How to Handle Guilt When You Decide to Leave Teaching (10 Tips from a Former Teacher)
- Rebekah Pierce
- Sep 8
- 10 min read
Updated: Sep 9
This article is brought to you by the Special Educator's 10-Minute Transition Toolkit.
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So you’ve decided to leave teaching?
Guess what, you aren’t the only one.
Even before the pandemic turned the teaching world on its head, teachers left the profession at much higher rates than workers leaving other professions.
A whopping 44% of teachers leave within the first five years, almost half of all new teachers.
I left my public school special education role mid-way through my 4th year and if you want to read my story, you can click here.
It’s a common move. But chances are, this is a decision that’s marked by a lot of tricky, complex emotions.
It’s one of those rare professions that burrows its way into your identity.
To teach is to serve, mentor, to care...and to walk away from that can feel like walking away from part of yourself.
Maybe the thought of leaving sits heavy on your shoulders because you’re constantly picturing your students’ faces, your colleagues’ comments, and all the what-if scenarios playing on repeat in your mind.
Plenty of teachers wrestle with this very decision.
If that’s you right now, wondering whether leaving makes you a failure or leads to letting your students and colleagues down, take a deep breath.
In this post, we’re going to explore why guilt always tends to seep into this decision, how to manage it, and how to trust yourself as you move forward 👇
How Do I Know When It’s Time to Quit Teaching?
Somewhere inside you, the question has already popped up.
“Should I really be doing this anymore?”
But knowing if you're ready to act on it is another story.
Before tackling the guilt part, we need to address the signs that it might truly be time to transition out of teaching.
1. You’re Exhausted and Burned Out
In a single day, a teacher serves as a:
counselor
nurse
social worker
janitor
college advisor
data analyst
instructional designer
mentor
sometimes even a pseudo-parent
Day after day, you’re hanging by a thread, running solely on caffeine and willpower.
Results from an Educator Quality of Work-Life survey demonstrated that teachers experience poor mental health at twice the rate of the general workforce.
Even more alarmingly, 21% of teachers report feeling so emotionally drained that they dealt with poor mental health for 11 or more days each month.
That’s burnout.
More than just a bad week or a rough month, it’s a chronic cycle of overwork and depletion.
If coming back refreshed after breaks isn’t happening anymore, your body and brain could be crying out for you to make a change.
2. Your Personal Life is Suffering
Have you heard yourself say,
“I don’t have time for hobbies anymore,”
or
“The kids (your family) deserve more of me”?
This is a huge signal that your current work-life balance is hurting your personal relationships and joy.
Missing family dinners, skipping your best friend’s wedding, or crying in your car at the end of the day shouldn’t feel routine, but for some teachers, it does.
3. You Can’t Afford It
The truth is, teaching often doesn’t pay what you’re worth.
The average teacher’s salary in 2024 was $72,030, which is low considering that many states and districts require teachers to have advanced education (usually in the form of a master’s degree).
Adjust for inflation, and it’s clear that many teachers’ wages have stagnated or even declined.
If you’re watching coworkers work second or third jobs (or fail to keep up with their rising living expenses), you’re not imagining things. The pay isn’t getting any better.
4. Changing Roles, Schools, or Districts Won’t Do the Trick
If you’ve already transferred to another grade level, hopped districts, or even switched to private schools and still feel like the same problems follow you, there’s a good chance the issue isn’t the individual environment.
Overhauling your environment without addressing the core problem often leads to even more frustration.
5. Your Physical Health is Being Affected
It’s not uncommon for teachers to have stress-related health problems.
Maybe your weight fluctuates because of stress or you experience constant headaches, stomach issues, or even full-blown anxiety attacks.
Health is seldom a career perk of teaching, but it needs to be a personal priority.
I've interviewed dozens of former teachers on my podcast, Earn More Tutoring, and learned that many of them experience significant health challenges while working in the school system.
One of the most incredible transformation stories was Joanne Kaminski's, who went from burnout and health issues to starting her own thriving tutoring business which you can listen to here.
Why Are You Feeling Guilty About Leaving Teaching?
Before we dive into strategies to help alleviate your guilt surrounding leaving the profession, it may be helpful to first consider why you’re feeling guilty in the first place.
Guilt has a sneaky way of keeping you in a profession long after you’ve run out of steam.
But what, exactly, are you feeling guilty about?
Some common reasons include:
Leaving Your Students
Chances are, you got into teaching because you care about kids.
Leaving feels like abandoning them.
You think about students who are struggling at home, the ones who’ve opened up to you in ways they never will to another adult.
Who’s going to cheer for them or make sure they get a snack if they forgot lunch?
Leaving Your Colleagues
Your team is your teaching lifeline.
You’ve weathered long meetings, conferences, and grueling lesson plans together.
Leaving feels like cutting ties with family.
Fear of “Letting People Down”
We’ve all heard this line before, either explicitly or implicitly:
“Teaching is a calling.”
You may feel like walking away means you couldn’t hack it or, worse, that you’ve failed the children, your parents, or even yourself.
Worries About Doing Another Job "Just for the Money"
Teaching is often labeled a noble profession, and there can be guilt around pursuing a career shift that’s seen as more financially driven.
But doing work that allows you to pay bills and thrive doesn’t make you greedy.
Losing a Piece of Your Identity
Who are you if you’re not a teacher?
Some people introduce themselves by their job title because it’s deeply tied to how they define themselves.
How to Handle Guilt When You Leave Teaching: 10 Tips From a Former Teacher
The good news? Guilt doesn’t have to be your future co-pilot.
Here are 10 strategies to send those guilty feelings packing 👇
1. Understand That Guilt Is Normal
First, let’s normalize your feelings.
Guilt is not only natural, but is almost universal for people leaving caregiving professions like teaching.
You’re not a heartless villain for wanting something different or better for yourself.
In fact, recognizing guilt just means you care deeply about your students and colleagues.
Give yourself permission to feel it without judgment.
Remember, countless teachers before you have walked this same path and have come to terms with their emotions over time.
You’re not odd or weak for feeling this way. You’re simply human.
2. Reframe Your Perspective
Try flipping the narrative in your head.
Instead of picturing yourself as someone who’s “giving up,” see yourself as someone actively choosing what’s healthiest for you.
Think of it like tending to a garden:
Sometimes, you have to prune to help things grow.
By prioritizing your well-being, you’re modeling positive self-care for your students, too.
Imagine telling a friend or former student to stay in a situation that hurts them.
You’d never do that!
Grant yourself the same compassionate logic.
This is an evolution, not an abandonment.
3. Talk to Fellow Teachers Who’ve Left
A great way to counteract guilt is through real stories.
Reach out to former teachers on LinkedIn, Facebook groups, or local networks and ask about their journeys.
Many are eager to share how life on the other side doesn’t mean losing your impact, just changing its shape.
You’ll find that most who left don’t regret it.
Instead, they often feel rediscovered and re-energized.
EFCA graduate, Michelle Glennon, was a teacher who went through these tough emotions but pushed through and now has a thriving executive function coaching practice. You can read more about her full story here.
Hearing success stories can give you fresh hope and concrete proof that your life isn’t over when the classroom door closes behind you.
4. Write a Letter to Your Students (Even If You Don’t Send It)
Sometimes, what lingers is the feeling of unfinished business with your students.
Sitting down to write a heartfelt letter can be oddly freeing.
Share what you loved about teaching them, how proud you are of their efforts, and your belief in their future.
This isn’t about blaming anyone for your departure, but about closure for you and honoring the relationship.
Whether or not you actually send the letter, the very act of writing can help you process your emotions and celebrate your unique teaching legacy.
5. Seek Support from a Counselor or Coach
Counselors and coaches are trained to help you unpack complex emotions, give unbiased guidance, and set concrete next steps.
Consider it an investment in yourself: your mental health and happiness matter.
Many former teachers say that just a few sessions helped them:
acknowledge their feelings
process career grief
move forward with clarity
If cost is a concern, look into free supports or sliding-scale services available in your area or online.
I've listed out a few people who specialize in helping with the transition, which you can view in this article.
6. Reflect on Your Legacy
It’s easy to forget, in the thick of guilt, just how many lives you’ve touched.
Take time to list out moments when you made a real difference.
A letter from a student, a breakthrough you facilitated, a tough year you got through together.
These actions don’t evaporate just because you change careers.
Who you’ve been to your students and colleagues stays with them, and with you, forever.
Your legacy is already in motion; leaving a role doesn’t erase what you’ve given.
7. Focus on What’s Gained, Not Just Lost
Try making a pros-and-cons list about stepping into a new chapter.
What doors will open?
Maybe you’ll regain sleep, find time for family dinners, or try new hobbies.
Perhaps you’ll still work in education, or apply your skills in a totally fresh industry.
Shifting focus to the good things coming your way gives hope room to breathe.
Remember, personal growth and happiness are not selfish.
They’re necessary, and they benefit everyone around you in the long run.
8. Remind Yourself of Your “Why”
Whenever guilt creeps in, go back to your reasons for wanting to leave.
Was it to reduce stress, protect your health, or finally pursue that long-delayed dream?
Write these down and keep them somewhere visible, like your phone wallpaper, a sticky note on your mirror, or a journal.
This serves as a daily reminder that your decision is rooted in self-respect, not weakness.
Your “why” is valid and powerful.
Revisit it whenever doubts or outside opinions make you second-guess yourself.
9. Consider What You CAN Still Do for Education
Just because you leave the classroom doesn’t mean you stop supporting education.
There are so many ways your passion and expertise can be put to use:
volunteer with literacy programs
mentor new teachers
join curriculum review boards
advocate for policy change
These roles keep you connected to the field you care about, but with more flexibility and sometimes less heartache.
Think of your teaching career as evolving, not ending, and finding new places to bloom.
10. Avoid the Comparison Trap
It’s tempting to look around and see colleagues sticking it out, seemingly handling everything you found overwhelming.
But remember, everyone’s carrying burdens you might not see.
Your journey is uniquely yours, and measuring your life against someone else’s is never fair or healthy.
Focus on your values, needs, and hopes instead of trying to measure up to an ideal.
Another’s decision to stay doesn’t invalidate your choice to go, and vice versa.
You’re both doing your best.
What Should I Do if I Don’t Want to Be a Teacher Anymore?
You’ve made up your mind. You’re going to take the leap and leave teaching.
But what’s the next step?
Charting your next steps can indeed seem overwhelming, but there’s a way forward.
Your teaching background is likely full of transferable skills, which make you uniquely qualified for a field like executive function coaching.
This growing field allows you to empower students just like you did in the classroom, as well as adults, equipping them with the tools and skills they need to improve their focus, time management, and organization.
Even better? You get to be in charge.
You can decide how many clients you take on, your work environment, and your own schedule.
If you’re not sure where to start or what to do next, we’ve got just the resource for you. Our Special Educator’s 10-Minute Transition Toolkit will help you chart a new path, translating your teaching experience into a rewarding new career.
Whatever you choose to do, remember that leaving teaching doesn’t erase the impact you’ve already had in your classroom.
It simply opens the door to new ways to serve and grow.
While the guilt may not vanish overnight, trust this: you’re making room for the life you deserve. And that matters more than anything else.
The Bottom Line
Here’s your quick guide for handling the guilt of leaving teaching:
Understand That Guilt Is Normal
Reframe Your Perspective
Talk to Fellow Teachers Who’ve Left
Write a Letter to Your Students
Seek Support from a Counselor or Coach
Reflect on Your Legacy
Focus on What’s Gained, Not Just Lost
Remind Yourself of Your Why
Consider What You Can Still Do for Education
Avoid the Comparison Trap
Hope this helps! 🤙🏻
This article is a part of the larger category of:
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About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and expanding my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.