The Yellow Board

The Yellow Board
[ The Yellow Board ]

Tell us why

Posted by MS BD on 4/17/2026, 6:17 am

You are leaving the profession or left the profession
There are A LOT of good jobs out there right now.
Curious as to the reasons why people are stepping away-I know there can be many

Re: Tell us why

Posted by me on 4/22/2026, 12:53 pm, in reply to "Tell us why"

My situation was a little different than others here. I had a GREAT job! We had amazing students, parents, good admin support, great boosters. All things considered, it was a dream job.

But I also have a family that I never saw, and after looking around at so many in our profession with (relatively) early health problems, broken marriages, and missing relationships with their own children, I made the decision that making my family my legacy was more important than it being in a band program.

That's no slight on those that have chosen to stay and make those sacrifices; they are heroes in my opinion!

5 years later, and I make over twice what I did as a 6A HD while working 50% of the hours and get to drive my kids to school. Do I miss the students, the music, and the magic? Absolutely. Has it been worth it? No question.

Just my experience.

Re: Tell us why

Posted by Percguy on 4/29/2026, 3:07 pm, in reply to "Re: Tell us why"

Very similar story to me. I didn't leave teaching, but I did leave Texas. I got incredibly tired of being sick all the time, working 1/3 of the weekends in the calendar year, never seeing my kids or wife, etc.

I moved out of state and now teach MS Band in a large district with a strong teacher's union. I work half the hours I did in Texas, get 11 weeks off in the summer, work no weekends, my only after school commitment is 4 evening concerts a year, and if I volunteer to help do extra duties like running festivals, honor bands, etc, I get paid $45/hr. In three years I'll make 70% more than I ever did as a head HS director in Texas, and I'm home by 4:15 every day with time for hobbies, exercise, parenting, being married, etc.

I had to arrive at the point of realization that while music programs in Texas are amazing, it wasn't worth the cost to my health, to my family, and to my marriage. I knew I was unhealthy and burned out, and it was obvious in Region Meetings that I was in the minority, surrounded by people who continually voted for even more activities in the calendar with no more pay. The arms race of continually more practices, more money, more time, more competitions is unsustainable. I have never been happier to be able to just focus on teaching music and making it fun for my students. I'm not playing the same grade of difficulty with my bands that I did in Texas, but I also realized that the fulfillment of that wasn't coming close to the cost in all other aspects of my life.

Re: Tell us why

Posted by Curious on 4/22/2026, 3:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Tell us why"

I have considered changing careers in the past for this very reason. The biggest reason I won't do that at the moment is because my youngest is currently in my band program. Once he graduates, there really isn't anything locking me into this position except that, most days, I enjoy what I do.

I am curious, though...what line of work did you move to?

Re: Tell us why

Posted by Where on 4/20/2026, 8:07 am, in reply to "Tell us why"

Where are these good jobs available??? I'm Looking!!!

Re: Tell us why

Posted by Myself on 4/17/2026, 7:52 pm, in reply to "Tell us why"

I left for all the reasons you know. Kids attitudes, no parental support, no behavior support. I've taught k-12. Had a bad experience when I taught HS bc the head BD would text us 5 minutes before class what the plan for the day was, oh and that he was running late. This happened 2-3 times a week. Told the FA Director and he was scared to do anything. Bye. Taught at elementaries that were baaadddd.

I work for the state now and get a 10% raise every time I promote, which is possible after 1 year the first 3 years, then 18 months after that. Oh, and I'm on year 2 and only go into the office 5 days of 10, and only work 9 of those days. The other days I telework, my schedule can he flexed. I took a week vacation in January and I'm taking another next week. Trainings are fully paid, about $1,200 reimbursement for hotel, gas, meals and I go on 2-3 a year.

Re: Tell us why

Posted by Retired sTx on 4/20/2026, 9:38 am, in reply to "Re: Tell us why"

May I ask what department you're working for? I'm retired, but have plenty of life left and this sounds like a good opportunity.

As for leaving...I could have continued, but it was getting harder and harder every year, especially the marching part of it. Constant pressure along with neverending bs from parents and admin took its toll. When our school was dropped from 5A to 4A, I saw that this was the perfect time for me to leave.

Re: Tell us why

Posted by Myself on 4/26/2026, 9:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Tell us why"

I'll just say I needed to go back to school and get another bachelor's degree, which I did online while teaching. An internet search for State agencies will put help you find these opportunities. Not all have the same benefits but you will know them when you see them.

Re: Tell us why

Posted by Brkt87 on 4/20/2026, 8:49 am, in reply to "Re: Tell us why"

What do you do for the state?

Re: Tell us why

Posted by ovwrkdnundrpd on 4/17/2026, 2:28 pm, in reply to "Tell us why"

My reasons are a little different probably, than others. I am a person that always gets recruited to rebuild a program. Since I have been in TX I have been recruited 5 times. By recruited, I mean once the program was earning sweepstakes, I took an offer with a substantially increase in pay. These are always programs that have bad attitudes, work ethics, not consistent, and poor rehearsals.

That being said. I am retiring not because I wanted to but have let this program break me. The kids here have no respect for anyone. Not even their parents. They don't want to do anything. They complain about everything and will sit out a week with a hangnail. I knew it was time for me when my top 5 players came up before contest and told me I was putting them under too much pressure to get a 1. I was causing a lot of them anxiety and winning was just not their thing. Remember, these were my top kids.

Somewhere along the line kids stopped caring and I missed the masterclass on how to get them to care again. I feel I just don't have what it takes to stay on top of things in this program. Now I am sure it would be different somewhere else but I am beat up from these last 4 years and need to step back. Thats why I'm leaving.

Re: Tell us why

Posted by MS on 4/20/2026, 10:50 am, in reply to "Re: Tell us why"

I feel this response in my bones but can't retire for another few years.

« Back to index

[ The Yellow Board ]