Last year, school was dismissed an hour sooner to give them the extra prep time for those accommodations. The burnout is real for many.

She also has who is likely the most difficult student in her 13 years of teaching this year who has nearly no support at home, was ghosted for their parent conference, and she has very little support from her first-year principal who is also trying to keep her own head above water.

Somehow she stays incredibly positive. I've worked hard to have us in a position where her income isn't needed, but she truly loves her students and working with the kids.

Yes, the long-term benefit of a pension and the subsidized health insurance is nice, but the short- term, up-front part of it isn't so glamorous and that long-term perspective isn't easy to maintain after a few years. This is why greater than 50% of teachers leave within their first 5 years.