I Resigned

Posted by Kate Olson on May 9th, 2008

I just turned in my resignation for my teaching position for next year. This is really hard to write about because I have so many feelings swirling around, but the prevailing emotion is excitement (I think) for what lies ahead. I’m closing the classroom door after only 1 year of formal teaching, but I’m not leaving education forever - I’m actually not leaving now, as I’ll still be working with online learning through my consulting work, but it’s definitely going to be a huge change.

I can’t write very much about my emotions about leaving the traditional K-12 classroom right now, I just can’t. They’re so jumbled and constantly changing that I need to let them solidify a bit before I try to form them into something comprehensible. I’ll work on it. Know that I’m not doing this lightly and it was NOT easy.

I honestly don’t know what my professional life will look like come September, but I do know where I’ll be working. I’ll be sitting in my dining room or living room or really messy home office/diaper changing station and wearing sweats slamming away at my laptop. My boss will be someone I’m really very close with - me. It’s an incredibly scary thought, but I’ll be working for myself, managing myself, and forcing myself to work hard enough to earn money doing what I love. If I’m lucky my kids won’t be in the house while I’m doing this, but you just never know - this summer I’ll be trying to get all of my work done during nap times and in the few hours I can find a high school babysitter. Oh yeah, and before the kids wake up and after the kids go to bed and……….sometime?

Writing this was difficult - I hate even somewhat making it sound as if I’m leaving the education community because I’m NOT. Nothing will change, I’ll still be me, still be doing a ton of work relating to education and educational technology. I’ll also (hopefully) be doing more writing, more site creation, more consulting, more research. For now, though, I have almost another month of being a 4th and 6th grade keyboarding teacher, honestly one of the most intriguing jobs I’ve ever had. What lies ahead is fairly murky, but I know I’m doing what I need to do to be happy. I owe that to myself.

Life’s crazy - I’m just trying to steer it where I want to go.

StumbleUpon It!

If you're new here (or just forgot last time!), you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Ramblings

Stephanie Sandifer said,

May 9, 2008 @ 11:40 am

Congratulations on taking such a huge step! Enjoy your last month in the classroom and then enjoy your new adventure!

Stephanie

Stephanie Sandifers last blog post..Accountability, Testing, Weighing the Pig, and Healthy Lifestyles

Alec Couros said,

May 9, 2008 @ 12:15 pm

Congratulations on your life change, Kate. These are certainly important changes, and thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with us. Sometimes I wish I could make the sort of decision, especially with my kids being so young. I’d love to have more flexible time to spend and as you have said, to be my own boss.

All the best to you and yours in the future. I’m looking forward to hear more about your journey in the days to come.

Alec Couross last blog post..RadioHead Video Message on Human Trafficking

Michelle said,

May 9, 2008 @ 12:19 pm

Wow… I haven’t “known” you very long but that’s still a shock after reading your blogs for this last little while. Not sure what I should say about the working from home with kids… I don’t want to be discouraging and I know a lot of people do make it work. I do wish you lots of luck and hope for much success. It will be interesting to follow your progress. From what I’ve seen, if anyone can make it work, it will be you. :)

Michelle

BlogMasterPg said,

May 9, 2008 @ 12:39 pm

It’s an hard article to write.. You’re a courage woman. Ok: I’m an Italian Bl9gger becake Blogger only less than 2 year ago. I start it s hobby, but i don’t have a ‘fixed’ work and 6 months very year was totally free, just i meet web2.0. This morning i went to speak to my boss. a man of my same years: he said “the work will be more restrict than ever” that means only a thing: 6 months becames 7 or 8 a nightmare! I see you studied in Viterbo. Io sono fortunato: to meet a teacher, that has a blog and leave in wisconsin and use Diigo, the same i use, and ( I hope) speaks italian is a big luck for avery strange day… I hope we’ll become web-friend and we’ll help for every thing. Best regard from Massy, BlogMasterPg, PERUGIA, Italy. PS: if you clik my Uri you’ll see some of my works in internet, I’ll hope an your ansewer and and i’ll be happy if you’ll leave a comment on one of my blogs.

Jeff O'Hara said,

May 9, 2008 @ 12:42 pm

Kate, congrats on deciding to go it alone. I’m sure it’s going to be scary, but I think it is going to work out well. Best of luck, see you on twitter :)

-Jeff

Linda said,

May 9, 2008 @ 12:44 pm

Kate,
I know this was probably a very scary decision to make.
I am excited for you. You are a risk-taker. Good for you.
I will be right here reading about your adventures no matter what!

Lindas last blog post..Saint Cyberus, Patron Saint of the Internet

Amber said,

May 9, 2008 @ 1:50 pm

Congrats Kate.

I know this was a hard decision to make, but I’m excited about what lies ahead for you, as I know you are, too.

Bill Genereux said,

May 9, 2008 @ 1:50 pm

I’ll bet this was a tough one. My wife quit her career as a retail foods person to come home & raise kids. Now she runs a business from home (created a whole new job for herself.)

There’s a guy here in Kansas who does what I think you hope to do. His name is Kevin Honeycutt. His website is here: http://kevinhoneycutt.org/

I suspect you will be very good at your new career. Good luck!

Bill

Bill Genereuxs last blog post..Why Small Town Newspapers Can Survive

James said,

May 9, 2008 @ 2:05 pm

Wow. Good luck with your changes, sounds exciting. It takes courage too, I know because I’m working on building up enough myself to try something a little different. Wish you the best.

Kate said,

May 9, 2008 @ 2:21 pm

All - thanks so much for the support, it’s why I love writing here and the community it builds…….

@Stephanie - I’ll be enjoying my last month in the classroom as much as an elementary school teacher - madness in store, I’m sure!

@Alec - one of the only reasons I’m able to make this change is because of the support of my husband - someone has to have the insurance and stability! The kids being so young is definitely one of the factors driving my decision - I had to take so many sick days this year and it was hard being so far away from them. Now they’ll still be in daycare next year, but I’ll be able to have a bit more flexibility in how our family does things.

@Michelle - don’t worry, I have daycare for next fall :-) I’m just trying to figure out how MUCH daycare I want/need - I’m thinking of having them go later than they do now so we can let them sleep in and have breakfast at home. There’s NO WAY I could do all of my work with my babes around - this summer is just something I have to get through :-)

@BlogMasterPG - unfortunately I don’t speak Italian, but who knows, maybe someday!

@Jeff - Since you’re hosting my blog, I’m keeping you in close contact :-) Can’t wait for Edmodo!

@Linda - I’m so happy you’re sticking with me, and as for the risk taking, nothing is as scary as the decision I made to go back to work this year after staying at home with my kids for 2 years. Hopefully this will be the best of both worlds :-)

@Amber - yup, I’m excited! The thought of getting to wear yoga pants every day again makes me sigh with happiness - think of the “work clothes” money I’ll save!

@Bill - thanks for the story about your wife, I love hearing success stories! Thanks also for the links to Kevin’s site, I’ll check it out.

@James - let me know if I can do anything to help you with your decision - we all have to do what works best in our own family/professional situations, my choice here definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you want to discuss, I’d love to!

John Pederson said,

May 9, 2008 @ 2:39 pm

Rock on! :o) Stay in the loop here. We are making Wisconsin *the* edtech capital of the world.

John Pedersons last blog post..Sharing

Lori said,

May 9, 2008 @ 3:41 pm

congratulations! leaving your traditional educational job can feel like turning in your legitimacy card (i know from experience) - but it’s great out here. ;^)

and the summer is going to *fly* by - it always does. good luck with everything!

Loris last blog post..may is my favorite month

diane said,

May 9, 2008 @ 3:55 pm

Kate,

Congratulations! I’m convinced that you’ve made the right choice for you, for now. We’re told that being a lifelong learner entails growth, change, discovery, redirection.

Whether or not you go back to classroom teaching, you’ll always be an educator.

Happy re-birth day!

diane

dianes last blog post..This Little Light of Mine

Dan Meyer said,

May 9, 2008 @ 4:22 pm

Nah, yours is bigger.

Damian said,

May 9, 2008 @ 5:28 pm

Best of luck, Kate. You know who to call if you need an organizational consultant to see you through this change!

Damians last blog post..A Change of Pace at Apace of Change

Kevin said,

May 9, 2008 @ 6:09 pm

I will just echo: good luck and be at peace with your decision.
Kevin

Kevins last blog post..Comment Challenge: Where to comment?

Louise Maine said,

May 9, 2008 @ 7:19 pm

Congrats Kate! Those who make such a decision have great vision and you should be congratulated for having the strength now!

Louise Maines last blog post..Go global?…what do you think?

Marie said,

May 9, 2008 @ 8:41 pm

You’ll make it because you have the determination and drive to follow your passion. I had a feeling you would quit teaching in the classroom … there were a few hints in your posts!! Best of luck.

Ken Allan said,

May 10, 2008 @ 4:52 am

@Kate – Kia Ora.

Part of a comment I put on one of Michele Martin’s recent posts embodies a metaphor on kids and teachers. The comment was to another commenter, Clarita, who also left teaching after a relatively short span. I will paste it here for you.

“Teachers have to be dedicated in order to succeed in what they try to do for their kids. From the point of view of the teacher, there is a balance that only the teacher can control. This is between being sufficiently dedicated as a teacher and managing personal life so that dedication can be maintained.

However complex the system of educating kids may be, the humanness of the people at the interface – the kids and the teachers - can never be overlooked. There is a balancing act like two people seesawing on a high trapeze. One represents the welfare of the kids, the other the welfare of the teachers. Anything that interferes with the welfare of one side will also affect the welfare of the other.”

You’ve made a hard decision but I think that it’s the right one.

Go well Kate.

Cheers from Middle-earth

Tim (@Twalk) Walker said,

May 10, 2008 @ 11:16 am

More power to you, Kate! You strike me as someone who’s going to have to find her own particular way of doing things, no matter what. (Maybe I’m prone to see you that way b/c we’re friends and I see *myself* that way.) So light out for that territory that only you can ever explore.

Mark said,

May 10, 2008 @ 11:22 am

Awesome! How exciting/terrifying!

Marks last blog post..Then!

Diane Hammond said,

May 10, 2008 @ 12:41 pm

I know exactly how you are feeling - excited, hopeful, scared, sad…all rolled into a jumble of emotions! I opted to leave the classroom more than five years ago, after spending 25+ years loving being a teacher. The not-for-profit organization I’ve helped found is constantly evolving and struggling to stay afloat. It’s hard work but so incredibly rewarding! In spite of the uncertainty that comes from not knowing where my next paycheck will come from, I couldn’t have made a better decision!!! Best of luck!

Diane Hammonds last blog post..The Comment Challenge: Building Community One Conversation at a Time

Chad L. said,

May 10, 2008 @ 10:00 pm

Wow Kate! Next year will certainly bring some new challenges and excitement for you. Good luck with everything - I hope it works out the way you want it to.

Chad L.s last blog post..Some Great Reading

Kate said,

May 11, 2008 @ 9:29 pm

@All wonderful supporters -

Thanks to all of the rest of you who are so reassuring right now - this is rather scary! I look forward to sharing my ups and downs in this journey with you and will connect with you as I go.

Nedra Isenberg said,

May 11, 2008 @ 9:30 pm

Best of luck to you Kate. From what I’ve read you have the drive, motivation and determination to make it work. I look forward to reading your updates.

Nedra Isenbergs last blog post..Day 10 Comment Audit

inpi said,

May 13, 2008 @ 5:32 pm

Congratulations! I would like to follow your example one day. Best wishes for your new adventure!
Ines

This Mommy Gig » Blog Archive » Working the Land said,

May 26, 2008 @ 8:20 am

[...] I’m home again full-time starting in June, though, you might see just a FEW complaints about the lack of [...]

RSS feed for comments on this post · TrackBack URI


Leave a Comment