Thinking about leaving midyear

I’m halfway through my 5th year teaching as a high school English teacher. This year I’ve started in a public charter school that was supposed to be high achieving in terms of state standardized testing (granted our school is smaller). I was so excited to make the move from the chaos of a public school (which I actually had a wonderful year last year during my 4th year after having built up my reputation and curriculum from my own blood sweat and tears). I was ultimately looking to have better pay and possibly a better working system. I came in telling admin that I wanted to be a career teacher and I wanted to give teaching its best chance, and while I meant it wholeheartedly at the time, now I feel done. This year has been draining and demoralizing for many reasons from constantly being observed, to having the sterile curriculum enforced with no flexibility, my teaching micromanaged, the constant documentation requirements, meetings, and testing and data analysis. It leaves no room for me to get grading and lesson planning done. Not to mention the student have also been very disrespectful (both in behavior and how they test class supplies - I had student write in permanent marker on a chair that I was a hoe and constantly write on desks) and to be honest, as embarrassed as I am to admit it, bullies. I know, I’m the adult, but from being called names to students gaslighting me when they’ve done wrong or antagonizing me for enforcing basic rules, it’s all been too much. I know I’m in a transition year and I’m still learning the ropes, but everything has felt so impossible to do (at least not without losing myself). I’ve felt at the end of my rope. I want to leave and have even applied to some roles that I think I may be competitive for since the end of October, but I am so afraid of the job market. My partner said he’ll do whatever he could to support me during this time and I really don’t want to make a foolish decision. I am not entirely sure what I am looking for, but I am hoping for some to share whether they have taken the plunge mid year without something lined up (I know, crazy). I want to resign during break because I just can’t go back in next semester to start all over again. I think it would break me or I would lose myself. I didn’t go into this job to become demoralized and jaded. I wanted to put my heart into my work, and I just don’t I can do it anymore. Any advice, encouragement, or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Posted Dec 1, 2025, 4:17 AM UTC

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