Swan Song?

I'm beginning to wonder if this semester is shaping up to be my swan song from voice teaching at Harvard and maybe from the field.

In my eight years there nothing has changed to make teaching there better and the reality is, nothing will. The University isn't suddenly going to allot more room to teachers. The students aren't suddenly going to start showing up weekly for their lessons and understand that when they sign up they are committing to the semester and therefore, to my income and when they quit out of the blue, I'm out income. The Director of the Choral Program isn't suddenly going to become a strong leader, interested in people's teaching and in professional development for voice teachers. The other teachers aren't suddenly going to be interested in collaborating and communicating about voice teaching to have a cohesive department.

Those are all things that I know I need to keep teaching. I've hoped for a long time, particularly when the leadership turned over, that it could come to fruition, but clearly, it ain't happening. Six students dropped this semester, and one week in I've already have many last minute cancellations leaving me twiddling my thumbs for hours. There's no communication from above except the occasional run in when he'll launch into how expensive the program is and it isn't sustainable to pay us what we are paid blah, blah, blah. My commute is now longer and rather than just taking the bus to work I now have to pay for gas, tolls and parking in a garage in Cambridge - the garage alone can run anywhere from $13-$25 a day. I find teaching days draining rather than inspiring.

Not much to recommend staying, yes? I have a hard time letting go of it though. I think I'm a good teacher, with a lot to offer and I've worked hard over the last decade to become such. Each semester I start with new hope that maybe I'll find the right balance of how much to teach each day and how to teach in a way that I'll not feel drained of creativity at the end of the day. I took a sabbatical leave position last term at another school in the hopes it might build a connection to get me out of Harvard. I met some nice people and enjoyed working in a more 'legit' situation, but nothing came of it. It seems as though no one is retiring from schools where lessons are offered for credit and there are no openings ever. None of it seems to be panning out. I have fewer students than ever this term due to many people dropping and just received an email from a new student saying she isn't continuing, despite signing up for the term.

The question is, what on earth would I do if I leave voice teaching? Our household needs two incomes and I also think I'm a mom who needs to have some professional outlet to be a better parent. I want a job that will give me flexibility with my young family, but also prove to be satisfying. It would be nice to use some skills and abilities that I have cultivated in my professional life in my next position.

Any suggestions? Thoughts?