At Ridge High School, we often forget our cherished staff members who don’t always operate in the forefront of public view. Every supervisor, custodian, and counselor is fundamental to the success of our school and the closely-knit community we have built.

Substitute teachers in particular are especially important to schools, described by NJ Spotlight News as “a critical piece in the patchwork of coverage” [1]. In the wake of the pandemic and during the current teacher shortage, they are vital in keeping many schools across the nation afloat. In an article published by the New Jersey Education Report just two months ago, specialist Laura Waters observed how “in the school year 2019-2020, we had 98,000 full-time K-12 educators but now we have 96,000” [2]. Essentially, New Jersey faces a teacher shortage, and substitute teachers provide the necessary stability and support to uplift schools by consistently covering for teachers or gaps in staff in times of crisis. 

Substitute teaching can also be a great experience overall for growth and education.

Take, for example, Mrs. Wallis, who originally taught as a second grade teacher for over thirty years before retiring in 2016 and becoming a substitute teacher at Ridge High School.

“I love being a substitute teacher now,” said Mrs. Wallis. “The community is wonderful, and I have experienced nothing but politeness from students here. As a substitute, instead of teaching one subject like I used to, I now get to experience all of the aspects of learning, from foreign language to chemistry.”

Statistics show that 73% of substitute teachers in the nation plan to substitute again next year [3]. That retention rate demonstrates that substituting not only makes a big impact on the school ecosystem, but also that being a substitute teacher is a wonderful experience itself.

Truthfully, when recalling our elementary school years, substitute teachers have always been an integral part of our life from childhood to graduation. Perhaps we can all learn from substitute teachers and the importance of teamwork. In a school as big and diverse as Ridge, they are truly an awesome part of our staff.

In her words of parting, Mrs. Wallis asserted that her biggest piece of advice was to “never give up if you believe in something. Don’t ever give up. Trust yourself and keep going.” 

Sources:

[1] https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2023/10/nj-schools-face-teacher-shortage-as-state-limits-substitute-coverage/

[2] https://njedreport.com/lets-get-real-about-new-jerseys-teacher-shortage/#:~:text=There%20is%20much%20talk%20about,but%20now%20we%20have%2096%2C000.

[3] https://www.redroverk12.com/blog/7-key-takeaways-from-the-2023-substitute-teacher-survey