Low pay and high expectations: My life as a teacher left me frustrated. And thankful.

It's no wonder that teachers are leaving education for jobs at Costco.

The average annual salary for a starting teacher is less than $45,000. And the national average pay for all teachers is less than $70,000 a year.

That's not much compensation when compared with the responsibilities, expectations and even dangers we ask our children's educators to accept.

Teachers have tremendous demands and pressures placed on them by government policies, school districts, school leadership, parents and students. They have to teach a jam-packed curriculum, protect students from harm, support a classroom often with little financial assistance outside of basic materials, and address parents' concerns and expectations for their students.

When I walked into class on my first day as a teacher, my classroom was empty. Well, not completely empty; there were tables and chairs. But as an elementary school teacher, my expectations of having pencils, a pencil sharpener, crayons, glue and scissors were met with a void.

I was overwhelmed, underpaid and lacking essential resources to effectively teach.

If that wasn’t enough, I had to endure death by PowerPoint. The never-ending training, procedures and policies left my head spinning. But the angst really came when we started safety training.

Active shooter training videos left my heart pounding

My heart pounded and my palms turned sweaty the first time I watched an active shooter procedure video in a teacher training. I asked myself in disbelief: How did we get here?

When did teachers go from being role models, leaders and instructors to human shields and pseudo law enforcement officers?

Don't get me wrong ? I loved all my students and would do anything to keep them safe. But when did taking on the very real potential for harm become a requirement for teaching?

As students head back to school, should parents worry about shootings? The math says no.

I was 16 when the shooting at Columbine High School took place in 1999, claiming the lives of 12 students and one teacher. I lived in Colorado at the time. I remember the fear that consumed my peers and me as we watched the horror unfold. It was an uncommon tragedy then.

Today, school shootings are so common that educators and children are routinely taught how to save themselves in a firefight.

Time for actual teaching is rushed

But even if an educator can push past the threat of violence, the massive amount of curriculum that must be taught in a school day is unreal. Teachers must cram lessons into rapid-fire sessions and expect students to comprehend and retain the information. There just isn’t enough time in a day.

Recess is too short or even nonexistent, and teachers have little or no time to regroup during the day. I often found myself rushing my students to lunch late and eating at the table with them. It’s exhausting, and when the day is done, the work isn't finished.

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After the school day is over, planning and parent communications can take teachers well into the night hours, leaving little time for family or self.

As a parent, I want my children to have the best education from the most delightful teachers. But I know that teachers are often overworked, underpaid and unsupported.

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When you see a teacher at their wit's end, remember that they are investing their talent and time and often their own money to help your child learn lessons that will last a lifetime.

Tell them thank you.

And the next time you see a teacher's Amazon wish list, a teacher's favorite-things list or an opportunity to volunteer at your child's school, do it, buy it, give it.

Marla Bautista is a military fellow columnist at USA TODAY Opinion.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Going back to school? Be sure to thank your teachers