Teacher Attrition

Half of new teachers quit within 5 years. I totally get it. After last year, my first year in the American Public School system, I understand why. I had never been so completely demolished. Even this year, when things are better. I still bear the scars from what happened the year before. I know I have the grit to get through this year, but I don’t think I want to be a teacher anymore. I have lost that passion and idealism, I am worn out and cynical. 

I want to believe in Failing Forward and Continued Progress and Life-long-learning. I want to believe we learn through mistake and that failure is a critical part of the learning process. I want to believe that I can make a difference & I can impact the lives of these students. But I am disillusioned. 

Being a teacher is already fighting an uphill battle against standards, schedules, and tests. I know if I have it in me to do the fighting in the trenches of the classroom. I’m feeling more and more that I should move into administration and try to inspire the change I want on a deeper level, but in order to do that I really should get more experience in this K-12 public school setting. 

I am only in my second year teaching at public school and have these big feelings. It makes me wonder how many other people feel the same? That you work and work, but you barely make a budge in this uphill quest. I love my students. I love the work that I do. I just don't know if I can handle this stress: the uncertainly of being able to physically stay in this classroom the next year, the Union negotiations/budget crisis, testing & accountability… And there is never enough time. Despite the amount of prep given at school, you inevitably have to bring things home into your evenings & weekends. Its physically impossible to do your job in the time that is allotted. 

I keep reading things about teacher shortages, teacher retention, and how less people are going into the profession. The easiest fix is to give new teachers some stability. 

I know the teaching system in Thailand is that for new teachers, they get a multi-year contract in a rural (hard to staff) location. After they finish teaching in the rural areas, they receive a type of tenure and many move into a more urban location. It would be beneficial for Alaska to adopt a system like this. 

But for now, the sinking feeling remains in my gut. I love this school. I love this community. I love this students. But that still doesn’t negate what happened to me last year. I am determined to make sure that it means something and I am not willing to stay silent… and am still coming into what voice/what message that I want to bring. 

Education leaders need to listen to voices like mine in order to understand what the problem truly is if they wish to do something about it. I will do what I can to make sure my voice is out there. Half of teachers quit within the first 5 years. I wonder if I will be one of them.