The 5 Signs It’s Time to Leave the Classroom (And How to Exit with Clarity, Not Chaos)

A few years ago, I found myself sitting in the teacher’s lounge, staring into my third cup of coffee like it owed me answers.

My body was clocked in. My smile was glued on. My lesson plans were tight.

But my soul? Checked all the way out.

I used to love teaching. But somewhere along the way, the fire fizzled—and Sunday nights started feeling heavier than Monday mornings.

Sound familiar?

This newsletter is for every educator who’s been silently asking, “Is it just me?” Spoiler alert: It’s not just you. And no, you're not crazy, ungrateful, or failing. You’re evolving.

The 5 Signs It’s Time to Leave the Classroom

Let’s skip the fluff and get real. Here are five signs you may have outgrown teaching (and what they really mean):

1. You’re Emotionally Checked Out

You’re doing the job… but you’re disconnected. The passion’s faded and no amount of PD or Pinterest boards can fix it.

2. Your Sunday Scaries Are Chronic

It’s not end-of-quarter stress. It’s every week. You feel heavy. Dread is your new co-teacher.

3. You Fantasize About Other Careers

Not just “bad day” thoughts—but repeated daydreams about writing, starting a business, consulting, or doing anything else.

4. Your Body Is Giving You Signs

You’re tired—even after breaks. You're sick more often. You’re emotionally fried. Your nervous system is waving red flags.

5. You’re Already Building Something Else

Whether it’s tutoring on the side, running a small biz, or bingeing YouTube videos on entrepreneurship—you’ve quietly started crafting a Plan B.

• Grabbing the Exit Checklist

• Watching the YouTube Resource Breakdown

• Launching one tiny test that fits you

You don’t need certainty. You need evidence.

Reality Check: You’re Not Alone

Let’s pause for a fact moment—because your gut feelings are backed by data.

That means nearly half of your teacher friends are probably side-eyeing Indeed listings and Googling “how to start a business with no money” during planning period.

So if you’ve been thinking:

• “Is it just me?”

• “Am I being unrealistic?”

• “Why can’t I just be happy with what I have?”

You’re not alone. You’re part of a quiet—but growing—movement of educators ready for more.

And now? You’ve got a roadmap.

The Exit Sign Isn’t a Failure—It’s a Frontier

Let’s unpack the signs that you’re outgrowing the classroom—and what to do about it.

Emotional Clues You’re Out of Alignment:

• You’re drained before the day even starts.

• Praise and promotions don’t feel exciting anymore.

• You fantasize about snow days... in June.

Logical Clues Too:

• You’ve maxed out your salary step increases, but your bills didn’t get the memo.

• You’re craving autonomy and impact beyond your classroom walls.

• You already have a skill (writing, coaching, project management) you could monetize.

Your First Step: Exit Planning 101

Before you slide your resignation letter across the desk and shout “I’M OUTTA HERE” like it’s a movie climax—pause. Take a breath. You don’t need drama. You need a strategy.

This isn’t about quitting.
It’s about transitioning with purpose—so you land softer, build smarter, and never look back wondering what if?

Let’s break it down.

Step 2: Assess Your Transferable Skills

Here’s where we flip the script.

You’re not “just a teacher.” You’re:

• A curriculum architect → hello, instructional design or course creation.

• A behavioral strategist → think coaching, consulting, HR.

• A project manager → field trips, IEP meetings, and assemblies? That’s coordination gold.

• A public speaker → yep, that classroom mic translates to TEDx stages and client pitches.

This isn’t reinvention. It’s redirection.

Make a list. Talk to a friend. Ask ChatGPT (I gotchu). You have way more value in your toolkit than you think.

Step 3: Grab the Free Exit Strategy Checklist

This isn’t just a checklist—it’s a full-blown exit plan starter kit designed to help you walk out of the classroom with purpose, not panic.

Here’s what’s inside:

• Emotional Check-Ins
  Are you just tired… or truly done? Let’s figure it out—with journal prompts that don’t require a therapy license to use.

• Financial Prep
  Run the numbers. Plug the leaks. Start stacking your freedom fund.

• Business Idea Starters
  Not sure what’s next? I’ve got a brainstorm bank full of ideas tailor-made for teacher talents.

• Vision Planning (with Canva!)
  See your future—literally. This mini vision board exercise helps you clarify the life you’re building after the classroom.

• Google Doc Templates
  From resignation drafts to goal planners—you’ll get plug-and-play tools to take action today.

👉 Download “What to Do Before Leaving the Classroom” (Free Checklist)

Step 4: Watch the Real Talk Walkthrough

In this week’s YouTube video, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing the exact exit resources that helped me leave the classroom and launch a new chapter with confidence.

You'll learn:

• How to mentally and financially prep for your transition

• The tools I used to organize my next steps

• Ways to build a bridge (not a bonfire) on your way out

Whether you're still on the fence or halfway out the door, this video is your go-to starting point.

👉 Watch: Teacher Exit Resources (YouTube)

Real-World Experiments: The “Try It Before You Quit It” Method

Here’s the thing—most teachers don’t just wake up and quit with no plan. (Okay… some do. But that’s another newsletter.) Most of us tiptoe toward the door while quietly testing out “what’s next.”

So today, let me introduce you to a few of my friends who turned tiny experiments into real exits:

Jasmine: The Curriculum Writer Who Cashed In on Summer

Jasmine was the kind of ELA teacher who could whip up a novel unit faster than most people can microwave leftovers. But she was tired. Tired of the testing culture. Tired of 60-hour weeks. Tired of feeling stuck.

Instead of walking out cold turkey, she launched a little experiment:
Could she freelance curriculum on the side and actually make money?

Over the summer, she applied to a few content writing platforms, messaged some ed-tech folks on LinkedIn, and gave herself one month to see what would happen. What happened? Over $2,100 in freelance work. She realized she didn’t just like curriculum work—she was good at it. So she stayed one more semester to stack some savings and walked away from the classroom with a client waitlist already buzzing.

Mark: The Behavior Pro Turned Parent Coach

Mark worked in special ed and was a master at calming chaos. He loved helping kids, but the paperwork, admin pressure, and burnout were adding up fast.

He asked himself:
What if I offered a coaching program for parents who need help managing behavior at home?

So he reached out to five families he’d worked with over the years and offered a free 6-week beta program. He coached them on Zoom, used Canva for visuals, and kept everything super simple. Not only did the families love it, but three of them referred him to others. He used the testimonials to create a basic website and started building a brand—while still working part-time in education to keep things stable.

Tasha: The Blogger Who Turned Words Into Work

Tasha taught science, but her heart was slowly drifting into something more creative. She started writing blog posts—once a week—about how to make science fun for middle schoolers. She didn’t think anyone would really read them.

But teachers in Facebook groups started sharing them. Then homeschool moms. Then one of her posts got picked up by an edtech newsletter. And then… she got an email from a company asking if she’d write for their blog—for actual money.

She now writes part-time, runs a growing Substack with 1,000+ subscribers, and has plans to turn it into a digital product shop.

These stories aren’t unicorn moments. They’re proof that small experiments create big exits.

So if you're sitting there wondering, “Could I really do this?”—the answer is yes. But don’t start by quitting. Start by testing.

Start by:

You’re Not Behind. You’re Becoming.

If no one has told you lately: you’re allowed to outgrow the classroom.

You’re allowed to want rest and ambition.
Structure and freedom.
A steady paycheck and a soul that’s lit up again.

This isn’t about abandoning your purpose—it’s about redefining it.

So whether you’re scribbling ideas in your planner, downloading the checklist, or just quietly sitting with the “What if?”—you’re doing the work. And I’m proud of you.

Let’s keep building your exit strategy with intention, not impulse.

Talk soon,