You’re basically in that space where you know you’re good at what you do building real, raw connections with young people, being the adult they can turn to when life gets rough. That kind of impact isn’t small. It’s real, lasting, and honestly, rare. But life shifts. Kids, bills, time they all start knocking louder. And suddenly, the system expects you to move “up” into roles that are less about people and more about policies. That spark, the fun, the direct connection? It gets buried under rubrics and protocols. What I hear in your words is someone who’s deeply reflective, still passionate, but needing to pivot. Not because you want to let go of the heart of teaching, but because you're trying to grow without losing yourself in the process. Writing and travelling I love that you're already thinking of those as extensions of your purpose. Maybe you don’t have to fully leave the classroom or leap into management. Maybe it’s about slowly building a bridge: writing pieces that influence education policy, storytelling from your own journey as a teacher-dad, or creating content that helps both new and seasoned educators find joy again. The tension you’re feeling? That’s the beginning of your next chapter. And you’ve already done the hardest part you’ve named it. The rest? You’ll write it. Literally.
Man, I felt every bit of that.
You’re basically in that space where you know you’re good at what you do building real, raw connections with young people, being the adult they can turn to when life gets rough. That kind of impact isn’t small. It’s real, lasting, and honestly, rare.
But life shifts. Kids, bills, time they all start knocking louder. And suddenly, the system expects you to move “up” into roles that are less about people and more about policies. That spark, the fun, the direct connection? It gets buried under rubrics and protocols.
What I hear in your words is someone who’s deeply reflective, still passionate, but needing to pivot. Not because you want to let go of the heart of teaching, but because you're trying to grow without losing yourself in the process.
Writing and travelling I love that you're already thinking of those as extensions of your purpose. Maybe you don’t have to fully leave the classroom or leap into management. Maybe it’s about slowly building a bridge: writing pieces that influence education policy, storytelling from your own journey as a teacher-dad, or creating content that helps both new and seasoned educators find joy again.
The tension you’re feeling? That’s the beginning of your next chapter. And you’ve already done the hardest part you’ve named it.
The rest? You’ll write it. Literally.