Teresa (Kay) Garcia has been a substitute teacher at Green High School for 12 years, but has worked within schools her entire life. As a substitute, Garcia is crucial to the school’s running and students’ success. However, students need to be made aware of what being a substitute teacher entails. Garcia has given The Paw Print an insider’s view of her work and life as a substitute to remedy this.
Her favorite part of her job is the students she works with and the flexibility it offers. Overall, Garcia’s favorite grade to sub for is seniors; she likes hearing about their future plans after high school. However, she enjoys working with the entire student population.
“I’m always here for the kids, and the time off for the summer and holidays is great too,” Garcia said.
When asked what her least favorite subject to sub for was, she answered that it was the physical education classes. A student’s chances of getting hurt are much higher in physical education than in a regular class, so subbing there makes Garcia a little nervous. Alternatively, her favorite subject to sub for is the English classes.
“I like all the classes; I will sub everywhere except for p.e. because I’m always worried a student will get hurt,” Garcia said.
Being a substitute teacher involves more than just talking to the students; it also involves quite a bit of work. Garcia explained the process of her day as a substitute in depth to show students what she does.
“I get to the school by 7 a.m, checking in at the office and getting my substitute folder that tells me where I’m assigned. Sometimes I get golden tickets on my folder, which tell me that I’m period subbing somewhere, but once I get to my assigned classroom I read over the teacher’s plans,” Garcia said.
Garcia also elaborated on a particular part of her morning subbing routine, which she does right when she gets to the classroom where she is subbing.
“I check to see where students go if we have drills or emergencies, and I do this so I know what to do in an emergency so I’m not scatterbrained,” Garcia said.
Garcia then does the rest of her pre-class routine, including stylishly writing her name on the board and ensuring she and the students know what to do and where to find their work. After subbing for the day, she returns her folder and checks out at the office.
But more than being a substitute teacher, Garcia lives an exciting life outside school hours. Her husband, whom she met at a weekend square dancing lesson 13 years ago, plays a big part in her life. He even takes her school bag out to her car and starts it for her to help get Garcia’s day as a substitute teacher started.
“I like to participate in hiking on the towpaths. My favorite movie is the original Mary Poppins and my favorite music is gospel hymns, The Carpenters, and older Adele music,” Garcia said about what makes her unique.
“I love my job at Green High School. I’m not fond of my alarm going off at 5:15 a.m, but that’s the only bad thing about working here as a substitute. I’ve worked in schools my whole life, but I think substituting at Green High School is the best kept secret because if everyone knew how it was substituting here, they’d want to do it too,” Garcia said.