69ý

Teaching Profession The State of Teaching

It’s ‘a Passion, It’s Not Just a Paycheck': Teachers’ Advice on Joining the Profession

The job can be a roller coaster, so learn to brace for those ups and downs, teachers advise
By Madeline Will, Elizabeth Heubeck, Ileana Najarro, Arianna Prothero & Sarah Schwartz — March 27, 2024 4 min read
Fourth grade students have fun interacting in a math class taught by Helen Chan at South Loop Elementary School on Nov. 15, 2023, in Chicago, Ill.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Teachers, on average, are not likely to recommend their profession to a loved one.

Just 21 percent of teachers say they are likely to advise their own children—or the children of close family members or friends—to pursue a career in K-12 teaching, according to EdWeek’s The State of Teaching survey, which drew from a nationally representative sample of nearly 1,500 teachers. Teachers say they work long hours for low pay and little public respect and that they’re expected to tackle a wide variety of student needs without adequate support.

But when Education Week reporters asked five teachers from across the country what they would say to someone who’s interested in becoming a teacher, they gave a more nuanced perspective of the job.

sot visual stamp words only words only for inline promo

New national data on the teaching profession, vivid reporting from classrooms, and resources to help support this essential profession.
Explore the Exclusive Report.

Yes, the job is time-consuming, challenging, and overwhelming at times, the teachers said. But it’s also rewarding, fulfilling, and interesting.

Read on for the teachers’ advice for those considering the profession. Their answers have been edited for length and clarity.

‘There’s going to be ups and downs’

“How do I explain this roller coaster in a way that highlights how wonderful it really is? I just feel like teaching gets such a bad rap. It’s so difficult in a lot of ways, and I feel like those difficulties are the main thing that people hear about. But it’s so beautiful in a lot of ways.

“Today I spent how much of my day laughing? These kids are goofballs. [It’s rewarding] even just having a conversation with them, getting to see who they are as individuals. And what I’m now starting to get to experience is, as they start to grow up a little bit, continuing to be a part of their lives. The way that they light up whenever they see you, because you hold a special memory for them, too. It makes it so, so, so worth it.

See also

Jacqueline Chaney ask her 2nd graders a question during class at New Town Elementary School in Owings Mills, Md., on Oct. 25, 2023.
Jacqueline Chaney ask her 2nd graders a question during class at New Town Elementary School in Owings Mills, Md., on Oct. 25, 2023.
Jaclyn Borowski/Education Week

“Anytime those lightbulbs go off, anytime they invest in the lessons that you’re putting together, it feels like you hit the lottery—literally. You feel like you’re making such a difference in the world.

“If I had advice, it’s just—be prepared for that roller coaster. There’s going to be ups and downs. You’re going to get frustrated. You’re going to get rip-roaring mad. Sometimes personal boundaries will be crossed, but for the most part, you’re going to have a really wonderful time, and you’re going to meet some of the best people that you could ever meet—[I’m] talking about the students, but also my colleagues.”

—Sofia Alvarez-Briglie, a 7th grade science teacher at Alcott Middle School in Norman, Okla.

‘Know when to stop working’

“Always try to tie in what you find interesting into your job. Everyone has a niche. Some people are very creative; some people like to do the arts. They want to tie in what is special to them; it’ll keep things interesting, motivating.

“This job is very taxing. It could really drain all your energy. It could be an around-the-clock job. It’s difficult for many teachers to separate personal and professional lives because we deeply care about our students. They are a part of us, and we want them to succeed. It’s important for new teachers to set boundaries for themselves and know when to stop working, a skill I am still honing.”

—Helen Chan, a 4th grade math teacher at South Loop Elementary School in Chicago

‘You can’t be a perfect teacher’

“I would say pursue it. But be aware of the many different flaws and difficulties that exist.

“Are you going to be able to financially support yourself? Is that something that you’re going to be able to do, given the restrictions that are placed [on salaries]?

“When teachers talk about having too much to do on their plate, it’s because there aren’t enough people paid to be in the profession. One teacher is asked to fulfill so many roles. We’re asked to be educators, certainly to plan curriculum, of course, to instruct students. But increasingly we’re also asked to be things like counselors, to be guards.

“Before last year, there was a state-mandated training, ... the same kind of training that Navy SEALs do. We had to learn how to stuff bullet hole wounds with gauze. The fact that I had to learn how to do that as a 7th grade and freshman and senior year English teacher is horrifying to me. It’s so strange. It’s surreal.

“Teaching offers the ability to work with kids, and the ability to have a positive impact on the world around you. But it comes with the politicization, the overwhelming pressure that I think teachers are under.

“It’s not for the control freak, it’s not for the perfectionist. You can’t be a perfect teacher. I don’t think that’s possible. You can be better than you were the day before. You can be better than where you were a year before. But it’s got to be something where you’re always trying to seek improvement, because there’s always areas for improvement to exist.”

—Frank Rivera, a middle and high school English/language arts teacher at Chaparral Star Academy in Austin, Texas

See also

Collage of a teacher, students, clocks, lockers, school buildings.
Collage by Lincoln Agnew for Education Week (Images: iStock/Getty)

‘It can be very rewarding to see that growth’

“You have to love it. It can be very overwhelming when you have behavior issues in the classroom, the amount of paperwork—you have to keep on going, and it is time consuming. You have to have the passion. But it can be very rewarding to see that growth. It doesn’t matter how many months—just to see that growth from one aspect of the kids to the other.”

—Griselle Rivera-Martinez, an English-for-speakers-of-other-languages teacher at Enterprise Elementary School in Enterprise, Fla.

‘Put the kids first’

“Do it for the right reasons. Make sure you have a love of young children. I put the kids first. They are someone’s sunshine. These are someone’s children. You have to be mindful of that.

“Teaching is a passion, it’s not just a paycheck. You can’t fake it. I love what I do. It’s more than just a job to me. I want to be the best. You have to commit to that.”

—Jacqueline Chaney, a 2nd grade teacher at New Town Elementary in Owings Mills, Md.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Artificial Intelligence Webinar
AI and Educational Leadership: Driving Innovation and Equity
Discover how to leverage AI to transform teaching, leadership, and administration. Network with experts and learn practical strategies.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School Climate & Safety Webinar
Investing in Success: Leading a Culture of Safety and Support
Content provided by 
Assessment K-12 Essentials Forum Making Competency-Based Learning a Reality
Join this free virtual event to hear from educators and experts working to implement competency-based education.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Teaching Profession Opinion Teacher Contracts Need to Change. And It’s Not Just About Money
If we want to retain effective teaches, we should increase teacher compensation—but we need to do it strategically.
Karen Hawley Miles & David Rosenberg
4 min read
Final Piece Of The Puzzle. Two people about to shake hands over trading a jigsaw puzzle piece needed for the solution.
iStock/Getty Images + Education Week
Teaching Profession The State of Teaching Teachers Say the Public Views Them Negatively
The perception coincides with teachers' low levels of job satisfaction.
2 min read
survey teachers static
via Canva
Teaching Profession Download Play Teacher TV Bingo and Spot All the Teacher Tropes
It's trope bingo; spot the common (and often annoying) mischaracterizations.
Image of bingo cards, a remote control, and a television.
via Canva
Teaching Profession Fictional Teachers on TV Can Skew Public Perception
Media tropes about teachers can give incoming educators and the public unrealistic expectations about the profession.
5 min read
Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, Quinta Brunson, and Tyler James Williams play teachers on the ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary.” Teachers say the show resonates with their experience.
Chris Perfetti, Lisa Ann Walter, Quinta Brunson, and Tyler James Williams play teachers on the ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary.” Teachers say the show resonates with their experience, but researchers say many other portrayals of teachers are flawed.
Gilles Mingasson/ABC