Taking Time Off From Teaching Without the Guilt

Q: What kind of leave can teachers use for a mental health break?

Available leave depends on the rules that apply to the individual teacher. Districts and employers may distinguish among sick leave, personal leave, unpaid leave, and other types of absence, with different eligibility and use requirements for each. Whether sick leave can be used for mental health needs depends on applicable state law, district policy, employment or collective bargaining agreements, and other governing rules. Teachers should review their current contract or agreement, employee handbook, and district policies and confirm available leave and balances with the appropriate HR office.

Q: How much notice should I give before taking time off from teaching?

Give as much notice as reasonably possible while following the requirements that apply to the particular type of leave. District policies, employment contracts, or collective bargaining agreements may establish advance-notice requirements or restrictions on personal leave during particular periods of the school year. Earlier notice may also make it easier for the school to arrange substitute coverage. Different rules may apply to unexpected illness, emergencies, or legally protected leave.

Q: Will taking a planned day off hurt my students?

Research linking teacher absenteeism with lower student achievement generally examines patterns of absence accumulated over time rather than establishing that a single planned absence causes academic harm. A planned day away should therefore not be treated as equivalent to chronic or repeated absenteeism. Teachers can help maintain instructional continuity by following absence procedures and providing appropriate substitute plans and materials.

Q: Can taking my contractual leave count against my evaluation?

The treatment of teacher leave in evaluations and other employment decisions depends on applicable federal and state law, district policy, employment or collective bargaining agreements, the type of leave involved, and the locally adopted evaluation system. Certain forms of legally protected leave may be subject to additional protections. Because there is no single nationwide rule covering every situation, teachers should review the requirements that apply to them and consult their HR office or union representative where applicable.

Q: What should I leave for the substitute?

Substitute materials can include the daily schedule, lesson plans, classroom routines, attendance and dismissal procedures, and contact information for staff who can answer questions. Student-specific information should be limited to information the substitute is authorized and needs to know to perform assigned responsibilities. Schools should handle education records and other confidential information in accordance with FERPA and applicable state and district requirements, and substitutes should receive the information necessary to implement applicable IEPs, behavior intervention plans, Section 504 plans, health or safety procedures, and other required student supports.

By Mary McLaughlin, Last Updated: September 3, 2026

Hand placing a wooden block with a pause symbol beside blocks spelling PAUSE on a white table

Taking time off from teaching is not a failure of commitment. Whether you can use banked sick or personal days, and for what, depends on your contract, district policy, and applicable law. Plan the absence ahead, leave clear substitute plans, and treat the break as maintenance on the teacher your students need in June.

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Dealing with Feelings of Guilt About Taking Time Off from Teaching

Row of checkmark boxes with the nearest one marked in blue My work attendance is excellent. I am always on time and know my areas of strength and areas of opportunity for growth. That means I'm self-aware enough to know when I'm tired.

When my parapro returned to school, I decided to do something I'd never done before: I took a stretch of time off. My body and brain told me a break was becoming a necessity. I listened.

As I sat at my desk contemplating how many of my banked days off I would use, a wave of guilt washed over me like coffee spilling on a stack of field trip permission slips. The angel sitting on one shoulder told me I needed to keep on truckin'. The frazzled Mrs. Frizzle-looking angel sitting on my other shoulder said, "Girl, fill out the dang form!"

I did.

Why was it even a struggle? The days were mine to take, but when you're aware that higher teacher absence rates are associated with lower student achievement, well, you think twice. Besides, I love being at school, I love my students, and Mrs. Frizzle was a heck of a lot of fun as a teacher.

While the internal dialog was raging in my brain, a colleague stepped in my room and spoke sharply to me about something I had no control over. Instead of simply letting it roll off my back, that negative interaction made me realize that time off could rejuvenate my soul.

A break could actually be the best thing for my students and my career since it will give me back the positivity that I'm known for.

Why Teachers Often Stop Themselves From Taking a Step Back

Green play button and black pause button side by side on a white wall Teachers have a lot of valid reasons for neglecting their personal well-being while looking out for the well-being of their classrooms. An EdWeek Research Center survey of 1,498 teachers in October 2023 found that most take less than a week of real time off during the school year, meaning time when they aren't doing school-related work at all:

Teachers know the importance of being in the classroom every day. We know consistency matters. Research associates higher teacher absence rates with lower student achievement.
We love what we do.
We all know the importance of self-care, and we can all name 35 ways to treat ourselves well. We just don't have time to do any of it because we have too much to do just to keep our heads above water.
Worry about how administration will react, even when the days are banked.
The grade level or content team has to carry the extra load if another teacher is out. That doesn't seem fair.
Fear of not wanting to return to work after taking a brief leave.
Concern that the substitute will be seen as more valuable than the classroom teacher.
Concern that others will gossip about why the teacher is away for a period of time.

School vacation dates are set for us. Many of us are expected to fit appointments and travel into those breaks, though leave-use rules vary by employer, contract, and applicable law. But life isn't always neat and tidy enough to keep everything inside a specific time frame.

Making the Most of the Time Off You Already Have is Key

Two hands holding puzzle pieces together against a bright backlit window First of all, take full advantage of the time off you already have on weekends, breaks, and in the summer… sleep in and relax, reconnect with things you have neglected for too long.

It helps me to remind myself of my priority system: faith, family, career. Over time, it has gotten easier to leave work at work so that when I go home, my focus is on my personal life and pleasures.

Here are a few tips that have worked for me to ensure my free time is truly my own…

The Art of Saying ‘No'

I had to resume my lost skill of saying, "No." It's freeing. With so many valuable ways to spend time committing to committees, activities, programs, and events, learning to voice that magical word will tilt the balance in your favor…. Just say, "Thank you for thinking of me for that activity, but I don't have the time to give it the attention I know it deserves." Be done. Allow the guilt to drift away.

Weekdays are for Work… Weekends are for Me and My Family

Stay out of school on the weekends. It was not unusual for me to be in my classroom for several hours every weekend - Sundays too! School is my happy place, and the idea of not waiting in line to use the copier made my heart go pitter-pat. It took my husband reminding me that I had missed out on some solid family fun on weekends. Adjustment made, balance tipping back toward even.

It's Ok to Talk to a Professional If You're Feeling Stressed

Talking to a therapist or counselor helped me. A qualified professional can help you look at stress that isn't letting up and work out strategies and supports that fit your situation.

Scheduling Certain Tasks Allows Me to Maintain Focus

I've begun to set a specific block of time each day to review emails. Keeping this scheduled time allows me to better focus on doing what I was hired to do during work hours: teaching and maintaining my students' special education paperwork.

Taking a Mini Vacation Every Day

I started going outside at lunch to spend a few minutes during the day in an outdoor space. Doing so helps clear the brain and bring things back into perspective. A few minutes of seeing the green grass and trees resets my focus for the afternoon. The same logic runs the other direction too, which is why there are better options than taking away recess when a kid's behavior slips.

It's also good to just enjoy quietude at home or in nature. I noticed a colleague also does this-but she prefers to sit in her car, alone, savoring the silence. She said it has helped her mindset feel more at peace and ready to enjoy the afternoon with her class.

Ain't No Shame In a Well-Deserved Break

Woman resting on a couch with her eyes closed and hands behind her head Teachers are incredibly hard workers, and we are responsible for so much. We educate children. We keep them safe. We expend so much intellectual, physical, and verbal energy each and every day, and after enough of those days in a row, my own engine started to wear out.

In order to be at our best, we have to nurture ourselves without feeling guilty in doing so. Me? I'm back to work. I am focused, happy, and excited to complete the rest of the year. My break was only a week long, but it has made all the difference in the world.

All teachers should consider the many ways that taking a step back when needed can help improve the teaching experience we provide our students. If it makes you a better teacher, then it's simply the right thing to do.

I encourage every teacher out there to strive for balance and peace in your careers. Love what you do. Love yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of leave can teachers use for a mental health break?

It depends on the rules that apply to you, and the categories are not the same everywhere. Many districts separate sick leave, personal days, and longer unpaid or extended leave, and set different rules for each. Some let sick leave cover mental health; others don't address it at all. Check your applicable contract or collective bargaining agreement, your employee handbook, and your district policy, and ask your HR office to confirm your current balance.

How much notice should I give before taking time off from teaching?

As much as you reasonably can. Many contracts set a notice window for personal days, often several days ahead, and some block requests around testing windows or the first and last weeks of the year. The bigger constraint is usually the substitute shortage: the earlier you request, the better the odds a sub is actually assigned to your room.

Will taking a planned day off hurt my students?

The research that worries teachers is about chronic absence, not planned breaks. Studies of teacher absenteeism look at teachers missing ten or more days cumulatively across a school year and find an association with lower student achievement. A planned absence with detailed substitute plans is a different situation, and it's the one thing you control most directly.

Can taking my contractual leave count against my evaluation?

Whether leave can affect an evaluation or other employment record depends on applicable state law, district policy, and any employment or collective bargaining agreement. There isn't one answer that holds everywhere, so this is worth checking rather than assuming in either direction. Your union representative or HR office can tell you which rules apply to you.

What should I leave for the substitute?

What a substitute needs depends on your students and your assignment rather than on whether the room is labeled general or special education. Written schedules, classroom routines, and the names of staff who can answer questions belong in the folder. Student-specific information is different: share only what a substitute is authorized to receive and needs to know, following FERPA, your district's confidentiality procedures, and each student's applicable IEP, BIP, or 504 requirements. Building the general portion once and keeping it current is what makes a future absence possible without a week of extra prep.

Earned leave is part of your employment terms - Whether you can use banked sick or personal days, and for what, depends on your contract, district policy, and applicable law.
The research is about patterns, not one break - Studies associate higher teacher absence rates with lower student achievement, which is a different question from a single planned absence.
Check the rules that apply to you - Leave categories and notice requirements can depend on state law, district policy, your employment agreement, and any applicable collective bargaining agreement.
Substitute preparation is one real barrier - For some teachers the effort of preparing for a sub is part of what makes leave feel harder than showing up, and a reusable plan folder reduces that.
Teachers take very little time off - An EdWeek Research Center survey of 1,498 teachers found most get less than a week of genuine time away during the school year.

Some teachers come back from a break ready for the same classroom, and some come back knowing they want a different role. Added endorsement requirements are state-specific and may include specified coursework, an approved preparation program, assessments, experience, or other requirements, so verify that a program meets your state's requirements before enrolling. The sponsored programs on this page include online and part-time formats built around a full teaching schedule.

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