3.01k
Welcome new members. Tell us what's on your mind.
Yay! I'm excited to see how this group is growing. I'd love for us to get to know each other. Feel free to introduce yourself to the group, and please answer the question: What is your biggest business challenge?
I'd love for this group to be a place where we support each other, collaborate, educate, and grow.
Thank you for joining us.
Jill
Amy W I’m a teacher embracing a career change! ❤️
16
10/11/19 at 11:07PM UTC
Praying we all flourish and succeed. Growth mindset ..... I have to make a concerted effort to be positive. I’m trying. I want my daughters to be proud of who their mom is becoming.
Jill L. FergusonJill of many trades. Lover of life and animals.
3.01k
10/11/19 at 2:55PM UTC
Hey, FGBers, Let's help Amy flourish. Empowered women empower other women. :)
Amy W I’m a teacher embracing a career change! ❤️
16
10/11/19 at 4:57AM UTC (Edited)
Thank you for your kind response. I’m ready for anything at this point. I love to teach. I love learning. I’d like to blend those to find a productive career. Not a job. But I’d love to have a career with goals and challenges. I’m ready to flourish. ?
Amy W I’m a teacher embracing a career change! ❤️
16
10/10/19 at 6:37PM UTC
Hi. I have been a first grade teacher for years. Ive been burnt out for the last couple years. Primarily because I have Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. My energy level is low and the pain and fatigue is indescribable. (Some days I can't believe this is my life . I used to be a runner, health conscious, happy.) Anyway, I missed two days this week with the flu. My principal yelled at me that I let my students down, my team feels taken advantage of, parents are calling to complain. Yesterday i went in with my doctor's note . Principal said she was very worried about my students' safety and my poor classroom management skills. (Background info: i was at a charter school in a small classroom with 25 students, no windows, no recess). I get minimal teaching accomplished because I am dealing with physical aggression from 7-8 boys, ie punching each other, choking , boy body slammed a girl to the floor. It is complete chaos. I sought help from the behavior management team in August but was reprimanded for my "awful classroom mgt skills and not establishing a culture of respect." She further voiced concerns about not providing a safe learning environment and she worries about my childre's safety all the time . In regards to classroom mgt, i implemente a behavior chart, reinforce learning behaviors with stickers or skittles. In addition i implemented a classroom token economy system about one month ago. That seemed to be working until studenrs complained about what items they could purchase in the store.......my money spent so the rewards didnt come from Toys R Us. Also, kids were stealing tokens, fights erupted, and student meltdowns Oh i use Class Dojo and Remind apps so i am in daily communication with families.
Anyway, after getting yelled at for being sick and told the student's safety is compromised with me as their teacher, i said thank you; i resign effective immediately. I feel sad for my students and their families although I believe they will do better with a teacher capable of managing 25 children and handling an anti teacher supportive administration.
Im finished teaching. I dont want to work 65 hrs a week anymore . I dont want to finish my career disappointing others and admin not trusting me with the safety of my students.
Im scared. Id like to transition to a different industry. But i feel my skill set is limited, and Im unemployable. I have a BA and a Masters of Arts in Mental Health Counseling.
Thank you for reading this lengthy post. I appreciate your support .
Jill L. FergusonJill of many trades. Lover of life and animals.
3.01k
10/10/19 at 6:55PM UTC
Hi, Focused...
Thank you so much for opening up to us and writing a heartfelt post. I could feel your struggles, your frustration, and your angst, and also your sadness.
Early this year, I worked with a client who was a teacher and planned to leave education and change into a new career. This is actually pretty common and the skills you've developed in education (all of that curriculum development and planning, preparation, public speaking, etc.) can be translated into the same skills used in a huge range of fields, such as project management and consulting, for example. And I would think your graduate mental health counseling degree could open up additional industries and jobs. What kinds of things do you like to do? In what industry would you like to work?
The teacher I mentioned early left teaching this summer after six years of it, and she has been writing successful children's picture books and working as a studio musician and she sings with a band that is gaining local (Virginia Beach area) popularity.
We can do whatever we feel drawn to as long as we take steps forward towards it.
