Teaching in 2026

I became a paraeducator in 2022 and I really loved it. I ended up going back to school to pursue teaching.

I am now an interim teacher and I honestly feel like its the best job I have ever had. I have never felt like I could be 100 percent myself until I began this career path.

With that being said, I am exhausted all the time. I work with special needs kids and their lives bleed into my own so frequently. I am always thinking about them and the things they are going through.

The emotional weight the job puts on you is a lot and no one really shows you how to navigate or process it. There is also a physical demand as well. Many of these kids can be physically aggressive or just seek a lot of pressure. All day I am redirecting touch and hit and I understand it is their needs but that on top of lesson planning, teaching, meetings and making decisions all day just piles up.

Because I teach in special needs I also have to teach every grade, subject and standardized test criteria of the students in my classroom as well as social skill and iep goals.

I dont know how anyone expects teachers to do all of this during their shift. I stay after school and I plan on the weekends. I am also still in school and a parent / spouse.

Again, I don't want to sound ungrateful because I do love my job but its so much for one person to manage. I am just so tired and this is only my 3rd year.