SUBSTITUTE EDUCATORS DAY
NOV. 21st, 2003

WHO ARE SUBSTITUTE EDUCATORS?
Substitute Educators include all school employees without regular assignments, paid by districts to work in schools, who work when regular employees are absent or when schools need extra help. Substitute Teachers are most but not all of the substitutes in schools. Varieties of Substitute Educators include, but are not limited to, substitute teachers, secretaries, and instructional assistants (paraprofessionals): all SUBSTITUTE in our schools.

Substitute Educators have many reasons for choosing to substitute in schools. Many have other sources of income (small business, artistry, pension); some have home care responsibilities. Some enjoy not having to work everyday (!); with the chance to return rested up for the challenging assignments that some Substitute Educators actually prefer, with their dedication to making a difference. A majority are seeking or would welcome regular assignments every day. Almost all Substitute Educators work without employer health insurance.
Substitute Educators are accustomed to and must be accustomed to changes. They step with some confidence into the unknown, each day; taking a certain pride in their adaptability and flexible use of wits. Probably not one grew up with the intention of being a Substitute Educator one day— though many really love their job!

WHAT IS SUBSTITUTE EDUCATORS DAY?
Of course, everyday is a good day for appreciating Substitute Educators; but in practice, school substitutes often feel invisible, under-appreciated and even afraid of notice, for fear they may be blamed for what they donít know or for what occurs when they are working.
Some effort has been made to celebrate teachers who substitute during Teacher Appreciation Week with its National Teacher Day, in early May. Some schools use this day or week to appreciate their whole staff, sometimes even including non-staff like school substitutes and volunteers.
Including substitutes in educator recognition continues to be a good idea. And the Substitute Teaching Institute promotes Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week during the same May week for national teacher appreciation.
In addition, there is a need for a special, dedicated recognition of the full range of substitutes who participate in the education of school children; to recognize their particular value and give oft-forgotten thanks. National Education Association promotes one week each fall to recognize ALL educators of schoolchildren: American Education Week. In July of 2003, NEA established a special day during American Education Week, to celebrate the value and accomplishments and to recognize the specific needs of substitute education employees: SUBSTITUTE EDUCATORS DAY.
The opportunities are now there to both include substitute teachers in Teacher Appreciation Week in May, and to highlight and honor during American Education Week the necessary and undervalued work that the full range of Substitute Educators do: for us and for our students' learning and well-being.

HOW IMPORTANT ARE SUBSTITUTE EDUCATORS?
Substitute Teachers, for example, are the teachers in an average of 1/10th of our classrooms per day. The student's accustomed teacher could be absent due to health needs; or professional development. Also, some positions are hard to find qualified applicants to hire, and are filled indefinitely with a substitute teacher.
The 10% per day average holds across Washington State (one of the FEW requiring certificates for ST's), and the nation. Therefore, typical high school graduates have been taught by Substitute Teachers for more than one full year of their public education!
And we all know how important a good substitute secretary or instructional assistant can be to the running of our classroom or entire school.

WHAT WOULD SE'S LIKE FOR SUBSTITUTE EDUCATOR DAY?
First, they'd like some small kinds of recognition that are particular to the particular job they each do as school substitutes. Easy and/or inexpensive ideas can go a long way. Here are some, but at or before your next staff meeting, you could come up with more as you think about your school.
+ A bouquet of some long-lasting flowers like carnations: one flower to each Substitute Educator that day or week.
+ Proudly identify each regular staff employee (and/or their work station), who has served as a Substitute Educator sometime in their career. In many if not most schools, this is the majority of staff!
+ A baggie of snacks from the Staff Room celebration, brought to the classroom, by staff or student. Substitute Teachers, particularly, often stay in-classroom, using breaks and lunchtime to prepare for the next part of the day. They may also appreciate a personal invitation.
+ Schoolwide recognition of Today's Guest Teachers and/or Substitute Educators, in the read-aloud school bulletin, or the intercom announcements.
+ Digital photos of the Substitute Educators of The Week, collected on a central bulletin board or banner.

What else occurs to you? Here were some surprising first-responses direct from some Seattle Schools substitutes:
I'd just like a special Hello and Thank You. Often everybody is so busy with their own little thing so I feel invisible on arrival and departure, and left out at lunch.
If I could have my choice, I'd have the teachers spend the time to prepare me to do my job in the classroom. I don't think they realize how important updated seating charts are to being able to start class by calling students by name.
Yes, a complete Substitute Folder, with roster and emergency route, and all those little procedures that are taken for granted, like pencil sharpening and students you can trust to explain the right way quickly.
I love it when I see the day's materials, all stacked sequentially or laid out with Post-It notes: I can see I've got what I need to have a Good Day. Who needs flowers and stuff? of course they're nice.

There is a simple angle on this. Think of what it's like for Substitute Educators when they walk in the door of your school or classroom. Then make some changes to let them know they are noticed, appreciated and essential.
Get your whole staff and your students, your whole district, involved in each doing something for YOUR Substitute Educators, November 21st— or maybe all that week for American Education Week— or everyday! It's for them, so it's for you; and it certainly can affect student learning. Students will need knowledge and skills about substitutes their whole lives.