First-year teacher lands last-minute job as an NYC elementary school gym teacher one month before the new semester, instantly regrets it: ‘I'm responsible for 2 classes in the gym at once, including 2 special education classes together…’

It is not an easy job market out there currently. Everyone is desperate for a job and is taking whatever they can get. We all hope that doesn't have to come at the cost of our mental health, but some of us aren't always so lucky. 

This first-year teacher was full of enthusiasm and excitement to start getting experience in the world of education. They applied and applied, but did not actually get offered anything until a month before the start of the new school year. Of course, they jumped at the opportunity and became the new PE teacher for an NYC elementary school.

However, they did not realize the magnitude of everything they were going to be responsible for. They not only have their teaching duties, but they also have to commute over two hours every single day, there and back. Plus, they were given a teaching plan that included having to handle two classes at once. If you have ever been to public school, that means usually almost 30 kids per class; that's almost 60 kids this individual was left to care for. 
 

It's already difficult enough to have to care for yourself and your family, so now imagine amplifying those duties up 200%! No wonder most teachers are so burnt out. Now this teacher is writing to like-minded individuals online to figure out what to do or if they simply have to tough it out. Is there a light at the end of this exhausting tunnel?

I was the kind of student who was always getting in trouble. I think back about all the grief I caused all of my teachers, and I cringe. I truly was a rambunctious one. I had some teachers who really fought for me and guided me as best as they could, but I spent most of my time in detention or wandering the halls after being sent to the principal's office. (Seriously, who actually went to the principal's office when they were sent on their own to go?)

It's not easy out there for our undervalued teachers. The least we can do is support them in any way we can. If that means hyping them up in the comments of their Reddit rants and giving the best advice we can, then so be it! 

School just started, and I already want to quit as a first-year teacher.

^{Story / StraightCook4181}

I’m a first-year elementary PE teacher who accepted my position about a month before school started. I knew the first year would be difficult, but I didn’t expect to feel this overwhelmed so quickly.
I teach K–5 and have 17 different classes, including ICT, self-contained, and other special education classes. Each period is 50 minutes long. Some groups see me once or twice a week, while others see me three times. I’m also sometimes responsible for two classes in the gym at once, including two special education classes together.

I used to nanny one kid, and that was already enough for me! I cannot imagine two whole classes…

The younger grades, combined special education classes, and combined general education classes have been particularly challenging. The students have short attention spans, some struggle significantly with following directions, and I often feel like I spend most of the period redirecting behavior or trying to fill the entire 50 minutes. A few classes have gone well, especially once I established assigned spots, rules, and routines. Other classes have left me feeling as though I had no control at all.

When do our teachers get time to themselves? Sure, it was always weird bumping into a teacher outside of the school, but as we got older, we realized they were just people like you and me. Heck, some are fresh out of college and only 22 years old! 

Planning is also taking over my life. I come home physically and mentally exhausted, but I’m afraid to stop working because I worry that being underprepared will make the following day even worse. I purchased a PE curriculum to reduce my workload, but I still have to adapt everything for my space, class lengths, grade levels, and students’ different needs. The work never feels finished.

Teaching shouldn't be like parenting, where the job is never done. They have hours of operation and should be able to live their own life after school hours. 

On top of that, the commute is exhausting. It takes about an hour to get to school if I leave early enough, but the drive home regularly takes more than two hours. I realize that accepting a job with such a long commute may not have been the best decision. However, the position came up at the last minute, and I was hopeful that the experience would help me grow and become a better teacher.

tk

I’ve experienced severe stress and sleep problems during previous teaching placements, so I’m worried that this may be more than a normal first-year adjustment. I also have a history of *uicide and stuff in that nature… So, that history makes me concerned about what could happen if I continue pushing myself until I completely burn out.

Teaching is a bold and courageous career path. It's most definitely not for the faint of heart. 

At the same time, I have barely started. I don’t want to make a permanent career decision based solely on the most difficult opening weeks of my first year. I’m also afraid of the professional consequences of resigning this early. I’ve heard that leaving without sufficient notice could affect my teaching certificate or place a flag in my personnel file, but I don’t know whether that would actually prevent me from working at another school in the future. I also know that resigning would bring criticism from some family members and friends. However, they aren’t the ones living with the commute, workload, and stress every day.

Even PE teachers are having a rough go and the education system. 

For experienced teachers, especially PE or NYC teachers:
Does this sound like a normal first-year adjustment, or does the position itself sound unsustainable?
How long did it take before classroom management and planning became more manageable?
Is this a reasonable teaching load for one PE teacher?
Would you request schedule changes or take a leave first, or would you seriously consider resigning?
Has anyone resigned early in the school year and later found another teaching position?
How did you determine whether teaching wasn’t right for you or whether you were simply in the wrong school or position?
I would appreciate honest perspectives. I don’t expect every lesson to be perfect. I just want to be able to teach safely and effectively without sacrificing my entire life and mental health.