06/05/2026
😤 IF THE KIDS FAIL, IT’S YOUR FAULT.
This is what finally broke me.
Being blamed for results I was never allowed to control in the first place.
I was responsible for test scores, but not class size.
Responsible for behavior, but not consequences.
Responsible for growth, but not attendance.
Responsible for engagement, but not the constant interruptions, schedule changes, and pullouts.
I was told to “build relationships” with kids whose lives were actively on fire, then questioned when that didn’t magically translate into perfect data.
I was told to follow curriculum created for the perfect classrooms, then blamed when it didn’t work for the kids sitting in front of me.
I was told not to fail students.
Not to send students out.
Not to upset parents.
Not to question anything.
While also being accountable for every wrong thing that happened.
You can’t fix outcomes when your hands are tied.
You can’t be effective when every real lever of change is off limits.
You can’t take ownership of results when you’re treated like a babysitter with a data binder.
The constant message was clear.
If students succeed, it’s because of the system.
If students struggle, it’s because of you.
That kind of pressure messes with your head.
It makes you doubt yourself.
It keeps you up at night replaying things you were never empowered to change.
After a while, you stop trying to win.
You just try to survive without becoming the next scapegoat.
That realization was a big part of why I left.
☀️If you’ve already decided you’re leaving teaching and want help making it happen, comment SUMMER.
