I quit teaching; now what? From one teacher's heart to another, I want to share what happened when I quit teaching (in a traditional classroom), and I hope to give you the confidence to make your own decisions based on your needs in this season of life.
The landscape of education is changing, and that job you once adored and felt fulfilled doing has now caused more teacher burnout than ever. The forced push for online learning during the pandemic has changed how education looks. It’s no longer confined to the four walls of a classroom. You can use your skills, talents, and passion in so many ways.
So, whether you’re a teacher leaving the profession or just exploring the possibilities out there, let me be the first to tell you that your options, freedom, and income are limitless. Download the 10 steps that will show you how to get started taking your life into your own hands and building something sustainable that lights you up inside.
“I'm not a quitter!”
Those were the words I repeated over and over again in my head as I walked my way down the long, long hallway towards the office. I was a teacher quitting mid-year, with a speech prepared by yours truly titled, “Why I Quit Teaching.” My whole life, I had dreamed of becoming a teacher. Heck, I was good at it. I had had the privilege of teaching hundreds of students, and year after year, in my annual evaluations, I'd hear the same thing: “The teaching style you have is innate; we can't teach that to just anyone. The students get you, and you get them. It's remarkable.”
I was not a statistic.
I didn’t leave the profession in my first five years.
I stuck it out much longer because I still found joy in the everyday lessons and growth my students were making.
So why did I quit teaching, and what happened next? The answer may be different than what you think.
I loved my students, just like you probably do. So, why leave the classroom?
I ACTUALLY QUIT TEACHING FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
For those of you thinking this may be another rant about the education system in America, you're wrong. I believe in teachers, and I believe in you. I believe teachers have the knowledge and ability to conquer the world, and they can do it however they want to. I realized that my passion for teaching expanded beyond my school building and that I could impact more teachers and students while also living a life I love.
Quitting Teaching Was The Best Thing I Ever Did.
I've always wanted to travel the world, but I've never had the means to do so. You see, I'm a small-town girl with a big heart for adventure. As a teacher, I was confined to my four walls every single day. I never came home and complained about my students.
Instead, I would think to myself, “There has to be more; I've got to do more.”
As I was thinking about leaving teaching, I had this fire in my bones that told me I was meant for more than my 100 students every 180 days. I was looking for jobs for teachers who leave teaching, and I found the perfect match. And I know you will too.
When I Joined The ‘Teachers Who Quit’ Group, I Became A Better Person.
I hate to say I was depressed. I know depression, and this wasn’t it. I just wasn't happy. I wasn't filling my cup with gratitude and joy every day. Instead, I'd listen to people complain about the life they lived over and over again. And by people, I mean a few of my fellow teachers. Those few sucked the life out of me. They took the wind straight out of my sails daily. That is until I decided to take control.
I began closing my door during planning periods. If I needed to regroup, I'd go for a walk and listen to motivational podcasts (Hello Amy Porterfield, Jenna Kutcher, and more!). Plus, I would listen to personal development books on Audible. Those uplifting messages began molding my mindset and shaping how I dealt with the Negative Nancys and Debbie Downers in my school.
Let's be honest. You are thinking of a few right now.
A “teacher leaving the profession” wasn't something I wanted to be known for, but I knew if I was to get out of teaching, I needed to make a decision. I didn’t plan to be leaving teaching for another career either. I just knew I needed change! One of the best things anyone ever said to me was, “What’s the worst that can happen?” Doing a little reverse mind work made a big difference as I committed to this new journey.
I Actually Quit Before The “Teacher Burnout of 2021” Epidemic
I quit teaching, but now what? That phrase was on repeat in my head most days.
- No more consistent schedule.
- No more consistent income.
- No more consistent anything, really.
I had been stuck in the hamster wheel for too long, burning a candle at both ends. And I wasn’t succeeding. Then when I decided to quit teaching, I thought I would miraculously have a ton of time to do everything I ever wanted.
But you know what they say, if you don’t have a plan for your students, they will have a plan for you. And guess what? Life is like that too. So I began to take action on my thoughts and dreams. And taking action brings clarity, and clarity produces results. So it became easier than I ever thought possible to answer my own question of – now what?
Just because I quit teaching didn't mean that I had to stop doing what I loved. Unfortunately, I’d gotten to the point where I'd wake up every morning and go through my routine with no real passion. I wanted to be a better mom for my young babies, and a better human who lived life to the fullest.
“If only I could make it through another year, maybe then I could be successful enough with my Teachers Pay Teachers business and be able to quit,” I found myself thinking that more and more often. Little did I know, I was already successful enough. Success isn't measured in money earned but in the number of experiences that make you feel unstoppable.
Since I quit teaching, those experiences have flooded my life with awe-inspiring motivation, and I want to see you join me on this journey. When I quit teaching, my world opened up, and the possibilities became endless.
If you’re feeling held back by the fear of not having a reliable paycheck or not having the know-how to do something besides create lesson plans and hold reading conferences and grade tests, you have SO many skills that will flow into whatever profession you choose next. The first step is shifting to a mindset of abundance.
Jobs For Teachers Outside Of Education.
When I quit teaching, I finally had time to fully dive into my passion project, the CEO Teacher® Movement. It's a place where I help teachers grow their own teacher businesses and create the lives they want. In the beginning, I got asked all the time, “Kayse, how did you do it? How did you create this entire teacher movement?”
Honestly, I started small. I felt the lack of authentic community in my school building, so I created a YouTube channel to share what I was learning as a TpT seller. As I built this community of teachers online, I realized that more teachers needed to hear what I had to say. Whether through my blog, email, or social media communities. Teachers leaving the profession wanted to know what was out there for them too. So I started a weekly podcast that helps teachers (exactly like you) navigate all the ins and outs to creating their very own income and impact using their unique teaching magic.
Opportunities & Jobs for Ex-Teachers
Teachers are quitting and companies are hot to hire them. LinkedIn is a valuable resource if you want to find companies that hire teachers. Teachers make great marketers, customer support representatives, curriculum writers, and more.
But what if you want to become your own boss and create a sustainable online business that allows you to work less and make more? Here are just some of the ways teachers in my community are doing just that.
- Sell Your Resources Online
- Start a YouTube Channel
- Become An Affiliate Marketer or Influencer
- Create An Online Course For Teachers, Students, Or Parents
- Create An Online Teacher Membership
- 3 Business Ideas For Teachers Leaving The Profession
- Make Money Online Easy as a Teacher
- Become an Etsy Seller
- Generating Passive Income as a Teacher
- How to Make Money Blogging As A Teacher
- How to Make 100K As A Teacher
- Full-Time Teacher to Social Media Marketing Manager
- Turn Your Classroom Ideas Into A Full-Fledged Business Plan
I Don't Want To Be A Classroom Teacher Anymore
This may be the most crucial factor since I quit teaching. I began to live the life I loved. There are so many jobs for teachers who quit teaching. I am a firm believer in creating your destiny.
The teacher shortage is real, but it isn't your responsibility to sacrifice your joy for the education system. You need to put on your oxygen mask first. And if that means taking a step back from the classroom, I am here to support your decision.
Sometimes leaving just means an extended break (think of it as a gap year to find yourself and decide what’s suitable for you). Sometimes it's going back part-time, and sometimes it means finding an entirely new opportunity to light you up inside.
Whatever you decide, the possibilities are endless. We have CEO Teacher® Trailblazers making waves in education, changing the landscape of online teaching, and doing it with a passion and purpose they never thought possible.
Leaving Teaching For Another Career Or To Stay Home With Your Family?
I've never been one of those moms who knocks it out of the park. I'd say I was more mediocre. I would hear things like, “I'm more like an Amazon Prime mom instead of a Pinterest mom.” I'm not really Pinterest level just yet either, but I am making strides to be the best mom I can be. I try to take my young children to watch their older brother's games and meets from time to time. I even have the energy to take my kids to theme parks! I take them to every sports practice and never complain. I love it!
Before I quit teaching, I lived a busy life. I'd work at school all day. When I got home, put dinner on the table, and got my babies to bed, the LAST thing I wanted to do was talk about school with friends and coworkers.
So I ask you:
- Do you want to take your dogs for a long hike?
- Or work until lunch and cook a big dinner for your family?
- Would your days be filled with joy and sunshine if you could travel the world while making the income you deserve?
- Perhaps the thing that lights you up inside is the thought that you will make a more significant impact on the world of education.
Whatever you have ever wanted to do, It’s time for you to take it on.
When I Thought Of Being A Teacher Quitting Mid-Year, I Got Sick To My Stomach.
What would happen to my students? Who would continue with the curriculum? Would they pass all their end-of-year exams? Had I done enough to reach every one of them? Did I make an impact? I even began to Google things like; “How to get out of teaching contract.”
So. Much. Stress.
The guilt was real. But I also knew that if I kept saying just one more year. One more break. One more summer vacation. I would burn out completely, and what would be left of me? That was a scarier thought than how my school would handle me leaving mid-year. I needed a change. Do you?
Here’s the thing, though: you’ve got to choose your hard. Because starting a business or finding a new way to use your teaching skills is still hard. While creating a membership for teachers, I learned (sometimes the hard way) that building a business that functions like a well-oiled machine takes time! It didn’t always look like this.
In the early stages of The CEO Teacher®, I was miserable. I cried nearly every day. And then, when my business skyrocketed, I was the loneliest I had ever been. Change does that to you, but it’s what you do with the hardship that makes or breaks you. I realized that I would have to sink or swim, so I went all-in with my decision.
I Realized I Could Do “All The Things” As An Online Teacher.
Let’s face it – teaching is exhausting work. We give our all, day in and day out, but it takes a toll. Teachers are quitting and companies are hot to hire them because they are hard workers, have great people and organizational skills, and are passionate about what they do. So how can you use that knowledge to your benefit?
First, you have to realize that when you quit teaching in a traditional classroom, you don’t actually have to stop teaching. It's what we were born to do, right?! After I quit teaching in the traditional sense of the word, I suddenly had tons of energy and an amazing, positive outlook on life. I found I could do all the things I had been dreaming about for a long time.
I joined a Crossfit gym and have been working on my health. I can pick up my children from school every day and attend awards assemblies without the guilt of needing to take time away from my students. I can take time and heal if I was sick, had a baby, or needed some time to process life.
Because when you become an online teacher, you get to make your schedule. And by online teacher, I don’t necessarily mean for an online company or teaching virtually. Unless, of course, that’s what you want to do. You can become your own boss—the decider of your dreams and the creator of your destiny. I know that sounds scary, but have no fear. That’s my mission in life. To help you navigate the scary parts so you can live the life you’ve always dreamed of.
I Made My Own Schedule When I Quit Teaching.
I've always been a bit of a tree hugger. I love nature, and it loves me. Getting outside, soaking up the vitamin D, and walking the school track was a huge catalyst in helping me to crawl out of my deep depression.
Being away from the classroom helped me rekindle my relationship with nature on a deeper level. I truly believe that connecting with nature makes me a better person. It helps with my Seasonal Affective Disorder and gets me up and moving even when I don’t feel like it.
Even when I was in the best shape of my life as a classroom teacher, I wasn’t happy. I thank God every day that I can now be the strong and healthy mom I’ve always wanted to be inside AND out. It’s a journey, but one worthwhile. You deserve to take care of yourself and find work that supports that.
I always knew I wanted to connect more with my inner self, but I never had the time to do it. After reading self-help books on mindfulness, I finally feel I can do this more regularly.
I Soared To New Heights With Personal Development Books That Changed My Life.
I've always considered myself a life-long learner, but since I quit my teaching job, I could read more books than I would have read in a year while teaching. I listen to most of my books through my Audible App. And I listen on 2X the speed. That way, I feel like I can get more done in less time. But for some of these topics, I go back, slow them down and really listen!
I have said it since the beginning, and I will say it again- Dr. Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich are two of those that will go down in history as my top books of all time! I reread them each year and still find new nuggets of wisdom and gems to take with me as I grow as a teacher outside of the classroom.
If you are a bibliophile, too: Here's a list of my top favorite books.
I Never Actually Said, “I Don't Want To Be A Teacher Anymore.”
I know that mindfulness teaches us to live in the present, but it is imperative that we also think about our future. When I was in the classroom, my mind would only go to the end of the school year. That was the goal I had to reach when it came to my future. I didn't dream big dreams or think about anything other than the kids currently in my room. I didn't think about the other teachers and students in the world I could impact. Now I think about my future and the future of teachers and children around the globe, and it's pretty darn empowering.
Do you feel this too? I knew I needed change. And to some, it may sound selfish, but the change was so I could become a better version of myself. When I finally realized that I could make a bigger impact, I went all-in with the ideas that kept me up at night. The ideas brought fire to my belly like no other. I was back to losing sleep, but in a good way, in a way that showed me I was on the correct path to this CEO Teacher® life.
That passion in your heart for education? It’s not going anywhere. We’re going to fan it into a wildfire that will blaze a trail for you, your family, and those you will impact. The CEO Teacher® Movement is here, and we’re ready for you to join us.
Teachers Leave The Classroom For So Many Different Reasons.
We don’t know all the reasons for the “teacher burnout epidemic”. But we can guess many of them. I have been there, and although my story may not mirror yours or the teacher down the hall, you can bet that we just have different petals of the same flower. Why teachers quit – stress, expectations, low pay, burnout, lack of support, you name it. It's usually not because of the students or families they work with. But all the other demands placed on them and the fact that they aren’t compensated fairly for the extraordinary work they do.
One of the things that makes the teaching profession so challenging is how all-consuming it is. In most 9-5s, you come in, do your job, and leave. But, with teaching, you’re bringing papers home at night to grade, coming in early to make copies, and lesson planning on the weekends. Even the most organized and well-planned teachers work outside of contract hours. And they’re not getting paid for that extra time.
I used to believe, “The harder I work, the more I make.” But now, I believe, “The less I work, the more I make.” And you can too. When you take your skills, passion, and dreams and turn them into something that creates a sustainable income for you and your family to create the life you love to live.
So my question for you is, what big scary dreams keep you up at night? What do you want with your one wild and precious life?
Let Me Be Clear; I Don’t Want To See Teachers Leave.
Teachers are SO freakin’ valuable to our society. They are needed in our schools to mold the minds of our future. But they also need to be able to live the life they want to live without the struggle of living paycheck to paycheck and not being able to give their loved ones and themselves their very best. So, what am I proposing here?
Making a more significant impact and income as a teacher is YOUR destiny! You have to do what makes the most sense for you and what lights you up inside. I am here to help you learn how fulfilling that purpose is actually allowing you to create {and then LIVE} all that you desire.
I am dedicated to helping you use your passion and skills to make extra money online with more freedom and impact than you ever thought possible.
Since You Are Here, I Know You Have Asked Yourself, “I Want To Quit Teaching. Now What?”
Top signs it's time to leave classroom teaching behind: the big one?
YOU ARE HERE!
This means you are asking yourself if it's time to make a career change from teaching to something more fulfilling that still allows for family time, “me” time, or maybe just more time to take action on your goals and dreams.
I want to help you reveal what sets you apart as a CEO Teacher® Trailblazer (one who uses their unique teacher gifts to make a bigger impact and income). I am here to hand-deliver your personalized playbook so you can start creating your lessons and resources using the teaching ideas you already have.
I know you are wondering about all the ways to make extra money as a teacher or if a teacher side hustle is really for you since you don't really see yourself becoming one of Teachers Pay Teachers' Top Sellers.
You can make money as a teacher, whether or not you leave the traditional classroom, without limiting yourself to a single platform. You are limitless, and your ideas are plenty. There are so many ways to make a bigger impact while increasing your income.
Our CEO Teacher® Trailblazers are turning their passion into profit in multiple ways online. Here are some of the options for you:
- TPT Seller
- Blogger
- Podcaster
- Subscription Box Seller
- Tutor
- Course Creator
- Membership Mastermind
- Influencer
- Etsy Seller
- Coaching
You can learn more about becoming a CEO Teacher® in Training by downloading the free 10 Steps to Get Started Selling Your Teaching Resources Online.
When I Quit Teaching, I Did the Dang Thing And Became A CEO Teacher®
There is magic in setting goals and making plans, but the real MVP is the follow-through. You cannot expect those goals and dreams to come true independently. You will still have to work, but in a way that compliments your life at whatever stage you’re at.
Just saying ‘I want to get healthy this year’ won’t actually help you build habits that stick. {It would be nice if that’s all it took}. You need to say, “I will get up and move my body for 30 minutes 3 times per week in 2022.” Or. “I will drink 1 gallon of water every day in 2022.” {see the difference? – specific and measurable}!
So what do SMART goals have to do with me becoming a better version of myself when I quit teaching? When I got specific and said:
- I will blog four times per month
- I will create a system for my social media plan by the end of the month
- I will upload one new resource each week
I began to see a shift in my daily habits and actions. And as a result, I went from having just a side hustle to becoming a full-fledged CEO Teacher® making more than my teaching salary online.
And because I know you want real data, real results. (Not just me saying I have done it, but actually showing you it can be done.) Here is the shortened version of how the CEO Teacher® Movement came to be:
- 2013: Working 40 hours a week as a classroom teacher, I started my TPT Store (to hopefully make enough to pay my Netflix bill) and ended up making $419.02
- 2014: While still in the classroom, I made $6545.55 through TPT
- 2015: I made $95,000 just through my TPT store (still as a full-time classroom teacher). Talk about burning the candle at both ends!
- Fast forward to 2018: where I left the classroom, went all in, launched my first course, and made $445,000 (most of which was made in the week of my course launch).
- And since 2019, while finally leaning into my passion and embracing all the scary and messy parts, redoing the broken parts, and finding my voice and my way, I have grown my original idea to over seven figures each year. And now? I get to work less, enjoy my family more, and live life on my terms.
That’s what I want for you.
Long-lasting results come from small daily habits. It’s taking one small step at a time. You don’t have to have every step of the way planned. Because guess what? There are bumps in the road that come up when you least expect them. Get your priorities straight, and start outlining your plan. Set your goals, and start going after them. Stop sitting on the sidelines, waiting for permission and “your time.” Success is for the taking, friend. All you have to do is run after it without letting fear and excuses hold you back.
Why Quit Teaching, You Ask? To Have More Income, Impact, and Freedom
I know just how hard and sometimes scary it can be to get started. You might be asking yourself, “What’s my first step?” I went through years of painful trial and error, so you don’t have to. Make what you deserve as an educator while doing what you love… that is my ultimate wish for you!
I'm so excited to announce a brand new challenge for teachers. Never before publicly shared, The Teacher Income Challenge (included in the full CEO Teacher® Membership). It is your quickstart to building an online teacher business that will give you the ability to live the life you want while making a bigger impact on more students around the globe!
I will share all of my top-secret tips and strategies that helped me go from reaching the students in my classroom to touching the lives of teachers and students around the world. And isn’t that what it's all about, a more significant impact on the world of education? I have a hunch that’s one of the reasons you are here right now.
Whether you love teaching with your whole heart and want to keep molding little minds with just a bit more flexibility.Or maybe your secret desire is to leave the classroom and pursue a different path in education. No matter where you are on the journey- step #1 or step #101 this CHALLENGE is for you.
Considering quitting teaching? Here are Your Next Steps:
Not sure you've got what it takes to make an impact online? Grab your Free Guide to help you determine your next steps here. And to get started on your journey to limitless success as a teacher. Then, listen to The CEO Teacher® Podcast, a top-ranking business podcast where I share free tips, inspiration, and stories with you each week. And to get more encouragement, advice, and support on your journey, whether you are teaching in the classroom or leaving the teaching profession, come hang out with me on social media. Follow me on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest.
I cannot wait to connect with you and see which path you choose to create the life you want. I’m honored to be your guide and support you every step of the way. I hope that reading my story of what happened when I quit teaching gives you the push you need to take the next step right for you.
