Questions Answered

When a substitute teacher needs a day off, we just make ourselves unavailable that day. When we're doing day-to-day subbing, it's really easy to just turn down an assignment. (Of course, if we don't work, we don't get paid.) 

But when we're on a long-term assignment...

Now, I've subbed for a sub before. I have covered a long-term sub who had to take a day off. But I have never before been the long-term sub in question. 

Last week I posted about my dentist appointment to deal with my cracked tooth. I took that day off work. It was a good thing, as I was in the dentist's chair for three and a half hours. 

And it had been something that was going to have to happen. 

Substitutes have a limit as to how many days they can cover a class. Before, it had been 30 days (or 20 days in a special ed class). But this year of our pandemic, the state passed a law extending that time to 60 days (and then extended it again to 120 days for non-special ed classes). (This was one way of dealing with the substitute teacher and full time teacher shortage.) 

When I started covering Ms. L's class, the sub caller and I counted. From the day I started to the last day of school: 61 days. (The class is special ed, so I'm still bound by the 60 day max rule.) 

By taking a day off for the dentist, I can cover this class until the last day of school. 

So, I made lesson plans. I told the instructional aides and the students I'd be out. I let the office know. I cleared it with the sub caller. I was good to go. 

So, how did the class do with a sub for a sub? 

I'll never know. They didn't cover me. 

Yeah, you know that sub shortage? One of the other teachers on campus was out sick that day, too. The campus only got one sub. 

Sigh. 

Ah well. I did what I could. And it was only one day. (Everybody was very happy to see me the next day.)

A Sub for a Sub

When I walked into the secretary's office to check in, she was on the phone with the sub caller. She was discussing me and why I had been given a certain assignment.

Apparently, I was in for a long term sub. For the day.

It was a math class. The long term sub had left me lesson plans. So, I was well prepared. But it threw the kids for a loop.

I guess it never occurred to them that a sub might need a day off. Their teacher had been out for a while (maternity leave). I explained that this was not a "changing of the subs". Their sub needed the day for whatever reason, and she would return tomorrow.

The long term sub is doing a good job with them. They have not gone wild. So, for me it was just like any other sub day. I took roll, gave the assignment, and watched to make sure they stayed on task.