How do you know when it’s time to leave your school?

I was cut from my first position after year 1 because the district got rid of the assistant director’s position. After that, I took a job as the band director at a very small 3A in DFW. The band program was really young, hadn’t competed, and wasn’t run super well (I say this with a lot of respect for my predecessor, they taught multiple electives and quite honestly didn’t have the time).

I’ve spent the last 2 years building this program. I got the schedule changed to allow for (kind of) homogenous beginner classes open to grades 6-8, and to allow for varsity/non-varsity junior high bands. We also have a high school band and a jazz band. Both the junior high varsity group and the high school group are going to UIL for the first time ever this year, and our beginner and junior high non-varsity groups are going to a festival. I had all-region qualifiers in both junior high and high school. We’re starting a marching band next year as well. COVID was not kind to our numbers, but my kids work hard.

I love my students wholeheartedly. But things have started to get rocky with administration. My husband was my coteacher this year, assisting with band and teaching choir. It was his first year teaching, and he’s already been non-renewed. He didn’t receive much support at all this year, at least not the support that I would expect admin to provide to a first year teacher, and I couldn’t be in any of his choir classes to assist. It’s not a huge deal, he’ll find something. We’re hoping to work as a team again.

Things are already tense with my administration. I have also started to pick up on the fact that they will not be providing me with an assistant next year (leaving me to do 6-12 band + marching alone). If it were up to that environment entirely, I’d already be gone. But I love my students, and I’m worried about what the band will look like next year. The numbers are already so low, and I don’t want them to cut the program entirely. I’m also worried about finding any positions in the DFW area. I think I’m decently qualified with 3 years experience building up programs, 1 year as a department head, and a master’s degree, but it’s so competitive here.

This situation just sucks, and I’d appreciate your advice.