For the sake of balance and devil's advocacy, I offer the following for consideration because most of the others in this thread are very positive and encouraging. I think it's best not to fool yourself with overly optimistic dreams that might be unrealistic and let you down later on.

I have both worked with and still do work with my share of disillusioned teachers here in Japan. Currently, one of my friends has vowed never to return to the teaching profession after he finishes with his stint here. In his own words, he went into teaching (graduated only about 5 or 6 years ago) despite the warnings of his own high school social studies teacher who told him it was a hard, thankless, low-paying, stressful job -- and to not go into it.

He is an IA certified high school language arts teacher. He feels that the whole image of "educating the nation's youth" is just a pipe dream, as so very few students are willing participants in the education process. Dealing with parents who feel they are somehow entitled to something special, combined with their image that teachers are all over-paid and unionized, not worthy of the high salaries they get and only having to work 10 months out of the year. All of which are untrue.

As for me, I am not a certified teacher, although I have taught English at all levels here in Japan -- from elementary school, through junior high school, and now a junior college. Since I do enjoy teaching (and have been told by many that I have a real knack for it), I did research into getting papers to teach in the U.S. To make a long story short, it was such a huge mess, I eventually gave up and am currently about 1/3 of the way through a distance-ed MBA. What changed my mind? For starters, every state is so very different and there is no rhyme or reason to the myriads of requirements for lateral entry. Second, even the states where it's relatively simple, you have to deal with YEARS of entry level salary, which at my age (34) is a slap in the face considering all the time I've put in working various jobs since I graduated from uni. Do you know how much an entry-level schoolteacher makes these days? You're essentially scraping the poverty line. I'm not interested in stepping backwards when I have a wife who wants to start a family.

There are actually many other reasons why I reconsidered going into K-12 ed. full-time, but again -- I just wanted to help balance out the thread with another take on it. I admire your ambition and desire for a life change, but do consider carefully what you might be getting into, and don't be afraid to ask the hard questions: are these the kinds of problems I'm willing to deal with and overcome? Will the rewards be worth it in spite of the difficulties?

Whatever you choose in the end, I wish you the best of luck and success doing it.