The Great (Teacher) Resignation

It’s been called “The Great Resignation”: a massive number of individuals who are quitting their jobs due to the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public education is not immune to this phenomenon. The ATPE Member Legal Services Department is receiving a high number of calls from members who have been pushed to the brink by pandemic-era problems and new legislative requirements.

So before an educator calls it quits, what should they know? And what happens to your employment contract? In this third episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the differences in resignation for contract and non-contract employees and what the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) considers “good cause” to leave an educator contract in the middle of the school year.

Show notes:

Educator Resignations and Requests for Contract Release

ATPE’s Teach the Vote: SBEC adopts ATPE-backed changes to contract abandonment rules at December 2021 meeting

The legal information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.