Should I stay for the teacher pension?
I have 15 years invested in the MA state retirement system as a special education teacher with my own classroom. If I stay 12 more years and purchase some years I withdrew (for 100K) then I am estimated to have a pension of 110K per year. I just don’t know if I can stay that long. I feel like I’m just going to through the motions and not really living. I am definitely feeling burned out and feel like my school is not a positive place to work. It’s weighing on me. I’ve thought about leaving to work at an independent school where salary would be 80-100K (a 20-30K pay cut) or pursuing another field outside the MTRS. I do not pay into SS in my state and have a supportive spouse with a healthy retirement nest egg (800 K in early 50’s). Any wisdom from teachers who are enjoying their pension or those who have left?