Possible Career Change - Advice Needed

[Charles Fout]

Good evening, everyone,
I have been teaching full time in NJ for the past 17 years.  Sadly, it is no longer teaching for many reasons.  It’s actually very sad what public school education has been turned into.  It’s a huge disservice to teachers who want to actually teach and ultimately a huge disservice to the students.

With that being sad, I really need to make a move into a career change.  Since I have 17 years of teaching, I am at the top of the pay scale making very close to $100,000 (not that I see anywhere near that amount due to useless union fees, $900 a month medical benefits deduction, pension, and of course taxes).

All I have known is teaching.  I love interacting with people and helping them.   I have a masters but it is in a teaching speciality so that won’t really help in regards to a career change.  

Does anyone know or can offer any ideas as to a career I can try to move into where I am making close to $100k a year and offers family medical health benefits?  Side note - I am the sole provider of my family.  My home isn’t big so I can’t downsize and make any money on it.  

I don’t think I would be good in sales due to the risk of not  having a salary come in to feed and provide for my family.  Also, I am descent with technology but don’t have the brain for coding (I am a very black/white, concrete sequential thinker).

Any ideas or suggestions I would appreciate.  Thanks in advance!



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Again, I return to my stock advice. Which is to Network! Network! Network!
Surely after seventeen years in the field, you have mentors and senior colleagues who have left the field for retirement and other reasons. If you have not already, I recommend discussing your career change plans with them. Many things to consider:
Are you vested in your retirement plan?
What will you lose by exiting the system Now (healthcare, 401K-like mechanism, etc.)?
I believe there is not one of us who is irreplaceable but, do ask yourself -are you making a difference in your students' future? I would think this is the most rewarding part of being a teacher.
I assume you became a teacher shortly after No Child Left Behind was implemented. How well do you students perform on standardized exams? Do you think that is a fair metric?
Are there opportunities within the schools (administrator, such as principal, Vice principal, counselor, etc.)

Wishing you the best with your vocational exploration.