* Reduced workload – relative to the seemingly 24x7x365 world of high tech, teaching IS a reduced workload. I remember times working in the IT department during the late December/early January timeframe when everyone else was forced to take time off while the IT team prepared a new system. Then when everyone else returned, our workload went UP supporting all the problems that occurred. I also worked on a worldwide team and had regular, weekly meetings at 10 pm local time.

* Supportive administrators. I am truly fortunate to have found what feels like an AWESOME school district on my first go. In contrast, some of my last managers in high tech were some of the most awful professionals I’ve ever met.

* Setting firm boundaries to protect home life. In my last tech job we had 8 paid holidays. I don’t count vacation days since when I would take vacation, work still happened. I was fortunate to take a four week vacation once in tech. I returned to 2500 e-mails of which 800 required my action. I spent the first week back working 12 hour days wondering why I went on vacation in the first place. A few years ago, I figured out I get 27 paid days off during the 10 month school year contract. And no work gets done during that time. I truly get a break. Yes, I may think about school, but I don’t HAVE to. The structure of school protects my home life so much better than tech ever did.
* Financial security from partner or other source of income. The one thing that tech did provide was a way to purchase our home. I’m claiming white privilege on this one, too. My parents helped my wife and I buy our house. My wife also works.

* Teaching’s direct and negative impact on health. Perhaps I’m fortunate, I haven’t experienced this yet. Maybe I’m naive. Maybe I’m ignorant.
* Financial insecurity. OK, maybe I’m being really naive on this one, but I love teaching so much, I don’t plan on retiring . . . EVER! I have a 401k from high tech – and that helps even though it has lost over 20% of it’s value in the last year. My only worries are a mental or physical disability that makes me a less than effective teacher.
* Strains on relationship with family/partner – Actually becoming a teacher has actually STRENGTHENED my relationship with my wife, because, you guessed it, she is also a teacher. We get each other’s world, which didn’t happen when I was in tech. We laugh, cry, brainstorm and love what we do.

TCEA Convention & Exposition
January 30 – February 2, 2023 | San Antonio, Texas
convention.tcea.org

The 2023 TCEA Convention & Exposition is the intersection of passion and possibility, curiosity and discovery, education and technology. And it’s the kind of learning that will change the story of education.

Diverse sessions and speakers. Great ideas and resources. Meaningful connections with peers. It’s life-giving energy, and the discovery of what you didn’t think was possible– all rolled into one remarkable conference.

That’s TCEA.

Yes, we’d be happy to add the attribution, thanks Anna!

Thanks!

Now, as an older-in-age, but younger-in-experience – only 10 years in the classroom – teacher, I help my colleagues with children whenever I can. A Mom wanted to take her son to kindergarten on the first day of school – we teach high school – I took her class. Yesterday a Mom had to pick up her son from 2nd grade as they had early release, she needed 30 minutes of coverage. I gave it to her. Maybe it’s just me, but I was given leeway when I was a parent of younger children, so I try to return the favor now.

I get if you don’t have children of your own – and maybe don’t want them. Why should parents be given ‘special treatment’? My observation is that life is more unpredictable and complicated when you have children. So be prepared to step up at the last minute when the parent assigned to AM or PM duty has a sick child – or the duty is entirely uncovered, If you are good with that, then by all means ensure that everyone on staff is assigned to AM or PM duty.