THREAD: Today, after 12 years, I resigned as a teacher. The decision came down to this: the options that were just announced were unacceptable to me. Either I'd teach in person during a pandemic, thus risking my life and my family's life, or...

I'd teach from home while 60% of my students were Zooming with me from a smart board in a physical classroom and the other 40% were Zooming with me from their houses. This option was given with only a week before teachers report to school...

allowing them little opportunity to plan how to do this effectively (though I am unable to see how *anyone* could do this effectively). Regardless of how you feel about schools reopening, the way school staffs have been treated since the beginning of the summer is a travesty.

I have loved this job, and loved my students, and worked so hard over the past 12 years to help them succeed. But this is a line I can't cross. I imagine many teachers are making the same decision. Personally, I'm heartbroken and terrified.

But I will try to find a silver lining: I will take a year to see if I can make writing full-time work. Many do not have the luxury to even try, so I know I am lucky in that regard. And no matter what happens with schools this year: please, be kind and patient with teachers.