Staff shortages. Illness. Student behavior that is more challenging than ever. We all know the reasons why this has been one of the toughest teaching years ever—and now we’re seeing the consequences, in the form of educators quitting mid-year. No teacher wants to leave their students in the middle of the year, but with little support from administration and parents, many colleagues are left feeling like they have no choice.
Recently, there’s been a flood of #quittingteaching videos on TikTok, and users there are sharing the powerful reasons why they feel driven out. It’s a trend we have no choice but to pay attention to, or else students will return from Thanksgiving and winter break to empty classrooms. Unfortunately, it’s not a problem with easy solutions, either—teachers need more support, more planning time, more money, and all of that will only come with a serious reevaluation of schools.
Listen in as TikTok teachers share their stories:
“I have just been miserable”
@maddielovespotatoes Resigned from my teaching job #teachersoftiktok #quittingteaching #quitmyjob #formerteacher
“For years, my life, money, and time revolved around my students”
@findinghappiness14 Saying goodbye to teaching 💔 #teaching #teacherburnout #careerchange #education #fyp #iquit #quitteaching #quittingteaching #teachertok #teachers #teach #employeeappreciation #quittingstory #toxicworkplace #storytime #ThatCloseMessenger #IDeserveTuitionContest
“The problem was never the students”
@laathewmaanen My Last Day Teaching…10 Years Gone #thegreatresignation #teachertiktok #teacherburnout #floridateacher #highschoolteacher #teachertok #quityourjob
“I feel so guilty and like a failure”
@onestopspecialedshop I did it #teachersoftiktok #teacherburnout #quitting
“This is the most difficult decision I’ve ever made”
@teacherinreallife
“The thought of going in another day made me feel physically sick”
@kenyalebon1980 #teachersoftiktok #leavingteaching #whatsnext? #changeforthebetter #teacherlife
“I don’t even know where to start”
@vivaciousgee Year 5 and took me out. #iquitteaching #leavingteaching #teachersoftiktok #mymentalhealthmatters #gaslighting #123PandoraME #TakeTheDayOffChallenge
“We don’t get paid enough to live”
@summahgracetiktoks explaining part of my story. #storytime #fyp #leavingteaching #findyourhappy
“We had a lockdown every year”
@bethphilemon Reply to @danigiggs on #leavingteaching for a reason I don’t often discuss – I see you and encourage all to seek therapy on these experiences
“The stress is unbelievable”
@chgarrett #teacherquits #bekindtoteachers Note: I resigned before school started. Students were supportive of my choice #mentalhealthmatters
We’d love to hear—have you had teachers leave your school or district? Would you ever share your quitting story on TikTok? Please share in the comments.
Plus, meet four teachers whose resignation letters went viral.
I’ve watched and listened to the feelings these teachers have. I get it! These are the same feelings I had nearly 12 years ago when I walked out of my last job in high technology. The feelings of relief and finding out what I wanted to do when I ‘grew up’. I’m thankful/grateful everyday that I found teaching. It isn’t perfect, but for me it is SO MUCH better than what I did before. Perhaps the greatest gift I received switching careers is gaining the perspective of what another career looks like. I wish each and everyone of these teachers the best as they discover what it is that calls to them.