I feel like there is no incentive to work hard anymore

I have always been an extremely dedicated teacher. I put my job first and always made time for kids, parents, and colleagues. I received the Master Teacher award at my school in 2019. I give 100% to my students and make sure they have all the resources they need to succeed. I teach in a rural area, I work in a Title 1 school, and I teach in a school that is generally poverty stricken. I thought working hard and finding new ways to teach would be worth it. <br><br>A few days ago, we had our staff meeting. We learned that, due to budget cuts, no one will be eligible for a raise this year. We were also told the state will not be giving us our raises for the next 2 years. This is my 8th year teaching. I have only had a raise 3 times. My salary is $41,000 annually. I have to also pay the state $5000 to get my master’s degree. I don’t feel like there is honesty with salaries for teachers. We are told we will get a raise and then it is pulled from us. I have always been a defender of the education system, but I am beginning to feel like it is nothing but a lie. I don’t make enough to make ends meet. I have to work 2 extra jobs to make ends meet. I work my full-time job, I work as an Uber driver, and I work as a tutor. I am on campus from 7:30am-5:00pm. I am leaving my school, driving home, and sitting in my car to be an Uber driver. I make extra money driving, then I make money tutoring. I use this money to pay my bills. I feel like I am being lied to when the school system tells me I will get a raise. <br><br>I’m a single parent. I have 3 kids and I am a single mom. I know what it is like to struggle financially. I know what it is like for a child to grow up in a low income family. My kids have never lacked necessities, but we don’t have extra money for “fun” things. I tell my kids that if I had a better paying job, we could have extras. I tell them I am stuck in a job with no raises and little pay. <br><br>At this point, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I should continue to work hard or not. I don’t even know if I will be able to afford Christmas presents for my kids. I feel like I am being used and taken advantage of. I feel like I am expendable. I feel like there is no point in working hard when I am barely scraping by. I have a 4th grader at the school I teach at. I also have a 1st grader in my school district. <br><br>What are your thoughts? I feel so lost and alone in all of this. I feel like I am truly drowning in debt. I feel like my kids and I are truly being punished. I am being punished for wanting what is best for my children and I.