Dear Fellow ITSs and Educators,
I have been talking to many of your recently, chatting about change. I understand exactly where you are coming from. I’ve been in education a long time, and through the years, the expectations and responsibilities have increased by incomprehensible amounts. It is so easy to feel the burnout, the frustration, the overwhelming sense of burden. I know that in many instances I felt trapped; I had made the decision to become a teacher and that was all there was. I’ve loved my career in education and haven’t regretted it; well, at least for the first 20 years I didn’t! The last 10 years have been harder, and and there have been many times I’ve wanted to walk out. I often wonder how my life my be different had I done so, but it doesn’t really matter. I’m moving forward.
As I said, I’ve had quite a few people reach out to me in the past few months, asking about the journey I’m on as I transition into a new career path. As many of you know, I’ve been so lucky to find contract positions with two different edtech companies, and I am excited to see where these roles take me.
This journey has been full of challenges, and at times I have felt very alone and isolated. However, I have learned and grown so much in the past few months. I don’t feel alone anymore; in fact I feel empowered and strong, and want to share what I’ve learned so far.
Let Yourself Out of the Box
As educators, we box ourselves in. “I’m a teacher, what else is there?” “All I’ve ever done is teach, so why would anyone hire me?” My friends, hear me now: YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE!
You are an instructional designer. Think about how many presentations, worksheets, forms, newsletters, and videos you’ve created. Guess what? That’s a job in the “real world,” and companies are looking for people just like us to do it!
You are a program manager. On any give day as a teacher, think about how many different things were on your to do list. Create your lesson plans, design a lesson, contact parents, organize a field trip, schedule a committee meeting, teach a diverse group of individuals and analyze data from assessments. That is just a normal day for us, but it takes a lot of skill, organization and focus to do that successfully!
You are a trainer. You’ve taught students to complete complex tasks, supported learners in new tasks, and trained coworkers to complete online tasks. You speak to an audience regularly, and know how to change your presentation based on needs. Every corporation and business needs trainers to support their employees. They need us.
So, don’t box yourself in. Realize right now that your skills are transferable! Think about all the things you do on a daily basis and find the parts you enjoy the most. That’s your next career!
You Don’t Have to Start Over
My biggest fear has been that I’ll have to start over and accept a job with a very low, entry level salary. (Honestly, I still grapple with this fear. I guess I will until I can say I’ve successfully made it a year without starvation setting in… although I could probably afford to cut back on those meals…)
Many of the positions out there are looking for people with experience. Hello! You have that! If your read the section above this, you should clearly see you have the experience.
Don’t discredit yourself. If you see a job out there and you think it sound like its up your alley GO FOR IT! What’s the worst that can happen? You don’t get it? That’s okay (and probably their loss!) Your job is out there!
It’s Never Too Early (or Late) to Start
I’ve been a teacher and ITS (Instructional Technology Specialist) for 30 years. I’m old. (Feel free to refute that!) Although I have toyed with leaving for a few years, I’ve stuck it out this long for one reason. If I can make it 5 months (2 weeks, 0 Days, 3 hours, and 37 minutes) more, I’ll have my full retirement benefits. (That’s a big if, because I toy with leaving everyday now.)
I’ve talked to a few of you who are 10-15 years into teaching. You are at the perfect point to make a change. You’ve put some money aside for retirement, and you are not going to stop. A new job will open new opportunities and you can continue to build that retirement fund. In fact, you’ll probably build a bigger nest egg outside of public education. (Again, 30 years and my retirement is pretty insignificant.)
If you are toying with the idea of making a transition, start building your network RIGHT NOW! Create a LinkedIn profile. Connect with people (like me!) Connect with other educators who are also looking to make a transition. Those connections are priceless.
Look for opportunities to try your hand at instructional design. Talk to connections at that edtech company you love and see if they ever need trainers. Watch job posting and see if there are any part time positions that you’d like to try ( you can continue to teach, but earn some money on the side!) Work on using those skills on the outside!
You Are Not Alone
I told you that I felt alone. I don’t anymore. You are not alone either.
I’m not the only one who will support you and share advice. There are a ton of people out there who are ready to help. Look at some of my other blog posts. (Come on, I’ve only done a few! It won’t take long!) You will see there are many wonderfully helpful professionals out there who have designed programs just for us, transitioning educators. I have found all of them to be helpful, encouraging and supportive, expecting little in return. Some of these incredible resources offer programs that you can purchase to help you build skills that are well worth the cost. However, even if you don’t purchase their programs, I have found they will freely share their advice because they want you to succeed.
My friends, there is a world of opportunities out there for you. I hope that my experiences can help you in your journey. Please feel free to reach out at any time with questions or for advice. As educators, we have a special bond. Take advantage of that!
You’ve got this! Keep moving forward and believe in yourself. Always.
More than a Teacher 