What does it really look like to walk away from the classroom and find stability in an unexpected place? For former middle school teacher Maggie Perkins, the answer was anything but simple. From low earnings at a Catholic school to facing pressure to falsify grades and working through difficult pregnancies with no parental leave, Maggie has lived the highs and lows of a system stacked against educators.

Today, she’s a corporate trainer at Costco, making nearly triple what she once did as a teacher, with benefits and stability she never thought possible. In this conversation, Maggie opens up about the hidden costs of teaching, why so many educators are leaving the profession and how she’s redefining success outside the classroom. She shares her story of navigating burnout, union vs non-union environments, raising kids while teaching and why she’ll never forget the moment she realized she could finally pay her bills without fear.

This is a raw and eye-opening look at what it means to leave behind a calling you love for the sake of survival and to discover a new path where your skills are still valued. If you’ve ever wondered why teachers are leaving, what they do next, or what it feels like to finally find stability after years of struggle, this episode will resonate deeply.

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