The Penny-Drop Moment: Realising You Don't Have to Be a Teacher

 "It's really hopeful, it's really positive - and it's so much better than teaching." After 11 years in the same secondary school - training as an RE teacher before moving through humanities and eventually leading PSHE - Rachael hit the burnout so many teachers recognise: slow-building, then impossible to ignore. As a noise-sensitive introvert, she realised the problem wasn't ability, but fit - and that the parts of the job she loved (leadership, communication, managing people) didn't require staying in a classroom.Now a Suicide Prevention Officer with Papyrus, Rachael has her evenings and weekends back - closing her laptop Friday and not thinking about work until Monday. With control over her own calendar and meaningful work that doesn't consume her, she's found something unexpected: excitement about the week ahead.In this episode, we also talk about:The personality mismatch she didn't see coming in teachingHow leading PSHE opened the door to a completely different career pathTurning job hunting into a structured, focused processLearning to trust flexibility after years of rigid routineWhy foundational work - values, finances, a skills audit - speeds everything upHow the Academy community kept her going through the hardest partsAn interview that felt right from the startThe variety that comes with the new roleFeeling connected in a national organisation ("it doesn't feel like it's as big as it is")Content warning - this episode discusses suicide prevention as part of Rachael's professional role. Please contact Papyrus for support if you're worried about a young person. ⛺ Next Step Fest 2026 is coming! FREE online event for teachers ready to leave ~ released 23rd July. Register here now 🩷