Wilsonville High School is filled with many consistent substitute teachers whose jobs are to occupy the space of teachers who are gone. They are well educated and have many years of experience up their sleeves. The biggest priority for substitute teachers is respect from students and the administration. This respect is crucial for maintaining a positive learning environment and ensuring effective classroom management. Having a position to return to is helpful for a sub so they don’t have to move around to multiple schools.
The responsibilities of a full-time job vs substituting differ based on the day-to-day duties of both roles. Some examples of what a substitute teacher must do are follow lesson plans, manage the classroom by maintaining a positive learning environment, and encourage engagement. They ensure that learning continues smoothly and is crucial in keeping education on track.
On the other hand, full-time teaching consists of planning and teaching, assessing and grading, as well as student support. They must keep parents informed about their child’s progress and continuously improve their teaching skills. Both positions are challenging and involve extensive time-management skills.
Substitute teacher Mr. Russel says, “I only substitute for Wilsonville, so I get to know many students. However, I still have to remember every name and face, and it’s very challenging to put them together and remember.”
Both positions have rewarding aspects that are similar as well as different. As a substitute, you make a difference by helping in students’ growth, and you gain classroom experience. Additionally, the networking opportunities are generous for most subs because working in different schools allows you to build connections with educators and administrators, which leads to future opportunities.
Similarly, a full-time teaching job allows you to positively impact a student’s learning and growth, usually more frequently than a sub can. The differences are that you can build stronger connections with your students and colleagues, and you have job stability. Some other examples include designing engaging lessons and having a community impact on future generations and society.
Substitute teacher Mrs. Kimberly shares that her favorite memory of being a substitute teacher was, “when the eighth-grade teacher at Wood would ask for students to write letters, and then throughout the day, they would come and bring me their letters. I thought that was very rewarding.”