Help a teacher/counselor leave public education.
April 19, 2022 8:23 AM Subscribe
Our state public schools and state government are a disheartening disaster (ranked in the bottom 2 states) and the source of daily depression and frustration. While my spouse believes in the mission and loves the work, the system is crushing them and they need a new career where their employer (the State) isn't actively trying to undermine their benefits, salary and programs. We are having a hard time coming up with ideas for a realistic career change and hope the hive mind can help?
My spouse is an elementary school counselor with 2 masters degrees in curriculum development and counseling. They also have over 20 years of experience teaching elementary kids in Title 1 schools. They were rated as a highly effective teacher when they were teaching and also a leader in every school where they have worked. They truly believe in the importance and value of public education, in equity, and in anti-racist education.
Charter schools are one of the core problems relative to public school funding and they are not interested in working at one. More school is not an option if it costs money as we have significant student debt. We'd like to stay where we are as I have a job I love with great benefits and we own a home.
My spouse is an elementary school counselor with 2 masters degrees in curriculum development and counseling. They also have over 20 years of experience teaching elementary kids in Title 1 schools. They were rated as a highly effective teacher when they were teaching and also a leader in every school where they have worked. They truly believe in the importance and value of public education, in equity, and in anti-racist education.
Charter schools are one of the core problems relative to public school funding and they are not interested in working at one. More school is not an option if it costs money as we have significant student debt. We'd like to stay where we are as I have a job I love with great benefits and we own a home.
I share your spouse's values and made this transition. I now work as an education consultant supporting schools and teachers, developing curriculum, offering workshops, etc. I'm happy to speak with your spouse if they want to PM me. (I also spent some time working for an education non-profit but didn't necessarily love that.)
posted by jeszac at 8:59 AM on April 19, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by jeszac at 8:59 AM on April 19, 2022 [6 favorites]
Echoing jeszac about consulting; for example, working for an organization like this; I specifically have interacted with this organization around anti-racist training and curriculum development. She'd still be dependent, 2nd hand, on school funding, etc., but would be a contract employee, rather than an employee of the district directly.
posted by damayanti at 9:39 AM on April 19, 2022
posted by damayanti at 9:39 AM on April 19, 2022
When I needed to make a quick job change, I taught SAT prep and did private tutoring through one of the prep companies. A masters degree in any subject will be more than sufficient, and it's easy to both start and stop, as a transitional role. Could be a way to get some money coming in as they get a consulting practice started.
I would also look at community centers/teen centers that might have openings for counselors, although these are often nonprofit and a lot of the time the nonprofit world has its own morally injurious qualities.
The licensing/credentialing practice for one to practice counseling outside the school setting differs by state, but if they're already licensed at the state level there may be no further costs involved in them practicing as part of a group. If you want to memail me more details I'm happy to give more career path ideas based on their existing credentials.
posted by assenav at 9:43 AM on April 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
I would also look at community centers/teen centers that might have openings for counselors, although these are often nonprofit and a lot of the time the nonprofit world has its own morally injurious qualities.
The licensing/credentialing practice for one to practice counseling outside the school setting differs by state, but if they're already licensed at the state level there may be no further costs involved in them practicing as part of a group. If you want to memail me more details I'm happy to give more career path ideas based on their existing credentials.
posted by assenav at 9:43 AM on April 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
I was a high school English teacher, and when I burned out, I made the jump to substance abuse counselor at a non-profit. My master's degree and my experience turned out to be fully relevant. And while it's a fairly intense job, compared to teaching, it's a walk in the park - I average about 42 hours a week. I did have to take a few classes, but I was able to pay for most of it with grants from either the company or the government. With your spouse's counseling degree, it should be a fairly easy switch to whatever kind of counseling they want to do with little or no extra schooling. I often tell my supervisor that we should try to poach more teachers because the two careers dovetail so well.
posted by SamanthaK at 10:55 AM on April 19, 2022
posted by SamanthaK at 10:55 AM on April 19, 2022
Instructional design is a career path that could work well - there are many industries that need help developing trainings, for children and adults, to be delivered in person and virtually.
posted by brainwane at 12:19 PM on April 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by brainwane at 12:19 PM on April 19, 2022 [2 favorites]
I was burned out from teaching in a conservative area with middle (a.k.a. bad) pay. I took a sabbatical for two years, then moved to a liberal district where teachers have a voice and students have rights. It’s still a public school, very diverse racially and socioeconomically. I earn nearly double the salary and work half as hard, which is to say still hard but happily and exploited like before. That said, it’s incredibly expensive to live here and not perfect but I feel revitalized and ready to teach for the rest of my career (about 15 years.) I know you want to stay and I want to support that! But should your husband want to continue teaching and you eventually want to move too, there are other options in public education.
Finally, I have two friends who transitioned out of teaching. They like their jobs just ok but don’t regret their choice at all.
posted by smorgasbord at 2:59 PM on April 19, 2022
Finally, I have two friends who transitioned out of teaching. They like their jobs just ok but don’t regret their choice at all.
posted by smorgasbord at 2:59 PM on April 19, 2022
I agree with the ideas above, but I'd also add that they could become a product manager, marketer, salesperson or other specialist in edtech. They could go into technical writing, corporate training, documentation, user interface design (with additional studies), or instructional design. I've known teachers who've gone into these fields and been much happier.
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 7:00 PM on April 19, 2022
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 7:00 PM on April 19, 2022
Edit: *not exploited like before
But you know what I meant!
posted by smorgasbord at 7:55 PM on April 19, 2022
But you know what I meant!
posted by smorgasbord at 7:55 PM on April 19, 2022
Reminder that the OP used the term spouse, and they/them pronouns.
posted by rip at 10:56 PM on April 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by rip at 10:56 PM on April 19, 2022 [1 favorite]
[Oh, I see this now re: gender. Not sure why I missed it before, which is extra whoops as I'm a queer person myself. Thanks, and my apologies!]
posted by smorgasbord at 8:54 PM on May 14, 2022
posted by smorgasbord at 8:54 PM on May 14, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jabes at 8:39 AM on April 19, 2022 [1 favorite]