+1. Well said, Mr. S. I honestly believe that elementary school teacher is the most important job in the world. This isn't the first time I've said that. Yours, V., is the job on which everything else depends.

As a last resort, can you maybe look for work at a private school? I know it's a cop-out in a way, but it would let you enjoy the best of your work, still do really important work, and avoid the worst of it. My mom's a fourth-grade teacher, has been since 1972 (since '74 at the private school) and she just ADORES her work. I used to say they'd have to pry her cold dead body out of the classroom, except that now she says she wants to be a classroom skeleton after she's gone