Leaving the Classroom for Tutoring

The Great Escape 

I think everyone knows a teacher who decided to leave the classroom for good. Some teachers leave for other positions in schools like administration or district jobs, but it feels like more and more teachers are leaving to change careers altogether or transition into a corporate education role. As a teacher, I’ve heard, and felt, a lot of the reasons teachers report for leaving- overwhelming expectations placed upon them, continuously growing class sizes, and more. 

Here at MTT, we have many teachers who have successfully made the transition from full-time teaching to full-time tutoring. They left the classroom, but they weren’t quite ready to leave the world of education. By trading huge class sizes  for small group instruction and one-on-one tutoring, they found a new way to make a big impact on students. Does it look different than a typical classroom? Sure! But does it still keep them working in a career they love? Yes!

Why do teachers love small group instruction and one-on-one tutoring? 

Meet Hannah!

Hannah is a full time tutor who supports homeschooling families as well as small groups of students  in our school partnership programs. She has had an interesting career in education and we had a great time chatting! Keep reading to see  her take on the pros and cons of becoming a full-time tutor.

T: What did you teach when you were in the classroom?

H: I taught conversational English and business writing to college students in China.

T: What are your best memories of teaching?

H: My favorite memories of teaching are the times I made individual connections with my students during class. My writing classes always started with a journal prompt, and I loved seeing (my students’) personal expression through each entry. Realizing my passion for one-on-one interactions led me to consider tutoring. 

T: How did you find Maryland Teacher Tutors?

H: Rebecca Vega (School Partnerships Specialist) and I were connected by a mutual friend on Instagram, and I was intrigued by the summer camps she advertised in her stories. 

T: What are the benefits of being a full-time tutor?

H: The three main benefits I find in tutoring are a flexible schedule, variety in work, and less “red tape”. By getting to pick and choose which clients to work with, I have more agency in what my week looks like. Last year, for example, I managed to keep Fridays open for personal commitments. Instead of working as a full-time teacher at one grade, tutoring allows me to experience a variety of grades and subject material. This year, my students range from 3rd to 5th graders. Finally, by tutoring students in small groups or one-on-one, I have less logistical requirements than a teacher might. I am free to develop a personal approach to tutoring, and spend more time simply working with the kids. 

T: Any additional comments about the transition? Being a full-time tutor? Or just words of encouragement for others wanting to make the transition?

H: There are some challenges to being a full-time tutor. Sometimes, a job may not come through until the last minute. As a self-employed contractor, I have to pay attention to taxes, and cover my own insurance. I have found, though, that with a little patience and persistence on my part, MTT has been an incredible place to find clients and expand my experience. I would say that it is certainly worth the challenge to become a full-time tutor! 

Transition from teacher to full-time tutor with MTT!

If you are thinking about leaving the classroom, but don’t want to leave the world of education behind, reach out to us! 

We would love to discuss our tutoring opportunities, give you ideas of how you can become a full-time tutor, and help you envision the flexibility that comes along with tutoring versus being a classroom teacher.