The End of the Regular Ed. Years!

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." — Seneca

June 9th, 2026, was the last day of my last year as a regular education teacher. I have been a teacher in either Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, or 4th grade for the last 27 years. I'm not going to lie, the last ten years have been rough. The last 6 years have been even harder. Early in this school year (2025-2026), I was so "beat down," "distraught," whatever one may call extremely overwhelmed, that I actually made an appointment with HR to discuss the possibility of retirement. I also spoke with my financial advisor, and he said, "Dawn, give it two more years, then retire and start everything, including SS." The meeting with HR was also disappointing, so I knew I must carry on. 

I spoke with my principal and asked her to let me know if ANYTHING opened up. Please let me know. "Anything" meaning NOT in the regular ed classroom. I asked about being a reading interventionist, but we don't have that position at my school.  I racked my brain trying to come up with an alternative. I needed to stay with the State b/c of retirement, benefits, etc. One evening after one of our school events, my principal asked me: if the ELA teacher position became available, would I want it? My immediate response was an enthusiastic, "YES!" She asked me not to tell anyone until she figured it all out. I kept my fingers crossed and prayed for several weeks. I did get the ELA position! The current ELA teacher and I are switching places. She will teach 2nd grade, and I will become the ELA teacher for Spanish immersion students in grades 2-5. 

I am excited about the change. I am actually looking forward to teaching again. I realize this position will have its own challenges, but I need a change to continue teaching for two more years. Who knows? I might like it so much that I will keep teaching beyond the two years. 

When I think back on my last 27 years of teaching, I have so many positive experiences that far outweigh the "roughest years." I started teaching as a 21-year-old college graduate (1984) with a BS degree in Elementary Education. I was only 11 years older than some of my students. Nine years later, I earned my Master's Degree in Gifted Education, while married with 2 young children and pregnant with the third. I have met some incredible educators. I have made some lifelong friends while on this journey--other teachers, parents, principals, even students who are now adults with children of their own. Some of my students are now teachers themselves. My own daughter is now a teacher. As a child, when asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" My answer was always the same. "I want to be a teacher." 

Unfortunately, the last 6 years have taken the joy of being a teacher from me. I can't say it was "one thing" that did it. It was many things: administrators I didn't jive with, completely unhinged students, parents who think they are entitled to "everything," disrespect, expectations from the county and state that are, quite frankly, ridiculous. The enormous amount of planning, paperwork, "do this and then do that on top of you must teach these kids, make sure they grow exponentially," and pass "that test," even though you know many never will pass the test. The stress became too much for me. My anxiety over it all caused physical problems as well as mental ones. I still did my job, and I did it well, but at what cost, and where and when does one draw the proverbial line? I thought to myself, "I want the joy back!" If I'm to continue teaching, I NEED a change. I want to love what I do. I want to be a "light" for these young people. I feel like this new opportunity will do just that. I'm taking the risk and jumping in. 

Even though these last several years have been my absolute hardest, I know the years were not wasted...not for me and not for my students. The last 27 years have prepared me for the "next chapter." I feel like I am now bringing wisdom, years of growth, and a great deal of experience into this new adventure. I will take the lessons I've learned into this next classroom. My many years in this profession have given me strength, resilience, patience, and confidence as foundational building blocks that will guide me into this new opportunity or fresh start, if you will, of my educational career. Kind of a new spark for myself and my new students. 

The goal of an educator, after all, should not be to force-feed information, but to ignite a student's natural curiosity, passion, and lifelong love of learning. This is what I hope to do as my teaching career goes into its final years. 

Here's to fresh career starts and new chapters. Onward!

D~