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 teaching
• How leading PSHE opened the door to a completely different career path
• Turning job hunting into a structured, focused process
• Learning to trust flexibility after years of rigid routine
• Why foundational work - values, finances, a skills audit - speeds everything up
• How the Academy community kept her going through the hardest parts
• An interview that felt right from the start
• The variety that comes with the new role
• Feeling 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.

Wondering what might be next for you? Take the Teacher Career Change Quiz to match your amazing transferable skills with a new job pathway ✨