I’m 28 and reconsidering being a teacher after 6 years and I’m heartbroken over it.

I’m feeling defeated. I love teaching. I love my students, my subject, my school, my district. I’m constantly told I’m an excellent teacher by parents, students, and staff. However, after Christmas break, I’m going to start looking for a new career. I will probably go back to being an engineer, it paid way better than teaching and I should be able to get back in. <br><br>I earned my bachelors degree in education and my masters in my subject area. I’m a white, married woman with no dependents. I have a lot of things going for me that many other teachers do not. I’ve been lucky. <br><br>I have been a high school teacher for the last 6 years. I just earned tenure last year and I was so excited. I was excited for the security and stability and how I was able to be a voice and advocate for my students and school. I’m not feeling that way anymore and it’s breaking my heart. <br><br>I’m so tired of wracking my brain over and over and over for every little thing. I’m tired of constantly being told by staff and students to be a robot and to talk less. I’m tired of being a security guard, a babysitter, a therapist, a tutor, a teacher, a student advocate, a club advisor, a lunch monitor, a parking attendant, an athletic coach, and a janitor. I’m tired of being expected to do this all for the sake of ConsoleColor and underpay. I feel like I do nothing well and everything poorly. <br><br>Parents are either nonexistent or helicopter parents that don’t trust their children to be in class on their own and monitor everything I say. <br><br>Students don’t want to be there and don’t want to learn. They don’t listen to my attempts to show them how to succeed and how to be strong and resilient. Students hate my class and don’t talk to me. They accuse me of overpreaching and being a buzzkill. I believe if students are going to be in class, then they should be supported, they should be strong and resilient, and they should learn and do well academically.<br><br>Other teachers are burned out and don’t want to talk about it. Many are like me and doing the best they can but it’s just not good enough. Some are very hostile and bitter and I don’t understand why they don’t just leave. Many just don’t give a shit and do the bare minimum and I judge that and don’t want to be like that but I’m heading in that direction. <br><br>I’m tired of being yelled at and being accused of grooming and brainwashing and indoctrination and propaganda. I teach in a blue state and I avoid political and religious issues. I don’t discuss my personal beliefs with anyone. I share facts and have students analyze and discuss information. I give my students opposing viewpoints and have them make their own opinions and justify their beliefs using research. <br><br>I’m tired of being seen as a school employee and not as a teacher. I’m tired of school over sports. I’m tired of being a subservient role to the athletic department and the cafeteria when I’m the one educating the students and the cafeteria is just feeding them and the athletic department is just coaching recreational activity. <br><br>I’m just tired and sad and heartbroken. I love teaching. I love school. I’m sad and I just can’t do it anymore.