The Final Leap: Why I Stepped Away From the Classroom for Good

Every once in a while, I still see the incredulous faces. I still hear the questions, tinged with both curiosity and doubt: “What will you do?” “Why now?”

In 2024, when I shared that I would no longer be teaching in a brick-and-mortar building, no longer tethered to a single school or educational organization, the response wasn’t always celebratory. I wasn’t retiring or “taking a break.” I was choosing something different. Choosing to work for myself. To design my own path.

And while a few people cheered me on, most met me with concern. Or confusion. Maybe it was honest worry, or maybe it was a reflection of their own limits and fears. Still, almost a year later, the questions persist.

Why? How? Is this sustainable, especially now?

So today, I want to share that story. Because this wasn’t my first leap. But it was the one I knew would be my last.

The First Time I Walked Away

My first departure from the classroom wasn’t planned.

Although I had always said teaching would be one of many paths I’d walk, I didn’t expect to leave so soon. After an intense and eye-opening year teaching middle school special education in Massachusetts, I, along with most of the staff, was laid off. As a newer hire, I was one of many.

Though considered highly qualified, I didn’t return when the next school year rolled around. Instead, I embraced a slower pace of life. My toddler and I spent long mornings together, took afternoon walks, and visited the local coffee shop for playdates.

I still treasure that season.

It also allowed me to spend time with my late mother, to travel, and to develop a personal budgeting and organizational system that I still use today. It was a sacred pause, one I didn’t know I needed.

The Second Leap

Later, unsure if I wanted to return to full-time teaching, I signed up to be a substitute teacher. I ended up in a long-term position at an expeditionary learning middle school, teaching English and supporting student advisory. I loved much of the work, especially planning off-campus learning like a solar farm visit and a Saturday hip-hop conference at a local college.

But it was also a time of grief and disconnection. My mother had passed away, and I felt unmoored. So I left again, this time intentionally. We moved to Kentucky. My son was just three. We sold or donated nearly everything, packed what mattered into storage, and drove fifteen hours in our tiny two-door Acura.

It was 2008. The economy was shaky. It wasn’t the most logical time to leave a stable career. But I knew it was the right time for me.

Over the next two years, I supported us through in-person tutoring, freelance writing, and volunteer work. Money was tight, but life was full. We spent weekends exploring museums, libraries, festivals, and community events. I eventually went back to school and earned my MFA, which allowed me to travel the world - Italy, Ireland, Argentina, even Paris.

Though I returned to the classroom later, I’ve never forgotten that window of possibility and creativity.

The Final Return

When I eventually returned to public education, it was a meaningful and sustained chapter, nearly a decade long. In total, I’ve spent over 20 years teaching and leading in public schools. I am deeply proud of that time.

I’ve guided students to excel. I’ve supported families and mentored educators. I know my strengths. I know my impact.

And yet, even during the high points, I never stopped thinking fondly of the times when I stepped away. The moments when I felt most expansive, most creative, most fully myself.

The Final Leap

So in 2024, I leapt again - this time for the last time. I wasn’t running away. I wasn’t burnt out. I was simply ready to build something that reflected who I’ve become.

Now, I write. I tutor. I design curriculum. I consult with organizations. I support educators and families in ways that feel grounded, purposeful, and aligned. My work is still rooted in education, but no longer confined by its institutions.

And yes, this path is sustainable. Because it’s built on a foundation of clarity, creativity, and conviction.

For Anyone Wondering...

If you’ve ever thought about stepping away, know that you’re not alone. And that your skills, your wisdom, and your heart have value beyond the walls of a classroom.

Teaching was never my only path. It was one of many. And I’m grateful I had the courage to honor what came next.

What’s Next

Our next adventure may take us to Mexico!

In the next six months, my family and I will embrace a truly nomadic lifestyle.

Passports are in the mail. Bags are being packed - physically and metaphorically.

We’re charting a new course, one built around connection, curiosity, and courage. We’re redefining what success looks like, reimagining how we live, work, and learn, making the world our classroom.

If you want to follow along with our journey, learn more about our next move, or explore how we’re creating a life of intention and adventure, click here.