The Teacher's Lounge
Stacie McClam @staciemcclam
Why I Left Teaching
@staciemcclam
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: How long did you serve as a teacher?
Stacie McClam: I was a teacher for 10 years.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: What attracted you to the teaching profession?
Stacie McClam: I have two reasons. First, I have many educators in my family – my great aunt, grandmother, aunt, and uncle were all educators. My grandmother was a teacher in segregated Virginia. As a child, I remember hearing my mom say how her family was respected simply because my grandmother was a teacher. I saw pictures of my grandmother as an immaculately dressed teacher. I knew that there were limited career options for Black women at that time so I was proud that my grandmother chose the teaching profession. I learned at an early age that teachers were highly regarded individuals who helped their community. Second, I wanted to be a teacher to encourage students. I was bused to schools outside of my neighborhood for my entire K-12 education experience. I observed how students were tracked into different classes based on perceived ability levels within the schools. I was unable to take AP classes, and my high school counselor was discouraging so I didn’t want other students to experience that negativity.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: In your opinion, what makes teaching rewarding and what makes it challenging?
Stacie McClam: Teaching is rewarding because there is something satisfying about sharing information and helping others learn and develop as individuals. Teaching is challenging because there are so many demands even at so-called “good” schools. It’s a demanding job. There are time-consuming tasks that take place outside of school hours like curriculum design, lesson planning, and grading. Teachers also have to manage students, parents, and administrators.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: Why did you leave teaching?
Stacie McClam: I left teaching because I felt stuck in a job that wasn’t serving my needs. After many years, I noticed that teaching was negatively affecting me emotionally, mentally, and physically. I was tired of feeling powerless because I wanted to help students, but due to issues outside of my control, I felt that I could do enough for my students. I now understand that I suffered from secondary traumatic stress or in this case, teacher trauma. As a teacher, I am not trained in mental health, psychology, or trauma. Many students suffer from trauma and have mental health issues. Unfortunately, many schools do not have mental health professionals to help students deal with their issues. It became overwhelming.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: Do teachers experience bullying?
Stacie McClam: Yes, teachers experience bullying. Bullying is a form of intimidation.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: Recently we have read and seen news stories about violent attacks teachers have endured at the hands of some of their students. Is this a more widespread issue than we know or is it just a few isolated cases that happened to get media attention?
Stacie McClam: I believe this is a more widespread issue than we know about. I think it is reported at the school site, but the media never finds out about it unless students record it on their phones and post on social media.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: Would you ever go back to teaching?
Stacie McClam: I will never return to full-time classroom teaching. I am currently a substitute teacher.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: What advice would you give to aspiring teachers, teachers with less than 5 years of experience and seasoned teachers?
Stacie McClam: I would tell aspiring teachers to have a clear understanding of why they want to be teachers. I would encourage them not to be idealistic and to ensure that they understand the realities of teaching. I would tell the teachers with less than 5 years of experience to practice self-care. This includes leaving work at work, going to therapy, and finding a school that fits their needs. I would encourage them to find a mentor teacher who they feel comfortable talking to about their concerns. I would encourage seasoned teachers to become leaders in their schools and to assess whether they still have the same zeal for teaching as they once did.
Bio:
Stacie McClam is an educator, author, filmmaker, and a radio show host of Teacher Talks on Tribe Family Channel. Stacie has 10 years of experience teaching 1st grade through 4th grade. She taught in Washington, D.C., Japan, Denver, Kuwait, and in Los Angeles County. In her 2018 book, “School Dismissed: Walking Away From Teaching,” Stacie describes why she left the teaching profession. The book raises awareness about the trauma that students and teachers experience at school. Stacie is transitioning from teacher to filmmaker. She has directed 2 of the 3 short films that she wrote. Her goal is to create narrative and documentary films about education issues. Stacie feels that she can better serve students outside of the classroom by exposing people to the realities that occur inside the classroom through film. She hopes to use her law degree to advocate for education reform. Stacie was born and raised in Los Angeles County. She attended the University of California at Berkeley, Howard University, and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Stacie McClam: I was a teacher for 10 years.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: What attracted you to the teaching profession?
Stacie McClam: I have two reasons. First, I have many educators in my family – my great aunt, grandmother, aunt, and uncle were all educators. My grandmother was a teacher in segregated Virginia. As a child, I remember hearing my mom say how her family was respected simply because my grandmother was a teacher. I saw pictures of my grandmother as an immaculately dressed teacher. I knew that there were limited career options for Black women at that time so I was proud that my grandmother chose the teaching profession. I learned at an early age that teachers were highly regarded individuals who helped their community. Second, I wanted to be a teacher to encourage students. I was bused to schools outside of my neighborhood for my entire K-12 education experience. I observed how students were tracked into different classes based on perceived ability levels within the schools. I was unable to take AP classes, and my high school counselor was discouraging so I didn’t want other students to experience that negativity.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: In your opinion, what makes teaching rewarding and what makes it challenging?
Stacie McClam: Teaching is rewarding because there is something satisfying about sharing information and helping others learn and develop as individuals. Teaching is challenging because there are so many demands even at so-called “good” schools. It’s a demanding job. There are time-consuming tasks that take place outside of school hours like curriculum design, lesson planning, and grading. Teachers also have to manage students, parents, and administrators.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: Why did you leave teaching?
Stacie McClam: I left teaching because I felt stuck in a job that wasn’t serving my needs. After many years, I noticed that teaching was negatively affecting me emotionally, mentally, and physically. I was tired of feeling powerless because I wanted to help students, but due to issues outside of my control, I felt that I could do enough for my students. I now understand that I suffered from secondary traumatic stress or in this case, teacher trauma. As a teacher, I am not trained in mental health, psychology, or trauma. Many students suffer from trauma and have mental health issues. Unfortunately, many schools do not have mental health professionals to help students deal with their issues. It became overwhelming.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: Do teachers experience bullying?
Stacie McClam: Yes, teachers experience bullying. Bullying is a form of intimidation.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: Recently we have read and seen news stories about violent attacks teachers have endured at the hands of some of their students. Is this a more widespread issue than we know or is it just a few isolated cases that happened to get media attention?
Stacie McClam: I believe this is a more widespread issue than we know about. I think it is reported at the school site, but the media never finds out about it unless students record it on their phones and post on social media.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: Would you ever go back to teaching?
Stacie McClam: I will never return to full-time classroom teaching. I am currently a substitute teacher.
Dr. Michael A. Robinson: What advice would you give to aspiring teachers, teachers with less than 5 years of experience and seasoned teachers?
Stacie McClam: I would tell aspiring teachers to have a clear understanding of why they want to be teachers. I would encourage them not to be idealistic and to ensure that they understand the realities of teaching. I would tell the teachers with less than 5 years of experience to practice self-care. This includes leaving work at work, going to therapy, and finding a school that fits their needs. I would encourage them to find a mentor teacher who they feel comfortable talking to about their concerns. I would encourage seasoned teachers to become leaders in their schools and to assess whether they still have the same zeal for teaching as they once did.
Bio:
Stacie McClam is an educator, author, filmmaker, and a radio show host of Teacher Talks on Tribe Family Channel. Stacie has 10 years of experience teaching 1st grade through 4th grade. She taught in Washington, D.C., Japan, Denver, Kuwait, and in Los Angeles County. In her 2018 book, “School Dismissed: Walking Away From Teaching,” Stacie describes why she left the teaching profession. The book raises awareness about the trauma that students and teachers experience at school. Stacie is transitioning from teacher to filmmaker. She has directed 2 of the 3 short films that she wrote. Her goal is to create narrative and documentary films about education issues. Stacie feels that she can better serve students outside of the classroom by exposing people to the realities that occur inside the classroom through film. She hopes to use her law degree to advocate for education reform. Stacie was born and raised in Los Angeles County. She attended the University of California at Berkeley, Howard University, and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.