Help with career decisions

I’m considering leaving teaching, or possibly request teaching part time. In addition to the myriad of reasons other teachers are leaving, I also have a neurological condition (complex migraine and possibly functional neurological disorder) and a mental illness (bipolar 1)that make some of the basic duties of teaching very difficult. I have managed to be successful in the classroom even though these health issues, and have glowing evaluations and a good reputation in the community. However, I’m frequently absent (went over my leave days by a week) and sometimes have difficulty with speech, walking, my vision, mood and energy shifts, and fatigue and weakness even after treatment. Loud noise, stress, and bright lights, and computer screens are all triggers but seem unavoidable in a school setting. It’s hard to teach when I’m constantly forgetting words mid lecture or suddenly have slowed speech or trouble walking and balancing. Kids will ask “why are you talking like that?” or “what happened to your legs?” If I have to walk with a cane for a few days. I’m in my 30s so they don’t get why a young person has problems like an older person. I have been offered a job in auto retail that will likely lead to a management position in 9-12 months. For now though I’d take a pay cut from $42,000 as a teacher with 7 years experience to 28,000. I can make 50,000+ as a manager, but not until I have experience with the company. I’m not sure if I should take the job, or speak with admin about teaching part time. I’m not sure if this is possible, but since I teach an elective in an elementary school it might work. If I only taught and had a planning period with no morning or afternoon duties I might be able to reduce my workload some and have more time to rest and slow flare ups of symptoms. For context, I live in a rural area with very few job opportunities and low pay. I’m a single mom of 3 with geographical restrictions in a divorce decree so relocating is not an option. What would you do in my position? I’m really struggling making a decision with so many considerations to juggle.

@Starbp welcome to MSF My Support Forums. I am sorry you face so many challenges in the classroom and teaching. That must be rough.

I am not sure what job you would have in "auto retail" but it sounds like selling. The jobs I have heard about in selling autos were ones where you get a very low pay and an advance on commissions. If someone does not sell any cars, they are soon in financial trouble and I imagine after a few months may become dispensable.

Sales of autos works good for people who are aggressive or at least assertive, able to relate the features of the automobile to the needs of the customer. It can involve walking around a big parking lot of cars and move cars so someone can test drive a car.

If someone has a background in cars and sales it can be lucrative. If someone is starting out without those it can be a disappointment. I have had sales experience for much of my life but auto sales would be a career that I would not choose. Too demanding.

The other problem is it is very difficult to get new cars or used cars so if the dealership does not have available cars to sell then sales are highly unlikely.

I do not mean to imply there are no problems being a teacher, but the same problems and challenges you face as a teacher may be much greater in auto retail.

Not knowing your financial situation and how much longer you need to teach to qualify for retirement, I cannot offer advice. I recall the advice I was given years ago, "The employer you know is better than the employer you do not know." The fact they want you in auto retail does not mean they considered your qualifications. They may just need to hire someone knowing they will not pay them a lot and they may sell some cars.

The other thing that happens in sales is a yound recruit generates leads by contacting everyone they know trying to get them to buy a car. Then when that young recruit leaves the experienced sales people make the sales that develop over time.

Sales is a very aggressive business that is only thinking of the bottom line. Education is more humane and considers people and is more accommodating and there is a high demand for teachers many places so they may be inclined to overlook challenges a teacher faces.

There are many factors at work here. But I think you convinced me of what you should do when you said "I have managed to be successful in the classroom even though these health issues, and have glowing evaluations and a good reputation in the community"

Being absent is a problem but not a game changer. Being absent in sales could be the end of that job.

I would talk to doctor and get referred to a specialist either in treating neurological condition and or bipolar 1 and see if you can find a way of coping and hopefully you can make it to the retirement threshold to get a retirement package that would be sustainable for the rest of your life factoring in inflation and the cost of living increases.

I am very familiar with low salary and pay cuts and freezes for teachers but even with all that 42k after 7 years is extremely low salary. I had to read it twice. Are you in public school? Private? It’s extremely low. And you want to go to 28k? It’s not livable wages where I am at. You’d get better pay in fast food joint.

If you cannot teach, I am not sure how you can sell cars. You have to be coherent and mobile at all times and you can’t be absent a lot. And it’s likely very stressful

Does your state offer pension plan? Many sadly don’t.

Are you single? If you have someone to share bills, you could possibly work at the school part time?