After 17 years of teaching at the secondary level, I've come to a point to where it is unreasonable to press on. Up until this year, I've been able to teach and faciliate most of my students in the classroom without much discipline concerns and I find it rewarding in seeing students succeed. Unfortunately, restorative discipline has won its way into an overwhelming amount of school districts these days. I find myself losing a battle to most other teachers who let their students control their classroom.

I have about 8 years left in education to retire, but at this point I'm willing to venture outside the classroom. Prior to education, I worked in a QA lab doing beverage, water, and raw material testing for 3 years and I also have 3 years experience in a medical genetics lab. My degree is in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I live in the Austin area and I'm open to most types of opportunities including travel.

Any suggestions or information will be much appreciated.

Email texas.aggie.94@hotmail.com

Thank You

With 8 years to TRS, I'd try and suck it up. Change subjects, change campuses, change districts or even change grade level. Probably not what you wanted to hear but that's just my 2 cents.

If you work for the county or city, their retirement systems are sister systems of TRS. So, you'd walk in already vested. Something to think about.

Zooguy,

Thank you for the information you provided. I will continue to check back on the Austin city and Travis county job websites. It's good to know my years of service are transferable with the county or city. I would not mind working for a rural school district but that would require a cut in salary. I'm definiitely keeping my options open. Thanks again and enjoy your time off.

This sounds like a tough spot to be in. I don't have any specific advice for you but I'm sending you positive energy to find an opportunity that excites your spirit again. Good luck! Thoughts become things, remember that on your quest.

Thanks! I'm going to be optimistic and I know the man above will be helping me work through this challenging time,

Kinda weird random $.02.

Really long semi complicated story short, met some guys for a client that we were doing a project for that we're teachers/coaches that quit and became plant operators, that literally doubled their earnings and have better benefits. Downside is it is sort of shift work, and you will occasionally work nights, weekends, etc. but they seemed really happy with their decision.

That may mean a relocation, but the areas you'd be relocating to typically have a lower cost of living. Many potential opportunities south of Houston, you could live in Pearland and have a 30 min commute south. All of those companies are going to be throwing money everywhere as long as their feedstock products stay cheap, most come out of natural gas, which is going to stay cheap for a long time. They're spending billions building / upgrading plants, and hundreds of millions building and upgrading facilities for their workers to be competitive with the modern workforce.

You need to apply at Analab in Kilgore. They are a water testing lab and were started by an Aggie. Good luck.
https://www.ana-lab.com/

With 17 years in, and 8 left to retirement, I'd try to hang in there and make retirement. Even if it is not a full 100% salary at that point, it is income, and gives you options for what you want to do next. You get better time off than other jobs, so there is that too.

schwertnerag said:

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After 17 years of teaching at the secondary level, I've come to a point to where it is unreasonable to press on. Up until this year, I've been able to teach and faciliate most of my students in the classroom without much discipline concerns and I find it rewarding in seeing students succeed. Unfortunately, restorative discipline has won its way into an overwhelming amount of school districts these days. I find myself losing a battle to most other teachers who let their students control their classroom.

I have about 8 years left in education to retire, but at this point I'm willing to venture outside the classroom. Prior to education, I worked in a QA lab doing beverage, water, and raw material testing for 3 years and I also have 3 years experience in a medical genetics lab. My degree is in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I live in the Austin area and I'm open to most types of opportunities including travel.

Any suggestions or information will be much appreciated.

Email texas.aggie.94@hotmail.com

Thank You

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I would recommend you look into counseling. It would require going to school, but would get you out of the classroom, and into a role where you can really help aim some kids in the right direction.

My sister-in-law went from administrative assistant to teacher a couple years ago with this in mind. She is in a program at DBU now and when she completes it, should be able to move into the counseling role at a higher salary and better retirement outlook.

Aren't most/all of the public TX colleges/universities in the TRS system? I know I was looking at a couple of positions with various Universities and the new job would have just added to my TRS $ and years of service.

Since you are in the Austin area, it might be worth it to check out what is available at t.u. or other Austin area colleges.

As was already mentioned, you could also just move to a different district or even into an administration job at a district for the last 8 years.

Just wanted to let y'all know how much I appreicate your support. I normally just read through posts on Texags and have never reached out in a need advice role. I must say it feels so good to be blessed to be backed by alumni who know what it is to be true to their beliefs. Thanks again!

Stephen '94

schwertnerag said:

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Zooguy,
I would not mind working for a rural school district but that would require a cut in salary.

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My wife works for a rural school district. Discipline is no better. Parents are no better. Admin is no better. She is also looking to get out after 25 years.

Best of luck with your career change.

I would really think long and hard about what your about to trade off. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. What skills do you have or can learn that are in high demand? How much are you willing to travel? And are you willing to continue working at a high travel job for 8+ years?

Things to consider: Can you in 8 years match the retirement you'd get with 25 years of vested service teaching? The retirement you are forgoing would make you need to be an a high high salary to cover it in just 8 years. A million dollars invested will safely throw off 40-45k a year.

Counseling is a great second career, but you've got to really love it. It's getting saturated with the expanse of masters level clinicians and price depression is real. It'll be 2-3 years of schooling, and then tough sledding of 2-3 years building a client network or only getting paid 40% of the billed rate as you work for someone else.

Learning to code or becoming an operator at a refinery is your best bets in increasing your salary immediately. Everything else I would recommend going to school while also teaching. Do part time counseling in the evenings for extra cash and then leave teaching when you're fully vested.

one MEEN Ag said:

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Best of luck with your career change.

I would really think long and hard about what your about to trade off. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. What skills do you have or can learn that are in high demand? How much are you willing to travel? And are you willing to continue working at a high travel job for 8+ years?

Things to consider: Can you in 8 years match the retirement you'd get with 25 years of vested service teaching? The retirement you are forgoing would make you need to be an a high high salary to cover it in just 8 years. A million dollars invested will safely throw off 40-45k a year.

Counseling is a great second career, but you've got to really love it. It's getting saturated with the expanse of masters level clinicians and price depression is real. It'll be 2-3 years of schooling, and then tough sledding of 2-3 years building a client network or only getting paid 40% of the billed rate as you work for someone else.

Learning to code or becoming an operator at a refinery is your best bets in increasing your salary immediately. Everything else I would recommend going to school while also teaching. Do part time counseling in the evenings for extra cash and then leave teaching when you're fully vested.

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Howdy Meen--Clarification if you are referring to the counseling I suggested.

I was specifically referring to school counseling which is still within the TRS system (my understanding). It would not require building up clientele or be too far outside the background and experience of OP. It would require some additional schooling/education, and there is a cost to that, and certainly time investment. It would give a better quality of life though vs the current teaching role.

ravingfans said:

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one MEEN Ag said:

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Best of luck with your career change.

I would really think long and hard about what your about to trade off. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. What skills do you have or can learn that are in high demand? How much are you willing to travel? And are you willing to continue working at a high travel job for 8+ years?

Things to consider: Can you in 8 years match the retirement you'd get with 25 years of vested service teaching? The retirement you are forgoing would make you need to be an a high high salary to cover it in just 8 years. A million dollars invested will safely throw off 40-45k a year.

Counseling is a great second career, but you've got to really love it. It's getting saturated with the expanse of masters level clinicians and price depression is real. It'll be 2-3 years of schooling, and then tough sledding of 2-3 years building a client network or only getting paid 40% of the billed rate as you work for someone else.

Learning to code or becoming an operator at a refinery is your best bets in increasing your salary immediately. Everything else I would recommend going to school while also teaching. Do part time counseling in the evenings for extra cash and then leave teaching when you're fully vested.

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Howdy Meen--Clarification if you are referring to the counseling I suggested.

I was specifically referring to school counseling which is still within the TRS system (my understanding). It would not require building up clientele or be too far outside the background and experience of OP. It would require some additional schooling/education, and there is a cost to that, and certainly time investment. It would give a better quality of life though vs the current teaching role.

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Gotcha. My wife is a therapist, and so I've been exposed to a lot of it over the years. There are a ton of people who get halfway through a career and say its time for a change and decide to become counselors. Lots of former teachers.

One of the hidden benefits is that clients, in general, like their therapist to be the same life experience as them. If you're young, a majority of your clientele will also be young and tell you- they like you because you can relate to them. Middle age folks can be rubbed the wrong way by being seen by a young person. They'll self select to their life stage. Really easy to do on PsychologyToday.com since it's all short bios and pictures.

So someone who is 40 can really differentiate themselves in the market just by being older than the current wave of young therapists getting pumped out of schools.

one MEEN Ag said:

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ravingfans said:

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one MEEN Ag said:

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Best of luck with your career change.

I would really think long and hard about what your about to trade off. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. What skills do you have or can learn that are in high demand? How much are you willing to travel? And are you willing to continue working at a high travel job for 8+ years?

Things to consider: Can you in 8 years match the retirement you'd get with 25 years of vested service teaching? The retirement you are forgoing would make you need to be an a high high salary to cover it in just 8 years. A million dollars invested will safely throw off 40-45k a year.

Counseling is a great second career, but you've got to really love it. It's getting saturated with the expanse of masters level clinicians and price depression is real. It'll be 2-3 years of schooling, and then tough sledding of 2-3 years building a client network or only getting paid 40% of the billed rate as you work for someone else.

Learning to code or becoming an operator at a refinery is your best bets in increasing your salary immediately. Everything else I would recommend going to school while also teaching. Do part time counseling in the evenings for extra cash and then leave teaching when you're fully vested.

---

Howdy Meen--Clarification if you are referring to the counseling I suggested.

I was specifically referring to school counseling which is still within the TRS system (my understanding). It would not require building up clientele or be too far outside the background and experience of OP. It would require some additional schooling/education, and there is a cost to that, and certainly time investment. It would give a better quality of life though vs the current teaching role.

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Gotcha. My wife is a therapist, and so I've been exposed to a lot of it over the years. There are a ton of people who get halfway through a career and say its time for a change and decide to become counselors. Lots of former teachers.

One of the hidden benefits is that clients, in general, like their therapist to be the same life experience as them. If you're young, a majority of your clientele will also be young and tell you- they like you because you can relate to them. Middle age folks can be rubbed the wrong way by being seen by a young person. They'll self select to their life stage. Really easy to do on PsychologyToday.com since it's all short bios and pictures.

So someone who is 40 can really differentiate themselves in the market just by being older than the current wave of young therapists getting pumped out of schools.

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Makes sense

OP, if you want to consider the school counseling route, PM me and I will get you in touch with my Sis-In-Law. She can help you understand her experience.

As others suggested, consider changing school districts. I've got two aunts who worked for a long time in a rural district and then for their last 3 years, they went to a district that paid more money. The money grab was only part of it, one of them I talked to said there was no way she could make it through her last 3 years in the district she was teaching in. Too much drama.

HollywoodBQ said:

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As others suggested, consider changing school districts. I've got two aunts who worked for a long time in a rural district and then for their last 3 years, they went to a district that paid more money. The money grab was only part of it, one of them I talked to said there was no way she could make it through her last 3 years in the district she was teaching in. Too much drama.

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Semi-related to that, TRS looks at your highest paid years to calculate out your retirement. So, if all you are worried about is your retirement and can afford to make a little less for a better environment, bank the 5 highest paid years you have already made and go somewhere else for the years of service.

I know someone who was a General Manager of one of the operations depts who made 6 figures. She decided to take a lesser position elsewhere within the district and it didn't impact her retirement. She essentially coasted for the last few years and then retired based off the 6 figures.

I took up teaching as a post-retirement second career and enjoyed every minute of it .....in a community college. Sampled HS first as a temp and quickly determined not for me for reasons you describe. Look into a community college, ; does require at least an MA/MS with 18 hours in the teaching field but still covered by TRS or ORP. I taught in a rural CC; best mannered students in the world.

_lefraud_ said:

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With 8 years to TRS, I'd try and suck it up. Change subjects, change campuses, change districts or even change grade level. Probably not what you wanted to hear but that's just my 2 cents.

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pension for life for 8 more years? Yes suck it up and finish it. Maybe do a side gig that leads to your eventual transition out. Consider possibly buying a few years if you absolutely hate it.

zooguy96 said:

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Teachers pension sucks. I think my mom gets like $1,800 a month for having put in 20 years.

Hell, I'll get more than that for 8 years combined city and county retirement.

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depends on the state. For example, in Missouri, a teacher with 30 years in gets 75 percent of her salary for life.

The TRS multiplier is 2.3.

Years of service x .023 x (top _ average salary)

Being tier 1 is top 3 average salary. I'm tier 2 so I'll be top 5 average.

This thread interests me. I'm a football coach, I love that part of it. Not a huge fan of anything else I have to do. I often grapple internally with the prospect of getting out. My wife is self employed and her schedule follows a school calendar too. So it's hard to quantify the amount of family time I get during the holidays is worth.

zooguy96 said:

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The problem here in Tennessee is that our average starting salary sucks. The state minimum is $30,000. The multiplier is even less than Texas'. So, you're never even going to make $60,000 a year without a Doctorate and 35-40 years of service.

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That does suck.

You can't get a pretty sweet pension in Texas if you become an administrator. I have no, and I mean absolutely no compulsion to be an administrator. My current plan is to possibly go coach football in a major metro area once my kids are grown to help boost that top 5 average.

I also have rental properties on the side and am working on my real estate license to side gig as well.

Look for a state job that matches your background. You should be able to transfer your TRS service years to ERS.

You would probably enjoy working in the field of change management. also consider connecting with Former Student Career Services fscshelp@tamu.edu