Hello all,
I am currently a teacher in a large school district in Northwest Houston. I am a hardworking teacher of 8 years and feel like I do a good job, but I have been unhappy for several years now. I love the kids, but not all of the other pressures and stresses that go along with it. I'm working at a school where the administration wears you down with demands and is constantly telling you what you are doing wrong, but never recognizing what you are doing right or how much work you put in. You feel like your best is never enough. To make a long story short, it has worn me down physically and emotionally and I feel like really affects the time with my own family and patience with my children. I literally feel like I'll snap at any minute at my children and at my husband and much of that stems from my unhappiness at work.
Before teaching, I worked in the business world before having my first child. At that time, I chose to go into teaching thinking that it was going to be a family friendly profession and something that I'd really enjoy doing. However, I have always longed to go back to the business world at some point.
Recently a former coworker called and let me know of an opening at my old company. I feel like it is something that I should highly consider for myself and my family. If I were to get the job, I would have to break my contract with my school district. I know that people do this, but I've never known anyone personally who has done it and what the process of being let out of a contract is like.
Have any of you done this before and can tell me where to start? What are the ramifications for my teaching license? I'm sure that I wouldn't be able to get a job again in the district, but how does that affect my ability with other districts? Also, are there any financial ramifications? I can't trust anyone at my school and I don't want to preliminarily burn bridges with the principal if this would be too much to go through.
I'm thinking that I may call HR to inquire, but I do not want to give my name out.
Thanks in advance for your help.
I wouldn't tell anyone in the school district until you have been offered the job. I have known a few teachers leave in mid year, there were no ramifications from it as they were all for financial reasons. Good luck!
Are you unionized? If so call your union rep, they are typically very knowledgable about contract issues and they may also know any ramifications that are on printed (such as unofficial blacklists).
Good luck!
I wouldn't contact HR. Call your union president or a representative that can better answer your questions without fear of repercussions.
You could always take a leave of absence. When I worked in Houston teachers took year long leave of absence all the time. Let me just caution you that once you leave the leaving profession it is very difficult to return and be on top of your game. I stayed home for 5 years and I feel so overwhelmed by all the changes! So many new accronyms, rules, procedures, tests etc!
Hi:
I have been a teacher for 11years (now a stay at home mom).
I don't remember the specifics, but there are some pretty serious ramifications if you break your contract. I would look through your teacher contract and your union's agreement packet that you should receive every year with updates. It will spell out what will or could happen.
Every time you apply for a teaching job, most applications do ask if you have ever broken a contract. So you are going to have to really think about whether there is ever even a remote possibility of you wanting to teach again.
Good luck....I recently discussed with my husband that when and if I ever returned to the workforce, I would probably want to try something else. I love teaching, I absolutely hate what surrounds it.
Hi B.
Read your contract to check what is the notice period.I don't think there is any job out there that you can be forced to stay in for a specific period of time and will have finanical ramifications if you leave.Is there an advisory board you can call.?
Also I think you should call HR. You don't need to give her all your informatiom.Just say you are ringing to ask for clarification on your contract and the implications if you gave notice to the job.Say you are just looking for information to check all your options.
Be straight and professional and don't feel you need to apologise for asking for info.Thats their job.
As far I can see everyone has the right to leave their job for whatever reasons.
You shouldn't feel you are being forced to stay at a job you obviously want to leave.
Get in touch with your old company to let them know you are interested in applying for the new position and see where you stand with this.
Get all your ground work done for the new job before you give in your notice.
Go for it .No job is worth this stress especially if you have something else lined up.
Sending you lots of strength and courage
B.
Do not tell anyone, not even your friends. Use a public phone and call your union if you have one. Find out what is involved. It probally is not in the handbook.
I asked to be let out of a private school contract for a better job and then the principal told the other school he would NOT let me out of the contract. My contract said 30 day notice and I was giving a 60 day notice. He cost me that job because the other school was not going to get stuck in some conflict. Of course I had to leave at the end of the year as everyone on staff was against me for trying to get a better job.
Call and ask your union rep. if you have one in your district. They should be able to give you all the information you need and answer any and all questions you have. They are there to support you the teacher...not the "district" so you do not need to worry about giving your name. I was our "school rep" for the union and my loyalty was to the teachers not to the "district." Good luck! :)
