Why This Teacher Quit

As a former educator, Yoo Eun Kim knows that recent legislative efforts to increase teacher pay will not be enough to keep good educators from leaving the classroom. Teachers have significant financial and mental stress, and are often asked to take on extra work to make up for their school’s lack of resources. Teachers in low income districts are especially at risk of burn out. 

Because of Prop 13, local taxes are linked to public school funding and many teachers are leaving low income districts because of unbearable workloads. According to Kim “We need to reduce teachers’ workloads, not saddle them with more work for moderately higher pay. We also need to improve the public reputation of the teaching field.” 

United Teachers of Richmond

I quit teaching over pay. It would take more than money to get me back into a classroom

By Yoo Eun Kim, SF Chronicle | 12/26/22