mentioned in my original reply........I worked my way through college in the factories on third shift.

 

I get your point, but I'd like to add that many, many factory positions now require a college education. I don't know if people realize that (or maybe it's not as common everywhere?). I have a few close family members and friends who work at a factory and all but my step-dad have at least a bachelor's degree. It was required. Furthermore, those in leadership positions are realizing that "treating the employees like factory workers" has led to many problems, and they see that by giving them a voice instead of "micromanaging" them as though they are mindless machines incapable of decision-making strengthens the business. Kind of not the point here, but I'm just sharing.

 

Emails and posts on the Internet do not convey tone. And sometimes a person does not include every detail in what they are trying to say because that's hard. So I think it's best to give everyone the benefit of the doubt on here.

I, too, have been criticized for my attitude here on A to Z because of the way I worded a post. It's hard to know the whole picture when you don't know someone.

Everyone has the right to express their own opinion. Just be aware that the whole story is not always evident from a single post. We are not all gifted writers, able to fully express ourselves in prose.

Can't we all just get along?

Sorry to be redundant.

 

No, but there is one for you.

We are seeing teachers and P's retire because of the rate increase if they don't get out before Jan. 1 or Dec. 1 which ever it is.

 

I thought we were getting along, but perhaps I missed something.

 

Sorry it took me so long to reply to all of you! Things have been pretty busy lately so I haven't had a chance to get on here. Thanks to everyone that replied. Definitely an interesting conversation we got going here!

I didn't mean to open a can of worms here! I agree with some of the previous commentors, lets just all get along! So, if I offended anyone on here with this question, I apologize.

From what I gather from this, it sounds like some teachers are being forced into retirement due to change in regulations, and/or retirement plans. I don't want to go into too much detail since this is an anonymous fourm, but I know of a couple cases in my district where some teachers who after 20 or 30 years of getting superior ratings and reviews from administrators out of nowhere started getting negative reviews and were placed on some form of academic probation for teachers (for lack of a better term). Many of them just retired because of that.

There's another situation in one of the schools where a teacher resigned three weeks into the year. Instead of hiring a replacement, the district decided to divide those kids up amongst the other teachers in that team. So now add several more kids to the 30 plus they already have, and you get disaster.

Thanks again to everyone that replied to my question.

 

compemplating retirement

Hello Ticklemonster,
Your comments struck a chord with me. When I first began teaching, I can remember hearing the rumour that the first year was the hardest and it would get better after that. The second year for me, too, was as hard as the first if not harder. My assignment changed, too. So in a sense, we each had a first year all over again, even though technically it was our second year in the profession. You are also fortunate to have only 14 students in your class. In BC where I taught most of my career (20+ years), a grade 2 class has between 22 - 24 students.

However, here's what I learned. In this profession, every year is hard because we work in such a social web - the students, the parents, our colleagues, our administration, our boards, our state or provincial requirements, our unions, the politics, the marking, the extracurricular. Ours is a people profession, not facts and figures on a page. We shape lives - every single one we touch and it is hard work, but it can also be one of the most rewarding professions -- YOU have taught those kids to read or to care or to make change. Those are life lessons. I can say that because I have had a number of jobs outside of teaching and I choose to return. It gave me the greatest satisfaction. I could also share the same breaks with my own children, which was precious.

When I was teaching, I specialized in learning support. I was in an Inner City school and many of our students were refugees. Some of those students had never been to school before and they had malnutrition issues and post traumatic stress on top of everything else. Of course, I do not know what is prescribed for you in your school district, but in the area of reading and letter sounds, we found immense success with Word Study (Words Their Way or Working with Words) and we also found Guided Reading (leveled books) to be as close to a miracle as one could get. You can check out elsewhere in this site for materials and suggestions along this line.

Most importantly, this is one of those times of year where you are just glad to make it to the finish line -- you always will!

Have a Happy Holiday Season and Best of Luck.

 

We have a teacher retiring midyear this year. It's the first time it's happened at our school, but it was not entirely unheard of in my former district.

This teacher is just... done. She is a great teacher, well loved by staff and students, but she's exhausted. The pressure of state testing and "accountability" has sucked all of the joy from her. Texas is moving to the End of Course exams, and she saw that as the writing on the wall. It's sad. Fortunately, we've already found a great replacement for her, but I really am bummed to see her go. Two other ladies are ready to retire as well, but they both decided to wait until June. I think we'll see unprecedented retiring in Texas soon.

 

I took it to mean the same way.

 

In the past 12 years, I've worked with 2 teachers who have left the profession. One suffered from postpartum depression and found the stresses of teaching overwhelming. The other was "helped" in her decision to leave after several very ineffective months.

 

I will have the option of retiring in January 2013 with a full pension after teaching for 30 years. (I took a position of a teacher retiring mid-year) Would I do it? I don't know but I have begun a serious discussion in my head. My current contract ends June 2012 and it is a good one.(health benefits, pay for unused sick days, incentive for retiring) Negotiations on our new contract have begun and it's not going smoothly. If a new contract is not in place I can retire under the old one. I love teaching despite the many pitfalls I have faced.(believe I've had my share in 30 years!) But it has been the rewards that have made me stay. In my heart I strongly feel retiring in mid year would be detrimental to my students but in the long run I must do what will be best for my future.

 

Congratulations on the 30 years, janlee!