Beyond a sub teacher – More than a substitute doing subbing.

Right out of the gate, let’s address the reason for this article. You’ve heard the comments: “So you’re a sub teacher. Subbing is like being a babysitter until the real teacher returns. You just take attendance and then put on a video, right?” 

Rest assured: as a substitute teacher, you play a vital role in the educational process, and your contributions are never worthless or in vain. While students may call you the sub, you know that the most important part of your title is the word teacher. 

Never just a “sub” teacher.

One dictionary defines the word substitute as “a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.” To understand what that means, let’s look at the word in different contexts. 

Do you know how many players are on a professional basketball team? Twelve. But only five players are on the court at any one time. During a game, it’s common for one player to come in as a substitute for another. 

Now, was the substitute player just pulled out of the stands, just a random fan in street clothes munching on a hot dog? Of course not. That substitute player is a full-fledged member of the team, and they play a vital role. The sub has to practice, understand the game, meet certain qualifications, suit up, follow the coach’s instructions, and, most importantly—be able to play! The fact is, the players coming off the bench in professional basketball — or any other professional sport, for that matter — are among the best in the world! 

Here’s another analogy. Let’s say you’ve been hit with spur-of-the-moment inspiration to make a delicious pumpkin pie. You are in the kitchen, excitedly getting out the ingredients, when you realize you don’t have any evaporated milk. Are your pie-making plans dashed to pieces? Of course not! You can easily substitute evaporated milk with half and half or cream. Will anyone know the difference when they taste your awesome pumpkin pie? We’d bet a week’s pay they won’t! 

Likewise, being a substitute teacher is a critical role and ingredient in schools. You had to meet certain qualifications before you could even step into the classroom. So, the next time someone says, “Oh, I’m just a sub,” remember this: You’re not “just” anything. You are a skilled, prepared, and essential part of the education team. You make a difference every single day 

Subbing for what?

Okay, we’ve examined the words sub and substitute and found they’re important! Now, what about the second word in your job title? 

It’s common for people to use the slang word sub or that you’re subbing at a certain school. But subbing for what? You’re a substitute teacher, and that second word carries nearly all the weight. 

Yes, you’re a teacher, and to be called that, you had to meet specific qualifications. Maybe you needed a degree or teaching license, or you had to complete a program to be credentialed. Maybe you have years of experience as a sub teacher or permanent teacher. 

The point is, you’ve earned the title “teacher,” so don’t be afraid to own it. When looking for work, you may search subbing jobs near me. But when you walk into a school or classroom, and someone says, “Oh, are you the sub?” casually correct them by saying, “Yes, I’m the substitute teacher. I am excited to teach my class today!” 

You plan, teach, guide, encourage, and support students just as much as any full-time teacher. You’ve earned the right to be called TEACHER because that’s exactly what you are. 

At Kelly Education, we make it a point to avoid the term sub. We use the full title “substitute teacher” because we value and respect the role of educators. We don’t want to understate your value in facilitating education for the days, weeks, or even months you are in the classroom. 

Why others choose to be a substitute teacher.

Let’s address another common misconception: substitute teachers aren’t yet ready to be full-time, permanent teachers. While that may be true in some cases, and substitute teaching provides needed experience and classroom time, many substitute teachers actually prefer it to a permanent teaching position. Why? Take note of the benefits some substitute teachers shared with us (despite their use of the casual word “subbing” vs “teaching”: 

• “I get to pick and choose when and where I teach. I still get to build relationships with students and influence them in meaningful ways. I much prefer subbing.” 

• “I loved the variety of subbing. Special ed preschool one day, 12th grade calculus the next. Never a dull moment!” 

• “Subbing kept me in my career field without the commitment. I could choose which days I worked.” 

• “I don’t need to work full time, and this gives me a lot of flexibility.” 

• “Subbing is an easy way to supplement my income and stress free.” 

Benefits of substitute teaching.

Other teachers have mentioned additional advantages of being a sub teacher. First, you can’t beat the experience. You get to teach a variety of grade levels and subjects in all sorts of learning environments. 

This exposes you to a variety of lesson plans, which you can use to improve and expand your own teaching skills. 

If your goal is to become a full-time teacher, you can find out which grade levels you prefer, and you can see the distinct cultures of different schools. That experience can go a long way when it’s time to choose a full-time teaching job that fits your preferences and personality. 

As a substitute teacher, you’re much more than a babysitter. You can be a passionate mentor who contributes to your students’ success. You can share your own related experiences to broaden your students’ knowledge and understanding of the world around them. And you can inspire their curiosity to learn more, even if you’re only there for a day. 

Keep growing as a substitute teacher.

At Kelly Education, we have a library of articles to help our employees grow toward their career goals. They include: 

• Classroom management for substitute teachers 

• What not to do as a substitute teacher 

• A day in the life of a substitute teacher 

If you or someone you know is interested in substitute teaching, fill out our brief interest form, and one of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions. We’ll also share more about opportunities to become a substitute teacher or support staff with one of our school district partners.

I’m interested