India Amos saw teaching as “the most rewarding career” she had experienced and quickly grew attached to her students. However, she soon realized that her job extended beyond school hours. Grading and lesson preparation took up her personal time, which caused issues in other areas of her life. In a Medium post, she explained that she often felt too tired to maintain her home or engage in leisure activities. Eventually, she decided to leave teaching for a new career and took a job as a corporate marketer. Surprisingly, after about a year, she felt a strong desire to return to teaching.
The issue of teachers leaving their jobs is receiving significant attention due to a national teacher shortage. Many educators cite reasons like burnout, insufficient administrative support, declining student behavior, the negative effects of technology in classrooms, heavy workloads, and more. Turnover rates in teaching have been problematic for many years, and according to The Learning Policy Institute, these rates are now about 27% higher than in the 1990s. The number of teachers leaving the profession has increased by over 50%.
While many teachers do not return to the classroom after leaving—whether due to success in a new career, staying at home, or retiring—a notable number do find their way back to education. Amos noted in a popular Business Insider essay that the corporate world was not as fulfilling as she had hoped. Although she earned more money, she missed the aspects that had initially drawn her to teaching. The marketing role offered less creative freedom compared to teaching, where educators can adapt their lessons despite following a curriculum. Preparing engaging lessons took time, but it was also a creative outlet for her, which she realized she missed.
The corporate environment kept her at a desk for most of the day. While this was a change for a time, she eventually longed for the active nature of teaching, where she could be on her feet and moving around. More importantly, she felt a lack of human connection and purpose, which highlighted that office life was not for her. After a year in corporate marketing, she returned to teaching.
On social media, other teachers shared similar experiences. In a Reddit thread, users recounted their journeys of leaving education and coming back after several years. One user mentioned leaving for four years, working as a data analyst with easier work and better pay, but found it boring. They returned to teaching ten years later and felt they were making a positive impact. Another user initially thought they would never return but realized they missed teaching and had to remember the reasons they chose the profession.
What do you think contributes to teachers wanting to come back after leaving?
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Source: Upworthy, by Evan Porter