Substitute Teaching

What I learned from my first year as a substitute teacher.

Last spring a friend approached me and suggested, “You should get your substitute teaching license. We really need substitutes in the school district.”

This wasn’t the first I had heard of the need and thought it couldn’t hurt to go ahead and get my license. So, I signed up for the substitute certification class. No sooner than I received my license, I found out there wasn’t a position at my current job for the following school year. My position was on a year-to-year basis, determined by the needs of the school since I taught pull-out classes. God had gone ahead of me and provided what I needed before I knew I needed it. That’s so like Him.

I was excited and nervous at the new opportunity. Beginning a new job isn’t always the easiest, as you’re likely coming in with little knowledge of that particular work place, have zero or few relationships, and have not yet established trust and respect. Basically, there’s a huge learning curve.

I remember the start of the school year and my kid’s first day of school. Their first day had always been my first day of work as well. But there were no jobs available, so I found myself at home, restless and unsure of what to do with myself. I couldn’t have been more ready to pick them up and hear about their first days - particularly my Kindergartner, who I was struggling with sending to school at all. My momma heart could barely handle it.

This happened the following 6 days. There were simply no jobs - zip, zilch, nada. During that time I began to work on my resume and submit applications for any remote job I could find. I thought I could possibly find some sort or writing or editing job on the side. The waiting was driving me mad because I needed to work. I checked the substitute app incessantly, willing that a job would miraculously pop up out of no where. I had been told that I would likely be able to work any day I wanted because they always needed subs. And there weren’t any.

You guys, I was being so impatient. I also had been told that the start of the year may be slow. I mean, after all, it was the first week of school.

And then it happened.

On the seventh day - sure enough - a job appeared. I clicked “accept” faster than I could read what the job was.

It wasn’t a teaching job, but a secretary job. (I had signed up for both substitute positions.) This was right in my wheel house. After all, I had been an administrative assistant at my children’s school in California for 14 years. This was the perfect start, so I thought.

Was I ever wrong. I’m pretty sure I teared up at work and maybe cried when I came home. I had zero instructions and no clue what I was doing. Though there of course were similarities, I had no knowledge of the software they used, didn’t know how to answer any questions on the phone, nor did I know any of the staff or students. I felt more in the way than a help.

The very next day I taught High School PE. Standing in front of 25-30 high schoolers for 6 different periods wasn’t a bit intimidating. Nope. Not a bit.

You guys, I wasn’t sure I was cut out for this. Ask my husband. I was frantic. I really didn’t think I could do this.

But I kept accepting jobs. Day by day, I decided I would try different things and see what my preferences were. What I was told in the beginning was absolutely true - by the time school really got going, I could pretty much work any day I wanted to. And most days I would have a choice of what and where.

I realized I gravitated towards my kid’s schools, which meant I mostly subbed at the high school or the 4th/5th elementary school. I mean, that’s part of the perks, right? Seeing your kids?

Well, I made it to the end of the school year. I subbed 118 of the 180 school days. I decided to take Wednesday’s off, which became my errand and appointment day. This day was filled with counseling, the chiropractor and any other medical appointments for myself or the kids. We also had many a sick day throughout the year, fighting off Covid, the flu, strep, and countless other viruses. Our sick day count was really quite dreadful.

So what did I learn in those 118 days?

So much. This was an incredibly challenging adventure, of which I was stretched beyond what I imagined. For a Type A, planner - subbing kept me on my toes. You never know what your day will look like or what you’re walking into. You may be making a 6am or 7:20am decision and the work day begins at 7:30am. You may receive a last minute phone call at 7:45am, “Is there any way you can come in?” If you already have a job scheduled for that day, it may very well get changed. In fact, it is likely that it will get changed. There were jobs that I may have had scheduled for weeks and upon arriving, there was a need that was greater. So, throw all your plans out the window. You also have to have people who are readily available to drop off or pick up your kids on the days you are working - because there’s not time for you to do it. (Thanks Dad & husband!)

I learned that your position is needed, yes, but not always welcome or wanted. There were generally two responses when students walked in the room. “Yessssss!!!” or, “Ughhhhhh” - neither of which are good. The yeses are excited because they think it’s a free day and they can act out or avoid doing work. The groans are kid’s that love their teacher and/or don’t like change. To be honest, neither greeting feels awesome. These kids don’t know you and don’t respect you. The good news is - this gets better as the year goes on. All relationships take time, so of course it takes time for the students to get to know and trust you. My favorite story from the year has to do with a 5th grade boy. I subbed the the same class multiple times. One morning he walked in the classroom, took one look at me and said out loud, “Ugh. A sub. I hate subs. I’m gonna be bad today.” I smiled at him. I asked him why he didn’t like subs. He informed me that he really loved his teacher and that she was a great teacher. I encouraged him, “I know you love your teacher and miss her. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun and have a great day!” I began making extra effort to greet him, talk to him, give fist bumps, and ask him questions about himself. And oh, did I learn a lot. One day he wrote me a note on a sticky note telling me that I was really nice, I was a great sub, and my son was super lucky to have me as a mom.

I learned to be prepared for anything. You’ll have the sweetest of kids and the angriest of kids - from all walks of life. You have to remember you never know what their home life is like. When a kid is angry, disrespectful, or acting out, there is a reason. You may be the only person that’s kind to them. These are the ones that may need your kindness the most. If you respond in the right way - in a way differently than they’re used to - you may see their whole demeanor shift. If you can learn to not react, but remain calm and ask questions, it makes all the difference. On my last day of a long-term job it broke my heart when I was speaking with two kids at the back table. We were talking about what they were going to do over the summer and the boy wasn’t sure. He told me he hadn’t lived at home for three years. Then the girl said sweetly, “I wish I could live with you.” Sigh. I saw so many situations and heard so many stories that absolutely broke my heart.

I learned that again, though you are greatly needed, you’re not part of a team. You still get up everyday and go to work, but you don’t have co-workers. You sort of do - you get to know people - but, you’re not “one of them.” It is truly the strangest thing. Where the staff may be great friends or even consider one another “family”, you are an outsider. I struggled with this the most. I love talking with people and I cannot tell you how many people I met this year. I would say I met more people in the past 9 months than the two years prior of living here. That was amazing. But, I also longed for that camaraderie and team dynamic that you would have in a normal work setting. Again, ask my husband. I cannot say I didn’t come home crying a couple times… or more. But hey, I cry a lot.

I learned that you do have the opportunity to make a difference, even if it’s small. Over time, I did build relationships with students. Students that would be happy to see me, give me a hug, and genuinely excited if I was their sub that day. No, I didn’t get to be in one classroom every day with the same kids. But I learned to spot the kids that looked lonely, sad, or that maybe needed a listening ear. I learned to pray for opportunities every day. Sure enough, God would bring them. I had many a sweet conversation that I may have missed were I not paying attention.

Looking back, I know God brought me way out of my comfort zone. I had to rely on and trust Him for each day. I’ve told many people that it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and it’s true. I’m grateful that God is ever growing and changing me, my perspective, and my abilities. I can promise you I wouldn’t have done this a few years ago. I look forward to next year and building upon the relationships I’ve begun to build. The good news is that unlike teachers who have to say goodbye to their students and hello to new ones, I get the privilege of keeping them all.

Until next year,

A first time substitute.

Now, I’m off to enjoy my summer with my kids.

*I cannot post photos of all my students, but I had some pretty awesome ones. See below