I knew a bunch of people [who] were teachers, but left for tech jobs..

I know someone who taught near San Fran at some posh high-paying private school for tech princes because her 4yr 🇨🇦 degree got her an excellent post.

Then she left, but not for tech. She met a guy and moved back to Sweden with him. She's been teaching 5th grade for 22 years now, and is set to retire as a .SE resident on full pension. Him too. They're young and their kids will almost be out of secondary school. They intend to do a LOT of rail travel.

I don't know why US teachers stay on the job. There is demand and opportunity and safety in much better environments where they do pay almost acceptably for the job.