I left teaching after 5 years because the long hours, low pay, and constant stress were unsustainable. I finally feel like I have my life back again.

• Mahala Kuehne taught middle school science for five years before leaving to work at a nonprofit.
• She says large classes, low pay, long hours, and safety concerns during the pandemic contributed to quitting.
• "It might be more succinct to say what's not wrong with teaching than what is wrong with it," she said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mahala Kuehne, a former middle school science teacher in California who now works at a nonprofit. It has been edited for length and clarity.