Opportunities for Reflection
The Emeritus Teacher
Jeanne’s Story:
“How can I avoid becoming depressed when I retire?”
Jeanne happily retired after 31 years of teaching in the primary grades. She jumped into retirement with enthusiasm; she organized drawers and closets, painted the house, straightened up the garage, went on a Caribbean cruise with her husband, and even lost 25 lbs.

Shortly after Christmas, Jeanne began to feel like something was missing. Even the thought of a trip to New York didn’t seem appealing. She found herself aimlessly walking around the house and told her husband, “All this free time isn’t as much fun as I thought.” A few weeks later, Jeanne began to have difficulty sleeping at night.

One response for Jeanne:
Retirement is a huge change in one’s life, and often after the novelty wears off, we begin to experience a sense of loss. While this feeling is usually short lived, it can lead to depression. Jeanne might wish to consider volunteering or part-time employment. Some ideas are:

• Contact the local university to see whether there are part-time faculty positions for teaching methods courses or supervising student teachers. Many community colleges are offering associates’ degrees in Education, which could mean that teaching opportunities are available. Think about substitute teaching or working with new teachers in districts that offer induction programs.
• Look into volunteer opportunities. From preschools to adult education, tutoring positions abound. Jeanne simply needs to determine what opportunity interests her the most!

Questions for Reflection:
• What types of educational opportunities do you have in your city?
• What are your interests outside of the everyday classroom experience?
• How busy do you want to be? Are you the type of person who likes to be busy every day? Or, do you like to have flexibility with your schedule?

Jim’s Story:
“I would like to find a way to use my talents without returning to the classroom.”
Jim devoted his entire career to teaching math in the secondary schools. After 30 successful years of being a teacher and basketball coach, he retired. Within weeks Jim was frustrated with “hanging around the house.” Jim didn’t want to return to teaching, but he wanted to do something with the teaching talents he possessed.

One response for Jim:
When we spend our whole life building a career, we also build an identity. In retirement, we typically still want to use our talents and interests. Fortunately, if we retire from our career in good financial and physical health, we have many new adventures we can experience. Jim may wish to consider volunteering overseas. Visit the Links/Resources section of this Web site for more information.

Questions for Reflection:
• What attracted you to teaching?
• Of which skills and talents are you most proud?
• If you could travel, where would you want to go?
• Are you open to new experiences?

Georgia’s Story:
“My benefits changed dramatically when I retired.”
Georgia had a long and fulfilling career as a special education teacher. When she retired, she anticipated a quiet and restful life. Shortly after her retirement, her state legislature passed a bill that deeply impacted the quality of insurance she received.

One response for Georgia:
Retirement from a full-time job does not always guarantee secure benefits. Georgia realized rapidly that this change in insurance coverage would drastically affect her monthly income. Georgia might contact the America Association of Retired Persons and the National Education Association. Teachers are one of the largest groups entering retirement, and these organizations have groups that lobby for teacher rights and benefits.

Questions for Reflection:
• What is your insurance coverage?
• What retirement benefits do you have?
• What can you do if your benefits change?

Links/Resources

Frequently Asked Questions