Kindergarten Teacher Quits Her Job And Her Reasons Why Go Viral

Teachers deal with a lot more than you'd think.

Kylin

• Published in Interesting
• January 16, 2022

Sometimes your dream job just ends up being a nightmare. No matter how much you may love your profession, or how much time you’ve put into schooling and on the job, there’s just got to be time to cut your losses and move on.

Usually, this isn’t an impulsive decision, but rather one that comes after deep soul-searching, unquantifiable disappointment, or undue stress that cannot be made up for with rewards or more compensation. Even then, leaving your entire profession is difficult, and nothing less than a brave decision to follow through on.

Jessica Gentry, a now-former kindergarten teacher at Stone Spring Elementary School recently did just that. Growing tired of people assuming she quit because of the infamously poor teacher’s salary, Gentry decided to set the record straight.

Her emotional Facebook post revealed 5 main reasons behind her difficult decision to leave teaching, with salary not being any part of it. Her bare-all vent has received over 279K reactions and over 1,000 comments, which are mainly in broad support of Gentry and her decision to step away.

“There were a few major events that spurred my departure. I hold teaching in such high regard that watching my most recent administration laugh about students with disabilities, state that we ‘shouldn’t lose sleep over’ struggling students, say that she [a school administrator] ‘washed her hands of this year’ in April was disheartening, to say the least,” Gentry told Good Morning America.

“There is an enormous amount of educators who feel that exact way but have felt alone and guilty for thinking so,” Gentry said. ” I never expected it to reach farther than a few friends — but I am so humbled to be able to throw the curtains open on the issue and give those who feel unable to say it a voice.”

Continue below to see her eye-opening post, and reactions from others, including the Superintendent!

Tired of the assumptions, Jessica Gentry takes to Facebook to set the record straight

Kids are kids - they haven't changed

She drives home a really important point that maybe many haven't considered: Society and Parenting are the things that have rapidly changed over the years. Kids are still, and will always be, just kids.

How children are acting in the classroom is a reflection of what's going on at home. She suggests that those who act out more in school maybe don't have any other safe space to do so.

Technology is taking too much priority

Kindergarten is literally the building block for children to ease into the education system. It's where they learn how to follow directions, learn social cues, and conduct.

Gentry shares that schools are turning more to technology and screens instead of focusing on fostering relationship bulding.

The system is broken, not the teachers

When faced with the realization that the technology approach isn't working out as the higher-ups intended, the assumption is it's the teachers who aren't knowledgeable enough. Taking time away from their students.

Education isn't customer service, sometimes the "customer" isn't always right

She points out the importance of having a partnership with parents, and how that's lacking in her experience. It's not teachers vs. parents, it should be collaborative.

Lack of support is harmful to more than just the students

Her mental and physical health was starting to be affected by the lack of support she needed in order to provide for her students. One teacher for a class size of 21 is an unfair imbalance in the best instances, but adding on disabilities, different languages, and children with assumed unstable homes only made things even more difficult.

She couldn't help anyone if she was unable to take care of herself

With the state of the education system, she felt she no longer could help ANY of the students with how poorly she was deteriorating. A retirement package and paid sick leave weren't enough to keep her on board.

She's shifting her focus

Her goal now is to focus on her child at home, and to work with other parents to help them show up for their children. That while she may have left the classroom, she is still advocating for children.

The Superintendent of Gentry's school system weighed in

Speaking to WHSV, Michael Richards, the Superintendent of Harrisonburg City Public Schools, made the following statement:

“I would take issue with the notion that teachers are leaving the profession “like their hair’s on fire.” Ms. Gentry may have her own reasons for making that assertion. Teaching is the noblest profession in the world, and the vast majority of teachers are dedicated to the vital work of empowering the next generation.

Teaching is definitely a very challenging profession, and it is not for everyone. It requires longer hours than most people believe it does, and it presents multifaceted challenges that blend social and intellectual skills. Some of Ms Gentry’s concerns are entirely valid.

For instance, it is imperative that we provide teachers with adequate planning and collaboration time and that we do not pull them away from instructional time. It is imperative that we help students develop strong social skills, especially as society turns increasingly toward device-driven communication.

At the same time, we need to empower students to use technology to enrich their learning and develop real-world skills. It is important that we support teachers in developing productive partnerships with parents.

Many of Ms. Gentry’s concerns have been squarely on my radar for some time. I have plans to address these and other concerns here in Harrisonburg, where I started as superintendent only a month ago.

Too often teachers feel that no one really understands their concerns and that solutions are imposed on them. I plan to partner with teachers so that I am aware of their concerns and they have a voice in the solutions.”

Jessica’s post has already received over 279K reactions

Facebook users overwhelmingly shared their support

Kids do well when they can

Teachers came in flocks to share their stories

This teacher is sticking to homeschooling

Old school teacher recognizes they wouldn't be able to teach in today's world

All parents could work on being more present

Validation and encouragement to focus on family

Having a teacher that CARES is so impactful

Literally, hundreds of comments like this from teachers

Administration plays a huge part in the education system

A parent had Gentry as her child's teacher and chimed in with her support

Getting a better view of how parents can be an obstacle for teaching

"Teaching is a dying art"

Being unable to care for too many children is emotionally draining

This educator shares that parents seem to be the same no matter the grade level

Gentry sincerely hopes that her post can start some kind of change for educators. “I’d love nothing more than to do work with those willing to listen to change the current path our public education system is headed down. I promised my coworkers when I left that I’d be the voice for them since so many fear being reprimanded for speaking up,” she said.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and share this with your friends and family!

Kylin