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What about working for the Department of Education for your state?
My experience has been that many former teachers don't find it difficult to find jobs in a new career--teachers are highly employable for many jobs unrelated to teaching. In your cover letter or letter of introduction, make sure to indicate that you are making a career change, and point out several ways in which the skills and experiences you have gained from teaching translate or connect to the new job.
I understand completely. I am in my first year and I think it will be my last. Teaching is not what I expected. I don't enjoy planning, I am terrible at teaching reading and writing, and I hate dealing with administration. Fortunately, I have a bachelor's in something completely different from education (Forestry). I think I will go back to that. I wouldn't know what to if I didn't have a background in something other than education. However, with your skills you should be able to find something else. Good luck!
I know I understand. I resigned in November and am not looking back. There are great tips, and advice on this thread, so thanks Wild for starting it. Unfortunately, I left because of many administrative decisions that I could not in good concious contribute to or implement. I'm job hunting though, and I hope before long I'll be happily employed, hopefully as Dyslexia Therapist, or something in between.
Well, it seems to me that former teachers could be anything.
In general you could work at a library, become a tutor, or go into almost any office job/administrative type work. I know someone who retired from teaching K and 1st grade and went on to be the director of a church preschool for 3 and 4 year olds, it was laid back and refreshing and very enjoyable, teaching the kids in a fun way with NO required curriculum or stodgy rules.
Or you could enter the job market into any field where entry level just requires or prefers a 4 year degree. Get an administrative job at a telecommunications (phone or cable) company..work in a lawyer's office as a admin assistant (you can possibly train on the job to handle routine things such as real estate closings)..work in a hospital in the billing department...work in the admin offices for the school system, admissions office at a college, desk job at a utility company...look around you and apply with any place you think you'd like to work, that will train you and appreciate your degree and background.
Is there anyone out with a success story that maybe they could share to encourage the rest of us?
I taught for 11 years and then went into real estate. I doubled my salary the first year...but felt like I needed to make a difference. So, this year I am back to teaching...but in a different area (I was general elementary, now I am doing special education) and LOVING IT! After the real estate experience, I know I can do something else. However, maybe I just needed a new challenge.
B.A, M.A, M.Ed., certifications in three states...after the end of this school year, no more.
What are high school teachers qualified to do for a living when they leave teaching?
All kinds of things. Technical training is one thing I can think of right off the bat. Large corporations are always looking for people with pedagogical skills who can teach procedures, software, etc. etc. etc.
I'm bumping another stale thread b/c it really helped me tonight! If anyone else has anything to add here, I'm a new and probably soon a former teacher.... Luckily I have a strong business background but I'm still probably going to have to relocate.
Unless you are a Math or Science Teacher.. there are slim pickings for professional jobs after teaching
Lets say someone was an Elementary School Teacher for 20 years and decide at age 45 they want to do something else. They will be hard pressed to get into a new professional job. The key to any professional job is the ability to show an employer that you know something about the field of work that the average next guy does not. Ex teachers are not really skilled in any of the traditional fields of work. They do not know Accounting, Human Resources, Finance, Engineering, High Mathematics, Computers, IT, Software Development, etc. Most professional jobs require advanced specific training and certifications and the average teacher does not have this. Anyone disagree?
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Unless you are a Math or Science Teacher.. there are slim pickings for professional jobs after teaching
