My first post from the frustrated teacher

Dear Bloggers,


I decided to start this blog simply because I have so many un-posted blogs entries in my archives that I simply cannot post unless I do so anonymously. As I was looking for a new name I couldn't believe how many versions of "frustrated teacher" there were, and so I had to settle on "Yet another frustrated teacher" - this to me is sad.


I have been in education for over fifteen years and teaching is (and always has been) my passion. Although I love the kids, I love my job, I love my colleagues, the atmosphere is, well, dreary. And it only seems to be growing worse with each passing year. There are so many negative views about education and teachers as a whole. It kills me to watch good teachers become jaded and leave.


I know many of us - no matter how dedicated - think of something else. Many look at articles or blogs on the scary statistics of how many teachers leave and why they do. I don't want to be a statistic, but I fear that I may be one. I believe that this will be my last year in education.


Recently we've had an administration change in my district. I fear that I will not survive this transition. Why? Simply because new administrators are looking to bring in their own people and I am the only nontenured faculty member in my department. So I guess the next school year will make or break my career and time will tell.


When I began this district, I made a promise to myself that this would be my last teaching job - one way or another. Not that I'm necessarily looking to retire here, but I after I leave, I will be retiring from teaching in general.


A very wise colleague told me that we would "out grow this district" and I've always known she was right. One day we will move on to bigger and better things. This life style is simply not sustainable. The hours I work, the events I opt out of (because I either cannot afford to attend or am stuck home grading papers or planning lessons), and the relationships that have suffered over this "calling" flood my memories with every repeated account. It is becoming less worth it each year. I've dedicated my entire adult life to the field of education and almost half of my life to teaching. And in the process I've given up so much, and lost so much more.


Sincerely,


Yet Another Frustrated Teacher