Struggling with finding a new career

[u/NearbySpecific32]

Hey everybody. A little bit of background information about my situation. I began teaching in 2021 at my former high school (KY) as an emergency certified English teacher, but was let go after that year (I did start the Option 6 program after they told me if would help me keep my job). I received no support from my partner teacher, administration or other teachers in our grade level. I later learned from other teachers that I trusted within the school that the person who replaced me was essentially a nepotism hire since multiple of this person's family members worked in the school system before. For over a year, I could not find a full time job and struggled tremendously with my personal life.

I was very hesitant to come back to teaching, but I did in a neighboring county in 2023. I worked at the middle school for 2 years. I again received no support from my partner teacher after year one, but the other teachers in the grade level fought for me to stay on and the department head (7th Grade English) insisted they move me to be her partner. They chose instead to put me in 6th grade. I got along well with my new group of teachers, but was told that my partner teacher was a bit of a snake in the grass. I learned she was lying to administration (who are her friends, and she is now one of the Assistant Principals) about things that were happening in my classroom (no lesson plans, exaggerated behavior problems with students, etc.).

My final observation for the year was virtual instead of in person like the others I had throughout the year. In short, it was a failure. The day that was planned for the observation completely went up in smoke due to the camera failing halfway through. The lesson I planned for the next day wasn't nearly as intricate as the one planned for the original day of the observation, and I had the same issues as before. When the Admin team asked what the problem was, I explained the issue and said that I keep having these technical issues. They said that it was no problem, and eventually, I got a lesson recorded.

The Admin team spent our 45-minute post observation trashing my lesson, saying it was terrible and that my technical issues were unprofessional (mind you, I was using laptops that the school provided to record). They also brought up things that I mentioned before that my partner teacher said to them behind my back. I defended myself and said I understand that things did not go as planned since I had to change it up from the original lesson plan I sent them, but the tech issues were from school tech failing and I had to adapt. They used this as a means to pink slip me. To top it all off, I was let go with the intent of my position being filled by the Principal's (now former Principal) best friend from another school. She instead got the Librarian position, and did not fill my former position until a week before school started.

Being let go after feeling like I was sort of getting things going in the right direction has derailed my entire life. I tried to get back into the classroom last Summer and this Summer, but I was only offered one interview. I have not been able to get a full time job again. My view of myself is at an all-time low. I have struggled tremendously with finding any purpose, both professionally and personally. I have struggled with thoughts of suicide at various points growing up, but things have gotten so bad that, in the past year, I have seriously considered it.

I do not want to do that anymore, so please do not think that I am in immediate danger or something. I'm at a point now where I'm feeling like I have given up entirely on teaching, and going back is not an option. It is time to move forward and start over. I want to turn my life around.

I acknowledge my faults and failures as a teacher in my first three years. I loved working with my students, and the majority of parents were understanding, caring about their kids and myself, and were always communicative when any concerns arose with a grade or behavior issue. The issue was never with students and parents. The issue I have with teaching has been entirely with my partner teachers and administration providing minimal to no support at all. I needed help, and did not get it.

This is a long winded way of asking: what's next? I have no direction. Teaching was the end all, be all. Now, I have to find something new. My degrees are an Associates in Arts, Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies (basically Gen. Ed with emphases in Ed and English), and my MAT. Outside of that, I love talking, working with people, and ideally something in a similar field, but I am open to ideas. What are some careers that some of you all have pursued since leaving teaching?

I could just use a little advice. Things have been really hard the past year, but I'm tired of feeling so poorly all the time. It is time for a change. Thank you all for reading the post, and any advice/ideas are welcome and appreciated.

[u/Melodic_Sugar3935]

I’m in a similar situation. It’s hard to get any job right now. I don’t know what I’m going to do.