086 - David Fountain - Classroom To Consultant

Today, Sharon and Sarah sit down with someone many of you already know from the Life After Teaching community - David Fountain, the teacher-turned-educator who has made understanding the Teachers’ Pension Scheme his personal mission. After 27 years in the classroom, teaching maths, science, IT and computer science, David reached a crossroads. Caring responsibilities, exhaustion and the constant reinvention of curricula pushed him to rethink his path. But leaving teaching wasn’t simple - not emotionally and certainly not financially. In this conversation, David breaks down the journey that led him out of school and into a role he never expected: supporting teachers across the UK to understand the pension they’ve spent their careers paying into. David isn’t a financial adviser - and he never pretends to be - but his clarity, integrity and generosity shine through every part of this conversation. Teachers trust him because he’s walked their path, made the mistakes, understood the system the hard way and is determined that others don’t lose out as he once did. Whether you’re years from retiring, curious about opting out, or considering when to leave teaching, this is essential listening. Find David here: Website: dfountain.co.uk Facebook group: Teacher Pension – Teacher to Teacher (UK) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOdIEXubpfIRkFvPZ57KITQ JustGiving fundraising: https://www.justgiving.com/team/davidfountain Follow us on Facebook Voice Message Us Buy Us a Coffee ☕️ Loving the Pit Pony Podcast?  We’d be so grateful for your support! We’ve set up a Buy Me a Coffee page where you can make a small donation to help keep the podcast running. Contribute to the 'Silenced by Support' Campaign If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in our podcast there are organisations who can help: Education Support The Samaritans Mind Andy's Man Club Join Us: Subscribe to the Pit Pony Podcast  Sign up to our mailing list here: http://eepurl.com/i1L5ck Thanks for listening 🙏 Edited with finesse by our Podcast Super Producer, Mike Roberts of Making Digital Real