Substitute Teacher Story: Claire Mayberry

Newlywed grad student finds the flexibility of substitute teaching helpful. 

Claire Mayberry loves math. She graduated college with a degree in mechanical engineering, then landed a dream job.  

It didn’t take her long to figure out that sitting in a cubical, working 8-5, wasn’t for her. It didn’t feel meaningful. Claire did some soul searching. Then, she quit that dream job.  

She’s now pursuing a master’s in clinical mental health counseling. One big obstacle; she needed a flexible job to pay for the degree. Her mom, a high school math teacher, suggested Claire become a substitute teacher. 

In this Q&A, Claire shares why this is the perfect job for her stage in life.

I don't have the type of personality where I flourish in a hamster wheel office cubicle environment. I need to be in a job where I'm not constantly required to be typing or answering an e-mail. I like to be in the present moment and have a little bit of variety. I can substitute teach in high school one day and meet new people there, then be in kindergarten the next day. Getting to be in different environments fits my personality and is what I love.  

Tell us more about flexibility.

With substitute teaching, you work the days you want to work. It's so much more motivating than when I was working full time because it's my choice every day. Once you’ve done it a few times, you learn which schools you like, which teachers you like to fill in for, which classrooms are well-managed, and which ones you want to go back to. There are a ton of great opportunities every day.  

I look for shifts to pop up on the Kelly Education scheduling app and I'm excited when I see one that's at a school I like. It just feels like a reward. 

Also, I’m a newlywed, so I get to work the hours my husband works. A lot of stay-at-home moms are also substitute teachers with me. So, they work at their kids’ school and get to know the teachers and the community. They know what's going on in their kids' lives...I think that's awesome.  

What experience or skills have transferred to your role as a substitute teacher?

I took a ton of math classes in college. So being able to work out a math problem on the board with students and watch their aha breakthrough moment when I'm teaching them—that's very rewarding for me. Having students feel empowered to get through a tough assignment feels good. 

By pursuing my master’s degree in mental health, I see how much students in middle school and high school have been affected by COVID. So, giving them this sense of accomplishment and this sense of normalcy to overcome these obstacles is just very rewarding.   

What does a typical day look like as a substitute teacher?

I show up and get instructions at the school, and I just follow the instructions. Sometimes, there’s a lesson plan. Sometimes, I’m helping with homework. Sometimes, the teacher wants the students to do silent reading and take notes. Then, at the end of the day I go to the office and sign out. That's it. I go home. My evening is mine.  

What’s great about the schedule, too, is that I still have a couple of hours between 3-5 p.m. to make doctor appointments or run other errands. 

What would you tell someone considering becoming a substitute teacher?

I would encourage people to go through the application process and get the training. The training through Kelly Education was very straightforward. I received the training before I fully committed so I could see what it was like. I would encourage people to give it a chance because if you sign up one day and find it’s not for you, you don't have to do it again.  

You'll never know if you don't try. You'll always think about what if I could have had this very flexible – and meaningful – job that would have fit into my lifestyle. 

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