Re: Charter School or Substitute?

Sub

Posted on 7/19/09

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Tough call. You originally posted a while ago. Have you heard anything as
of yet?

I long-term subbed this past spring after I finished student teaching in the
winter. On one hand, I might worry for you that you will be unhappy going
from a situation where you are THE teacher to a "stand-in" who must follow
rules, lesson plans and other activities regardless of whether your personal
philosophy is cohesive with them or not. At the same time, here's the other
thing. I was offered the opportunity to begin teaching at a charter school
in the middle of this school year when I first graduated. Believe me, I was
SO tempted to jump on it. (I had no idea what the future would have in
store for me.) But I had two phenomenal cooperating teachers who really
worked their hardest to get me to not take the position for this reason.
They asked, "Do you want to teach at this school for the next 5, 10 year?"
Honestly, no, not really. Well, there was my answer. They told me that
every minute I spent in a place where I knew that I didn't want to end up
was a minute I lost making connections in the places where I did. A
position didn't open up at the school where I ended up long-term subbing;
however, the principal gave me a great recommendation when my present
principal called for one this spring. Every day I had arrived early, stayed
late, joined committees and tried to step up in every way I could. If you
put the time in, you will stand out as part of the team and not just as part
of the background. Still, I'm sure you're nervous about not having a job
with benefits or set hours. And unfortunately something else to consider is
that long-term sub positions are going to be as hard as ever. I think your
gut instinct is probably the best thing to go with now but you could always
apply to the charter schools and turn them down even if you were offered a
position.

Good luck

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