Most students go about their school day, briefly working through the motions of learning and completing assignments, but they often forget to appreciate those who put in the effort to help them learn. A school requires many different parts of participation and jobs, ranging from teachers, parents, and school administrators to many more. Another is substitute instructors, who deserve much more recognition than they receive. Their job is important like any other, but they can be overlooked. A normal day at a school can be difficult for a sub to handle for many reasons: disrespectful or careless students, little to no given plans, attempting to control a classroom that isn’t theirs, a small amount of knowledge about a topic they have to teach, and a school atmosphere. Not only is it hard to navigate a day, but it is also difficult to mask the educator’s authority, as students do not see them as “powerful.” Many excuse their disrespect by saying “it isn’t their classroom,” “they aren’t a real teacher,” or “they can’t help them.” In reality, a school would hardly be able to function if there weren’t substitutes; they deserve appreciation, respect, and recognition.

     A well-known and beloved guest instructor, Vivian Quinn, has been teaching for 44 years. She taught for 40 of those, retired in 2022, and has subbed since then. One can see Quinn visiting anywhere from three days to every day in a week, the districts ranging from the high school, Linn-Mar, and Prairie, although her favorite is at Marion High School. Quinn enjoys teaching for Family and Consumer Sciences, as she has a large amount of experience and prior knowledge on the topics. She has both substituted long-term and short-term. She had a long-term position for Foods & Nutrition 1 and Bakery at the high school for a semester, and an 8th-grade science class for five weeks. Quinn said, “There are pros and cons to subbing long term versus just one day.” For her, the most difficult parts, no matter what, are that a student may not know her and “some students try to take advantage of someone new (the sub),” Quinn said. Nonetheless, she enjoys educating and said, “I really enjoy getting to know the students and really being able to impact their learning by really teaching and getting into the curriculum.” In addition, she knows many of the staff at Marion, allowing her to receive help or guidance when needed, which makes her feel comfortable and welcome. This is what we need.

     But how do these subs get into the classroom in the first place? Angie Hooper is the attendance secretary at the high school and has had this position for five years. She finds a replacement for an absent teacher and works very closely with those subs who are regularly in the building. When someone calls in to work absent, Hooper navigates finding a replacement by calling guest teachers or a different staff member in the building. Typically, using another instructor isn’t the best option, and it’s much more beneficial to have a substitute instead. Hooper said, “Subs are important for so many reasons. Teachers get sick just like everyone else. We have to have someone who can cover for them that can still keep up with educational progress.” Not only do they help take the stress off one’s shoulders when one isn’t present, but they also have a positive impact on the environment. They build relationships with students and staff and help continue the flow of teaching and learning. Currently, Hooper does well with the subs we have, but she would love to see the list of subs expand. They are a big key factor in any school day.

     Substitute teachers aren’t ones to overlook or disregard. They deserve more recognition and credit for their hard work and dedication. Their typical day is usually difficult and often unpredictable. Think about how a day at school goes for one, but then add more stress with handling poor treatment, varying knowledge of topics, and little to no guidance on it all. Stepping into their shoes wouldn’t be easy, not with any other job either. But, it’s important to be mindful of how beneficial and beyond helpful substitute teachers are.