Meet your subs: An overview on substitute teaching

Students walk to class during the passing period, expecting a test, lecture, or discussion. Instead, they’re met by a substitute teacher writing directions on the board, instructing them to open their Chromebooks and log into Canvas. More often than not, the initial reaction from students is joy. But students rarely think deeply about the role that substitutes have in the school community.

The process

The path to becoming a substitute teacher starts with identifying qualified candidates. Candidates who have prior teaching experience or have proved competence in ensuring student safety through outside training. Afterwards, they are free to apply and become a substitute teacher through the MCPS careers website. At the school level, MCPS teachers have a substitute system where teachers and substitutes are registered. Teachers can input when they will be out and request a substitute with the date, time, and lesson plan details. From there, substitutes receive notifications regarding the interim position. 

Since substitute teachers can choose to work anywhere in Montgomery County, the small details and soft skills can make all the difference in retaining substitutes at the school-level. “We want our substitute teachers to love us. We try to get to know them and their preferences,” Assistant Principal Adriana Burgos says. “If I have a sub who might be here to cover for a teacher who only teaches two periods that day, I will assign them a third period, but I’ll make sure it’s close by or on the same floor.” 

Difficulties can arise with the possibility of students not being respectful. Substitute teachers generally focus more on student behavior rather than academic content. This comes into fruition because with the notoriety of Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Because of the demanding coursework, students' energy naturally focuses on academic tasks. This makes the class be perceived as more manageable to substitutes. “It’s not uncommon for substitutes to avoid an on-level or special education class because they are perceived as more challenging,” Burgos says.

Attendance

Photo: Students often write attendance on paper when a substitute teacher is present.

Students often write attendance on paper when a substitute teacher is present. Photo courtesy of Zach Carter.

Misconceptions around substitute teaching

The deserved respect and recognition, through the use of soft skills, of substitute teachers ensures there is a sufficient number of staff available. However, common misconceptions create room for errors, which affect how substitutes feel about respect and recognition.

Blair substitute teacher Kenneth Halperin's views differ from the conventional thoughts about the profession, as it relates to respect, “I don’t need any more. I get reasonable respect,” he says. 

Burgos expands on this, saying that substitute teachers don't yearn for respect. “A lot of substitutes don’t feel like they need respect or even deserve it in the same way as full-time teachers, even though they deserve it,” she says.

However, some employees, like interim substitute counselor Aranza Sanchez, believe substitute teachers deserve more recognition. “I think we all need to be aware that if it weren’t for substitutes, it would be hard for a lot of things to work,” Sanchez says. “We ask teachers for a lot, and it would be unfair to ask them to stretch themselves even thinner to cover classes.” 

Along with respect, students often underestimate substitute teachers' qualifications, assuming they are low due to the position’s portrayal when actually, substantial qualifications are required. “People assume we might not be qualified in the same way teachers are, but we do have to have many of the same qualifications as [teachers],” Sanchez says. Substitutes have a range of qualifications, spanning from a college degree to emotional competence. 

For the case of emotional competence, this skill helps a significant amount as substitutes often work with different schools, staff, and teachers.“I think the hardest part is trying to fit into a new environment and new coworkers. You have to adapt and start playing catch-up,” Sanchez says.

Additionally, substitute teachers are classified as temporary workers, leaving them with very few incentives like benefits. “Substitute teachers don’t have the same benefits as full-time staff, so the pay is one of the only motivators,” Burgos states. “While it’s a necessary job, it doesn’t come with the perks that full-time teachers have, like health insurance or job security.”

In addition to these limitations, substitute teachers face social challenges. Because of their limited time with students, primarily restricted to limited time with students, substitutes lack opportunities to build meaningful connections and share about themselves over time as full-time teachers do.

To many, this may seem unfulfilling. For Halperin it's a mixture of finding the simple things in the position, but the lack of fulfilment remains persistent. “Fulfillment? Sometimes. If I’ve been called in by a teacher who is a science teacher, sometimes,” Halperin says. “Most of the time, that’s not the case. [Students] work on Canvas. Everything’s Canvas, Canvas, Canvas. So it’s not fulfilling.” Being a retired science teacher, Halperin notes that he enjoys substituting for science classes, but mainly substitutes to get out of the house and find something to do.

Looking ahead

Taken together, the future of the substitute teaching system could needs some practical changes. Adjustments in efficiency are the problem that requires the most attention. “If the system had enough intelligence, you could be more efficient. There are jobs where you don’t need the sub because there are only two kids that day. You could easily put them in another class,” Halperin says. These factors could mold substitute teaching into a more fulfilling profession by making communication, duties, and classroom environments more professional. 

The next time you walk into class and find a new face writing instructions, remember that a brief greeting and simple respectful gesture can go a long way.