Why I Left the Classroom

I had always wanted to be a teacher.  I loved school as a kid.  I loved making new friends and  I loved learning new things and being challenged.  I  also had some amazing teachers who made such an impact on my life.

I think these played a part in why I wanted to be a teacher, along with the fact that I think I was just ‘born to do it’.  My mum was a teacher as well and I definitely believe that I inherited some of her passion for working with and helping kids!

When I finished university and started working in schools, I was lucky enough to be able to travel and work overseas.  I had such a wonderful time teaching in London and learnt so much!  I was exposed to a variety of schools, teaching programs, teaching styles and even cultures!

I came back to Australia and eventually got a job at one of the most amazing schools that I have ever taught at.  The staff were wonderful, the principal was extremely supportive and the kids were so engaged.  I really enjoyed my time in the classroom and I LOVED what I did.. Until something changed.  

I don’t think it was one thing in particular, and it definitely wasn’t an ‘overnight change’.  It was a combination of things, but I would find myself waking up each morning, not really wanting to go to work and feeling really deflated at the amount of work I was doing outside of the classroom.  I felt that the ‘other stuff’ was taking away the joy for me.

I could also see that when I sat down with some of my students 1on1, I was able to make such a difference, but as we know there are so many days where this just simply isn’t possible, but it just didn’t feel right.

I don’t blame anyone or anything for this - it’s just the way it is.  You are one teacher, working with 25+ students, who all have different backgrounds, experiences, interests, abilities and needs - it’s impossible to sit with each child 1on1 when/as they need it.  So, you do the best you can (and as teachers, we are always giving our all for our students)... but it wasn’t enough for me.

So I started looking around for other options - other jobs.  I did this on and off for a few months until I ended up stumbling across an advertisement for a tutoring franchise, and I thought that was perfect!  I could use my teaching skills, continue to work with children, continue to teach AND do it on my terms.  But at that stage I honestly had no idea what it meant to be a part of a franchise.  When I finally realised that it didn’t allow me the freedom that I actually was looking for, I decided to continue with the tutoring business, but do it on my own! - Eek!

I had NO idea about business, but I DID have plenty of experience in the education industry!  I knew how to work with kids.  I knew how to teach.  I knew how to work alongside parents…. And I loved all of those things!  So, I went for it and decided I would figure it out as I went.

I had put myself in a situation where I HAD to make this work and I was super committed.  I took out a small loan to set up my centre, build a website, get my logo designed, purchase resources and furniture, etc.  I had a vision for my space and I now had the total freedom to create that.

Having a tutoring business gave me something more than ‘just the classroom’.  I really felt that with my tutoring business, I was making even more of a difference and had more flexibility about how I taught, what I taught and even when I taught!

I was now able to work with my students in small groups and 1on1.  It also gave me the opportunity to create other services to meet the needs of my students.   Services such as School Readiness Classes, Homework Clubs, Reading Intervention Groups, Craft Classes, Fine Motor Classes, and more.

If you have that fire in your belly, that desire to do something different, then I challenge you to listen to it.  Do some research and some brainstorming… if it’s what you really want, YOU have to make the move.

If nothing changes, nothing changes.

Kirsty Gibbs