How about keeping your job and going part time. I agree with studying Sociology and Education in a School of Education. Recommendations from colleagues and supervisors will work fine in this context and many won’t request a writing sample other than a sop. The caveat is that the easier it is to get into the program the less likely you are to get funding. So, you might have to pay.
A school of education also will have lots of non-traditional and part time students.