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After dedicating 16 years to the field of education, high school English teacher Sarah Mitchell, a 41-year-old National Board Certified educator, chose to resign from her position this year. With a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Sarah consistently earned “highly effective” ratings from her administrators, while her Advanced Placement students achieved top exam scores in their district. However, the increasing micromanagement from politicians led Sarah to feel that continuing was no longer feasible.
The recent educational laws enacted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, including the contentious Parental Rights in Education bill and the Stop WOKE Act, have left many educators feeling alienated and frustrated. Sarah expressed to us that these laws “aim to appease the political base’s culture war ambitions” and undermine teachers’ autonomy in their classrooms. “For years, we tailored lessons to meet our students’ needs and maintain high standards. Now, these new regulations instill fear, making it impossible for us to utilize our creative skills effectively. We might as well be replaced by teaching bots,” she stated.
DeSantis’ legislation restricts discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity and bans critical race theory (CRT) in educational settings. He has also advised school districts to disregard federal guidelines meant to protect transgender students from discrimination. According to Sarah, this is merely an attempt to empower bigotry.
These new policies also grant parents increased control over what their children learn, allowing them to challenge curricula and monitor interactions between their children and school staff. Advocates for LGBTQIA+ rights have raised concerns that this could lead to students being outed to their families without their consent.
Critics of these laws argue that the ability for parents to sue school districts for perceived violations could expose teachers to significant legal challenges. Sarah, who had previously faced pressure regarding her reading materials, shared, “Last year, I was advised to remove popular books by Black authors from my classroom library, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. I was also warned against teaching important historical texts like Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ for fear of being accused of promoting CRT, but I taught it anyway.” While she faced backlash, she maintained transparency with parents regarding her syllabus.
Sarah noted that she felt vilified for simply doing her job and that partisan politics created distrust among school communities. “This division detracts from teaching and learning, making a challenging profession even more stressful,” she lamented.
Teachers across the nation are leaving their jobs in alarming numbers, driven by inadequate support, low pay, and a lack of respect from their communities. In Florida, the recent curriculum changes have made it increasingly difficult for educators to persist under the weight of political interference.
Governor DeSantis appears unfazed, actively recruiting retired emergency personnel and veterans without college degrees, offering incentives to fill teaching vacancies. Sarah concluded, “This is a strategy to create an electorate that lacks critical thinking skills and an understanding of the complexities of American history.”
Currently, Sarah is redirecting her energy by volunteering at her local library and helping in her daughter’s first-grade classroom while exploring her creative interests. She dreams of opening an Etsy shop and is open to substitute teaching or tutoring in the future, but needs distance from the profession she once loved.
Summary
Sarah Mitchell, a dedicated Florida teacher, resigned after 16 years due to new restrictive educational laws that undermined her teaching autonomy and created a hostile environment. These changes are part of a broader trend affecting educators nationwide, particularly in Florida, where political interference is making it increasingly difficult for passionate teachers to remain in their roles. Sarah is now focusing on family and personal projects while reflecting on her time in education.