Why American Teachers are Fleeing Education, and Why They Can be Exceptional Insurance Industry Professionals

Why Are Teachers Quitting in Such Large Numbers?

“A staggering 55 percent of educators are thinking about leaving the profession earlier than they had planned,” according to a National Education Association (NEA) survey of its members released in 2022. “This represents a significant increase from 37 percent in August [2021] and is true for educators regardless of age or years teaching, driving buses, or serving meals to students.”

Teacher flight is occurring for a number of reasons. Here are some of the reasons they’re fleeing.

• The pandemic-era problems of at-home schooling, which may have caused educational lapses for many students who may not have had the financial or attention wherewithal to thrive with home schooling, has created a bit of a classroom crisis, according to many educators.
• Pay – Teachers feel overworked and underpaid.Many have master’s degrees, and feel they aren’t compensated for the long hours and level of education many obtain.
• Disciplinary problems with students, which seemed to increase with middle-school students, have teachers on edge.
• Understaffing – In a recent teacher survey, McKinsey reports 75% of the respondents cited understaffing and struggling with workloads as a reason they plan to leave teaching.
• Safety concerns – I can tell you from first-hand experience teaching at the community college, when I taught at night, I locked our classroom door, and suggested all my students watch Run, Hide, Fight. This was the only active shooter training I could conjure up at my community college, which had not addressed the problem head on. Ninety-five percent of U.S. elementary schools now have implemented active shooter drills, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. These drills suck time away from educational goals, and can cause great concern in students, who may no longer feel safe at their schools.
• Politics – While education was routinely one where teachers felt free to design their classes and speak their mind, increasingly, local school boards are taking a deep dive into curriculum and other issues such as gender and diversity.

This trend didn’t begin overnight. As early as 2022, 55% of teachers considered leaving, and minority educators were overrepresented in their desire to leave. Looking for diversity? Look no further than 62% of Black and 59% of Hispanic/Latino educators, already underrepresented in teaching ranks, who are considering exiting the profession.

In short, teachers are “mad as hell and not going to take it anymore,” to cadge a well-worn movie phrase. They’re speaking with their resignations.

Why Teachers Would Make Great Insurance Professionals

Former teachers would make solid insurance employees for the following reasons.

• Patience – Dealing with students, whether in grade school, high school, or community college, takes patience.
• Life-long learners – During the summer, most teachers take college and other self-improvement courses. They are accustomed to learning, and learning insurance curriculum could be an interesting challenge for them.
• Teaching skills – Teachers learn how to teach, first in their own education and then through hands-on experience. Those teaching skills readily translate to educating your customers.
• Goal oriented – Most teachers are very goal oriented. They enjoy a challenge and would not balk at reasonable goals.
• Critical thinkers –Teachers are encouraged throughout their education and in their careers to utilize critical thinking. They can’t run to administrators to solve every problem, so they must learn to solve everyday problems such as students who act out, interpersonal conflict with their colleagues and emergencies, such as a student injury.

Librarians Leaving, As Well

According to American Libraries Magazine, both public and private sector librarians are also fleeing their jobs. Burnout, low pay and low morale are a few reasons the magazine cites for the flight.

Librarians are natural helpers, great researchers and good communicators. Why not consider putting some of your agency’s hiring flyers out in your local libraries to attract candidates?

Where Do I Find Former Teachers or Librarians to Hire?

I rarely suggest volunteering with a motive, but one step may be to join your local Parent Teacher Association. Supporting your nearby schools’ fundraisers, Little League teams, and other activities puts your agency’s name in front of parents and most importantly, teachers.

The next step is to spread the word on your network. Your friends, their spouses, others in your LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter network, can help you spread the word. I’ve spoken to several agents who’ve hired their spouses, and it’s been a big win. More money, less (or at least different) stress and a chance to work with family or friends, what’s not to like?

Social media campaigns can help. Target Facebook groups, Pinterest, or other social media where teachers congregate. Search out “teachers” or “teacher groups” on social media channels and consider joining those groups. Don’t immediately join and announce your intentions but lurk awhile and begin to see how you might be able to reach these group members. Tik Tok, if you’re using it, is an extremely popular social media channel for younger social media users. Consider making some short videos about the benefits of working in the industry.

Quora is another interactive social media outlet. Check out this item from a simple Quora query.

Teachers don’t just flee at year end. An increasing number quit mid-term, so if you’re going to recruit, don’t assume that summer is the best time to engage with teachers who’ve either left or are considering leaving teaching. Consider a year-round campaign.

The agency owners with whom I’ve spoken, including at least two former teachers, believe that their lives are much better since they switched careers from teaching to insurance.

Accentuate the Positives of an Insurance Career

There are many positives to working in insurance.

• Regular hours, in most cases — Teachers routinely work overtime managing grading, curriculum development and parent-teacher interface. Insurance employees usually work a 9-to-5 day, which is attractive to many overworked teachers.
• Higher pay — Teachers are not high on the pay scale in most states. While they do have solid retirement benefits, stress that they will earn more, have access to a 401k if you offer that or other retirement plans.
• Paid training — Most teachers love to learn, and will take advantage of training opportunities.
• Career planning — The sky is the limit in insurance if your employees want to move up the corporate ladder.
• Solid benefits — You’ll be competing in most cases against governmental benefits, so the richer your benefit plan, the better.
• Employees as helpers and teachers –Must of working in insurance is guiding people through life crises, such as auto accidents, fires and other weather catastrophes. Their skills will transfer nicely to their new career.

With a little creative legwork, you can find teachers and librarians to help fill your ranks.

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Last Updated: June 23, 2023