Elementary School Teacher Finds Employment at 'Igot' After Retirement... "Annual Salary Increased by 13 Million Won"

Earned in Two Days What I Made Working for Fifteen Days at Famous Restaurant Chain 'Hooters'

A story has drawn attention in the United States about an elementary school teacher who boldly left the classroom and switched careers to the service industry.

Allinson Chaves, who left the teaching profession due to low wages and high stress, shared his experience working at the famous restaurant chain 'Hooters.'
[Image source=New York Post capture]

On the 22nd (local time), the New York Post reported that Allison Chaves (32) from Queens, New York, quit her job as an elementary school teacher and started working at the famous restaurant chain 'Hooters.' Chaves worked as a special education assistant teacher for 10 years, earning an annual salary of $46,000 (about 61 million KRW). She said, "When I worked as a teacher, I earned $1,000 (about 1.33 million KRW) twice a month," adding, "Now I make $1,000 in just two days." However, after COVID-19, many children struggled to keep up with their grade level. Chaves lamented, "After COVID-19, I had to deal with many behavioral issues, and sometimes children inflicted verbal and physical abuse."

Eventually, Chaves submitted her resignation to the Department of Education last spring. She initially hoped to transition to a software engineer and put in great effort but failed to find a job. Then, in September, she applied to 'Hooters' and was immediately hired. Chaves explained, "I really like it here. One customer gave me $300 (about 400,000 KRW), ordering a few $8 beers and giving the rest as a tip," adding, "My secret is treating customers sincerely." She earned $100 within 10 minutes during her first week and said she now makes over $10,000 (about 13.3 million KRW) more annually than when she was a teacher.

Chaves still misses her students and regrets no longer enjoying the benefits of being a teacher, but she said she is happier now because she can adjust her schedule. She said, "'Hooters' was not part of my life plan," but emphasized, "Money is money."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the number of teachers leaving the classroom due to low wages and high stress is increasing in the United States. According to a recent report by the research and development organization RAND, "The pandemic has worsened job-related stress for school teachers and principals," and "They feel twice the workload compared to other workers." Research by the American Educational Research Association shows that teachers are 40% more likely to exhibit anxiety symptoms than healthcare workers amid rising gun incidents, 20% more than office workers, and 30% more than military personnel and legal professionals.