I am honestly considering quitting

I am honestly considering quitting. I used to love teaching. I loved my job. I was a 4th grade teacher. Happily teaching in my first year. Happily teaching in my second year. Through the pandemic, was remote, but it was hard, but I was still happy. Last year our district made us go in person. I caught covid the first week of school. Was out for 4 days. I was miserable and sick- but, still happy with my job. <br><br>This year. I am miserable. I have never cried so much in my life. Never have I felt so overworked and so underappreciated. I have had 2 meetings with my principal. Begging for help with my classroom- begging for additional support. Begging for smaller class size- anything. I am drowning. I spend at least 2-3 hours a day after school- on top of the 8 hours I am there. I grade, parent contact, lesson plans- data entry, bathroom duty, cafeteria duty, morning arrival duty, afternoon dismissal duty. I also coach the quiz bowl. I love my kids. I love making the lesson plans. I love teaching. I do not love this job anymore. I expect to spend time outside of work grading and planning- but the amount of time I am working is getting insane. I love my kids, but I hate this job. <br><br>I am sure I will get tons of comments telling me this is the way it has always been, but it’s not. It wasn’t this way 2 years ago. It wasn’t this way 5 years ago. It wasn’t this way 10 years ago. If you are still doing this- I know you are exhausted too. This was my dream. I have always wanted to be a teacher. I am ready to walk away. I am honestly considering quitting.