Dive Brief:

• Josh Waldron, a six-year Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher, decided to leave public education for good, documenting his decision in a blog post.  
• The Virginia high school teacher, who was honored as the 2014 Teacher of the Year by the Waynesboro Rotary Club, said five major areas must be addressed for public education to improve.  
• These areas include more straightforward metrics, better planning for the feature, just compensation, community investment, and less focus placed on standardized testing.

Dive Insight:

The perspective of teachers is often left out of the various debates surrounding education, leaving an uncomfortable gap in understanding and what may be best for our students. At the frontline, teachers have a unique perspective. Waldron's blog post is a necessary read for administrators, as high teacher turnover greatly affects the environment and mood of a school. Additionally, teacher loss is ultimately costly for districts, which must spend money training someone new.  

One request Waldron has of schools is for there to be a moratorium on our "obsession with flawed assessments." In Waldon's opinion the current tests are unfair and place unnecessary pressures on teachers and students. But his most compelling case ultimately deals with the most pressing reasons he is leaving the classroom: finances. Having entered the classroom six years ago at the height of the Great Recession, Waldron says finances have not improved during that time.  "I'm not the only educator who manages extra work to make ends meet," he wrote.  

A 20-something Teach for America corps member may be able to survive on a $30,000 salary, as they are likely only supporting themselves. However, an older educator with a family to support does not have the same luxury. This creates an unfair precedent which ultimately shifts what it means to be an educator. The wages set a non-maintainable standard and encourage the revolving door nature of U.S. schools.