Teachers changing careers

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I hear often that the average grade school teacher does not stay in teaching long at all. Someone I know taught middle school for 25+ years but really needs to get out (stress, violence, etc.) She is having trouble finding anything else with adequate pay and health insurance. As often as teachers leave teaching, I thought you all might have some ideas what else a teacher is likely to be suited for. She is always asking me for ideas, and I don't know what to say.

[DayByDay]

Maybe start her own small, private school? I've read of some people doing it out of their homes (in a rural area, on a large lot) with about 5, 10 or 15 students.

[mom-from-missouri]

what does she teach, and what are her hobbies? If she teaches home ec-maybe she could cater, open a deli, a custom sewing shop. Has she checked into working somewhere like Sulivan Learning Centers?

A lot of teachers don't stay with it. When I sub, I earn more per day than the regular teachers. And, if I sub 10 days in a row, the pay goes up another $25 a day.

Also, large companies hire teachers/trainers. So do places like the conservation department, state and federal parks.

[Scanner]

I'm surprised after 25 years that health insurance isn't included in her retirement package.

Anyway, I think teachers are often well-suited for a professional sales type of job where some education is required or presentations are needed. I'm not talking like car sales but something closer to pharmaceutical sales or something like that, where the product or service needs to be explained.

My father-in-law is a shy retired English teacher and works as a salesperson for an Apple Store (you should see it - high falootin', minimalist type of set-up).

Anyway, he's always been kind of an introvert so we have all been wowed about well he has done at the Apple Store - he's like #6 in the Northeast in sales without hardly trying. (too bad it isn't commission) And he loves it - not a career where he really takes his work home with him, like teaching often was.

Good luck to your friend.

[PrincessPerky]

I am never surprised when teachers leave, I would, and I love to teach...so before leaving, she needs to find out what she really wants to do if possible, try part time jobs or volunteer to test the water, it might be she really likes teaching, just prefers the willing student. (I do)

If so I would aim for jobs where teaching is part of it (afore mentioned public parks are a great start)

If not might have been the wrong career, then aim for a field she is interested in, that may or may not be helped by her teaching experience, or at least crowd control (unless thats the part she hates)

But really if you are going to switch careers I would back up and find one you like, no jumping from the frying pan to the fire!

[TBH]

Ideas--
SAT tutoring. I forget the company but I know several people who tutor part time and it pays really well. You have to take the SAT to get the job (and presumably score reasonably well) so it would take some studying, but I think the pay is quite good.

If she's willing to go back to school, she could consider librarianship. She'd be a shoo-in for a job as a public children's librarian.

[FrugalTexan75]

I taught lower elementary for 8 years, then two years ago I decided to get out. I had at first thought about going into real estate, but by the time the end of the year came, a number of circumstances had changed and I decided against that. It took me until February to find another job - and I found that job through a former coworker and friend - in a completely different field and with a nearly 40% paycut - but great benefits.

I would strongly suggest that your friend make sure they have a very healthy emergency fund built up just in case it takes them longer to find something else than they think it will.

[Fern]

Private tutoring
Working as an editor for an educational publisher like Scholastic
Working as a teacher at a private school, perhaps a different environment

[Hedy]

After my dad left teaching he worked for the Post Office and the federal government.