Third Year burn out! Help!

[Artsy Marci]

I've been teaching art K-5 for a while now in Title I schools in Atlanta. When I first moved here and took the job, I felt I'd really accomplished something just by getting the job after three years of subbing in Syracuse and one year of part time work in a tiny district! My husband left me after a month in Atlanta, and that was a horrible experience. I'm still dealing with that, but there is a sense of independence and accomplishment at being able to survive without him. As miserable as I am, at least he doesn't determine my destiny anymore.

Now in my third year, I'm still an itinerant going school to school throughout the week. Since no sane person wants to do it (there is a perception of lower status and responsibility), I volunteered thinking it ensure that I wouldn't be on the surplus list. There were lay offs in the district as well as pay cuts. I have four schools and each week feels so stressful. The idea of going through this for the rest of the year is killing me. Something's got to give!

I've done some research, and no wonder I'm burned out! Knowing why I'm burned out doesn't help me stop it though.

*outrageously high work load.
i.e. having to teach art on a cart, no planning periods, having a school added midyear, setting up classrooms midyear, and increased class sizes of as much as 35 kids (legally. One school has 37, but gives the home art teacher two classes on Fridays and 4 free periods to make up for it. I teach 6 classes that day, a full day with no planning.). I even have one class that just keeps growing because I get all the kids who are kicked out of band. This year= worst case scenerio for an art itinerant short of unemployment.

*no achievement or accomplishments. This is not just a feeling. I really am in a position where I am not valued except as a babysitter sent in to relieve classroom teachers during their required 45 min daily break.

*Alienated from colleagues. As an itinerant and art teacher to boot, I'm viewed as an outsider and, when classrooms and materials are shared with me, I'm an interloper taking away from "their" resources. Many of my colleagues are extremely territorial! They seek to control their environment- and mine!

*Personal life crap: Since the divorce, I have not met anyone. I have two friends who are not close and are both in intimate serious relationships. I'm not from here, but I am close to my family. They are geographically distant and Mom gets tired of hearing me vent quickly (she's a college student and was a stay at home mom my whole life). I am dealing with depression from the divorce a year ago still, and paycuts made life stressful outside of work too.

Never thought I'd be here. Never thought I'd be this whiney miserable person!
OMG HELP. Any advice welcome. I'm ready to change my life.

[Teach Compassion]

wow. very touching story. My first instinct was to go on about being the best damned prep period teacher you can be... teaching about stuff you really care about!
but with all the other crap you went through, maybe it might be time to move away from atlanta, start afresh.
I donno. it seems like a change would be appropriate in your case.
hope things work out.
cheers
:)

[Chef Dave]

When I first read the title of your thread, I thought, how could anyone be burned out after 3 years? I was an elementary teacher for 17 years before I burned out.

After I read your post, I changed my mind. I spent my first two years as a title I teacher and hated the job. My specific title was "Title I Migrant Reading Teacher." I worked with the children of migrant farm workers in south Texas and used to joke that my classroom doorway needed a revolving door.

Throughout the school year, kids would come and go as their families pulled them from school to pick crops. The kids would be gone for 2 months at a time during which time they were not in school. Teaching these kids was like climbing a sand dune. For every step I took forward, I'd slide back one to two steps.

Not only did the students forget most of what they learned while they were gone but their repeated absences were causing them to fall further and further behind.

Being a title I teacher can be a thankless job.

Regarding your situation, if you're willing to relocate, you have some options.

1) Have you thought about teaching overseas? I spent 8 years working abroad. Not only did I get to travel and see the world, but I also worked with students who were above grade level.

There are international American schools all over the world that cater to the dependents of Americans living in their respective host countries.

You could work in Bali and have a furnished bungalow on the beach. By this next year, you could be sitting at a trattoria in Rome enjoying a plate of Fettuccine con Sugo all'amatriciana. You could also do what I did and work in Saudi Arabia for three times what I earned in Texas, tax free.

If you're interesting in working abroad, NOW is the time to apply to attend an international recruiting fair. Recruiting fairs are hosted starting in January. The peak recruiting season for international schools runs from January through April.

The biggest fair is sponsored by the International Schools Service, the ISS. www.iss.edu/

Teaching at an international school is a lot different from teaching at a stateside public school. Public schools have to educate everyone regardless of whether or not they want to learn. In contrast, who goes overseas? Missionaries, business people, and diplomats ... people who are basically well educated. Most kids at international American schools are on or above grade level. Having gone from a Title I classroom into a class filled with high achievers was pure bliss for me when I taught abroad.

Most schools provide round trip airfare, furnished housing, and medical benefits. Life overseas can be pretty darn good if you can handle "living out of a suitcase" given the minimal moving allowance provided by most schools.

If it wasn't for the fact that I have cats that I've grown rather attached to, I'd consider returning abroad myself.

2) Have you thought about relocating to another state? Alaska has a high turnover rate for teachers in rural areas. "Rural" in Alaska means "off road" in places that are only accessible by plane or ferry.

You could also look at employment opportunities in other metropolitan cities.

3) Sad to say, but you could also change careers. If you're as young as I think you are, you could go back to school for retraining.

When I was 41, I went back to school to train as a chef. I subsequently worked in the food service and hospitality industry for several years before I returned to education as a Culinary Arts teacher.

Have you ever thought about nursing school? The reason I ask is because there are a LOT of jobs for nursing instructors. With your education background, if you went to nursing school and spent a few years developing practical work experience, you could then apply for a position as a nursing instructor.

If you'd like to stay in education, you could diversify your credentials by getting a Master's degree. You could either build on your education background or sidestep into a related area like counseling.

The main thing is for you to be proactive. If you're not happy with what you're doing, why not do something about it? Relocate ... change careers ... go back to school ... there are many options available.

[Boxcar]

This is another thread I thought I replied to but apparently not...

So...

You've got some good advice already. Here is my little add-on in regards to changing what you do:

You can still teach art in a different setting. Play therapy and art therapy are growing fields. You can do an intership and become certified without having to go through an entire re-education program. These fields pay slightly better than teaching and have pretty good benefits. Because the work is often one-on-one or with a small group, some people prefer it to large classroom situations.

Now, I wouldn't nudge you in the direction of changing careers yet. I'd try a different district or area first, in my opinion. However, I thought I would through this into the mix.

I really do hope things get better. Good luck. :)

[Da'MonaLisa]

I'm an art educator as well. I'm not sure about the state of Art Education in Georgia, but it doesn't sound much different from other states. My suggestion is not to leave education or even move toward drastic change. Perhaps another job at a different school? Avoid Title I, avoid inner-city, and avoid any school who constantly fights the union. Perhaps you should spend some valuable time on the computer filling out applications to schools outside of Atlanta. Seek school districts that have one elementary school. (You'll at least be on the same campus, even if you don't have a classroom!) When you interview be sure to mention this damnable "art on a cart." You deserve to be respected in your position, even if you are the babysitter for "real teachers."

[sgallag2]

I've been teaching art K-5 for a while now in Title I schools in Atlanta. When I first moved here and took the job, I felt I'd really accomplished something just by getting the job after three years of subbing in Syracuse and one year of part time work in a tiny district! My husband left me after a month in Atlanta, and that was a horrible experience. I'm still dealing with that, but there is a sense of independence and accomplishment at being able to survive without him. As miserable as I am, at least he doesn't determine my destiny anymore.

Now in my third year, I'm still an itinerant going school to school throughout the week. Since no sane person wants to do it (there is a perception of lower status and responsibility), I volunteered thinking it ensure that I wouldn't be on the surplus list. There were lay offs in the district as well as pay cuts. I have four schools and each week feels so stressful. The idea of going through this for the rest of the year is killing me. Something's got to give!

I've done some research, and no wonder I'm burned out! Knowing why I'm burned out doesn't help me stop it though.

*outrageously high work load.
i.e. having to teach art on a cart, no planning periods, having a school added midyear, setting up classrooms midyear, and increased class sizes of as much as 35 kids (legally. One school has 37, but gives the home art teacher two classes on Fridays and 4 free periods to make up for it. I teach 6 classes that day, a full day with no planning.). I even have one class that just keeps growing because I get all the kids who are kicked out of band. This year= worst case scenerio for an art itinerant short of unemployment.

*no achievement or accomplishments. This is not just a feeling. I really am in a position where I am not valued except as a babysitter sent in to relieve classroom teachers during their required 45 min daily break.

*Alienated from colleagues. As an itinerant and art teacher to boot, I'm viewed as an outsider and, when classrooms and materials are shared with me, I'm an interloper taking away from "their" resources. Many of my colleagues are extremely territorial! They seek to control their environment- and mine!

*Personal life crap: Since the divorce, I have not met anyone. I have two friends who are not close and are both in intimate serious relationships. I'm not from here, but I am close to my family. They are geographically distant and Mom gets tired of hearing me vent quickly (she's a college student and was a stay at home mom my whole life). I am dealing with depression from the divorce a year ago still, and paycuts made life stressful outside of work too.

Never thought I'd be here. Never thought I'd be this whiney miserable person!
OMG HELP. Any advice welcome. I'm ready to change my life.

Hope things are well... Keep your head up and keep pushin forward. Life isn't a straight road. Things will work out, they always do. Take care of yourself.