If you are a teacher by profession, you’ll be used to prioritizing the needs of your students, and always looking after their well-being. A teaching career means that you always need to be present at your job and you’ll need to effectively separate your private life from your working life. It can be difficult to continue to thrive in a demanding work environment such as a classroom when you are going through the stresses of a divorce.
If you are facing the possibility of a divorce and you work as a teacher, you face a unique set of challenges. Therefore, it’s important that you focus on these specific challenges so that you can devise solutions and move through the divorce process positively. The following are some of the key challenges that you’re likely to face as a teacher going through a divorce.
The demanding schedule
Since teachers tend to arrive at work and leave work earlier than other workers, this can affect your ability to take your own children to school, especially if they attend a different school to where you teach. This should be addressed in the parenting plan, and an arrangement should be put in place that works for both your and your ex’s schedules.
The holidays
It’s likely that you’ll be able to spend a significant amount of school holidays with your children because you’ll be off work at the same time as them. This should also be addressed in your parenting plan.
Informing your colleagues
Getting divorced is a huge event in your life, and it’s likely to affect your state of mind both in and out of work. It’s a good idea to inform your boss of the news before choosing to tell other coworkers. In addition to informing your boss, mention the possibility of needing to take time off for court dates and other divorce-related obligations.
Changing your name
You may want to change your name after the divorce has been finalized. This is, of course, a big decision when working as a teacher, and you should expect that students may have questions about this.
If you are going through a divorce as a teacher, you’ll have a unique set of challenges to face. However, your work schedule may grant you more opportunities to be with your children during the holidays. Make sure you plan your divorce strategically and bearing in mind your circumstances.
