Substitute teachers play an essential role in schools, but some might not realize how important they really are. They are the ones that teachers can rely on. Substitutes are the heroes without capes.
When teachers take sick leave or are absent from classes for other reasons, substitute teachers take over their classrooms and teach in their places. However, substitute teachers don’t always have the same classroom rules as teachers. Most substitutes’ personalities are chill and laid back, which students love. In the absence of the regular teacher, students want a calm substitute teacher who won’t get mad at the mistakes they make.
Substitute teachers can choose to substitute for a class through a website called Red Rover. Sometimes, substitutes are personally chosen by the teacher. Red Rover acts as a bulletin board where teachers put up a request for a substitute and possibly attach their substitute’s plans. Any substitute teacher can accept the request and substitute for that teacher.
Teachers, despite being gone from class, still worry about their classes. Misbehaving students are their biggest concern. Teachers trust their students when a substitute is subbing for them, but they can’t help but think about potential bad behavior.
“Well, just without me being here, it’s a different dynamic and so if there’s a sub in the room, the students, again, are going to try to push the boundaries and figure out, like, you know, what they can get away with. Is the sub good at managing a classroom? So on and so forth. So some students may want to take the opportunity to see what they can get away with, or even just to see if they can irritate the sub,” teacher Konan Luce said.
Misbehaving students can make a substitute teacher quit subbing for that class and cause big trouble for them. When there isn’t a substitute teacher covering for that class, other teachers during their planning periods have to cover for them. Having a substitute can be a lifesaver for teachers, especially because it allows them to finish their own class plans and not be busy managing a class.
“When we don’t have enough subs, the teachers have to cover for each other, and if you have to cover for another teacher and you don’t get your prep, it’s a really hard day, and then I think the rest of the students suffer because the teachers are even more exhausted,” teacher Danika Kotlarov said.
Teachers really appreciate substitute teachers, and some try to streamline their plans for the class.
“I try to make them as easy to understand as possible and I try not to have anything new when there’s a sub, if it’s just for a random day. If it ends up being longer than that, then I have to be more careful about who I choose as my sub so that they’re able to get stuff done,” teacher Michaela Clark said.
Substitute teachers might not have a degree in the class they are subbing for, and they might not be able to help students with specific questions. Still, every substitute does a great job of monitoring students and making sure that they don’t break school policies.
“I appreciate all the subs because we need good subs in our district. So thanks to those that are out there. Thank you so much,” teacher Jonathon Cummings said.
Students feel the same way as teachers, although it is for another reason. Usually, substitute teachers are more casual than regular teachers and don’t mind when students socialize while doing their classwork. Students enjoy the more relaxed environment, where they freely socialize with friends while doing work without the unease of a teacher yelling at them.
“If I have some work that’s past due, I’ll work on that, or I just hang out with my friends and talk,” senior Kaleb Brown said.
Most of the time, when students have substitutes, they aren’t given any new assignments. It’s a sigh of relief for students because they can use their time to work on and complete assignments. Students who don’t have any work to catch up on can just relax in that class, which brings them delight.
“I feel joy and wonder and happiness because we’re not doing work, and it’s usually a makeup day, so I can just do whatever,” senior Ashley Stickney said.
Why do substitute teachers take on this role? Well, it is because of their genuine passion for teaching and helping students however they can. Substitute teachers might not always be able to help students or answer their questions, but they try their best, which deserves respect.
“It’s awesome. It’s very fun. It’s very, very, very rewarding, considering you get to work with new kids every day, be in new classrooms every day. And I really, really enjoy it,” substitute teacher Jacob Woodward said.
Substitute teachers will always be appreciated by people. Students and teachers might not say it outright, but they really are grateful for what substitute teachers do. On the occasion of students acting badly toward substitutes, those cases are rare. Every teacher and the majority of students know what the substitute teacher is going through. A substitute‘s job can be very difficult due to their unfamiliarity with the classroom and students, but it will never be a thankless one. A substitute is important and earns all the appreciation they get because they keep the classroom running smoothly.
