Teachers have to keep up with missed work on their days off and worry about finding a substitute who can run their classroom while they are away.
This proves to be a difficult task for all teachers when taking days off. The Lakeland High School administration solved this problem by making Richard Sears a full-time, on-campus substitute.
A full-time substitute, like Sears, spends the whole day on the school campus. There are many beneficial factors to full-time substitutes, such as availability and consistency. Allowing many classrooms to grow and adapt to the teaching styles of one substitute, instead of switching the sub every time, can help the classroom environment grow and learn.
Almost every school in the nation has discussed the idea of an on-site substitute, but only some can say that they always have a substitute on campus.
Lakeland High School can now trust that Sears can always substitute for any class type.
“There’s so many awesome students, and I get to see them daily,” Sears said.
Being an on-site substitute allows the students to adapt to Sears’s teaching style and will enable Sears to adapt to all classroom environments. Strengthening connections with all the teachers will enable Sears to understand and execute the teachers’ notes and tasks more effectively and seamlessly.
“The teachers take great pride in what they do and are a pleasure to work with,” Sears said.
It reduces stress on the teachers because they do not have to look far to find a replacement. While Sears cannot be everywhere all the time, having him be here full-time is effective when a teacher needs to find a substitute.
Not only does Sears help in all the classrooms, but he also was an assistant coach for LHS’ varsity football team this year. In the spring, he will take the role of associate coach for LHS’ C-team football team with Michael Dunn. Strengthening relationships with even more students, many find Sears to be as close to them as one of their full-time teachers.
“I really fell in love with Lakeland High School; it’s a special place,” Sears said. “Rathdrum is a beautiful little town with some great people.”
Although this is Sears’ first year as a sub, it is difficult to compare what it would be like to be a part-time sub.
Many students find having full-time substitutes favorable because they are not in for a surprise each time they get a substitute for a class. The students know what rules and expectations Sears has for them before he even walks into the course.
Having a consistent substitute teacher can provide stability and continuity for students. It helps maintain a familiar face in the classroom, creating a more comfortable and secure learning environment for students of all ages. Full-time subs such as Sears can develop stronger bonds due to their exposure to many classrooms, often for multiple days.
Sears does a lot for Lakeland High School and is greatly appreciated by many teachers who, in the past, struggled to find someone to fill their position for the day, especially in instances where the teacher did not plan on missing that day, such as sick days or emergencies.
On top of the stress they already have to experience during these days, it is excellent for many teachers to know which substitute to go to first. If the teachers at LHS have a family emergency that requires them to leave during a class, the school does not have to worry about finding someone to watch who is not a substitute.
