When the teacher is away, students’ may think it is time to play, but not if LZHS have anything to say about it.

Substitute teachers are the replacements for a student’s regular teacher; without them, teachers would have no way to miss a day of school. “A sub” has to take the responsibilities of that teacher, as well as enforce discipline to keep the students in line as the teacher would. Substitutes may enjoy what they do, but there are important responsibilities that come with the job.

“Just giving directions, sitting down, and saying ‘work’ is not being a good substitute,” Savannah Shuster, sophomore, said. “Subs need to interact with the students because when they do students have more respect for them overall.”

Students recognize the confidence and knowledge of a substitute the second they start speaking to the class, according to Shuster.

“A good sub is knowledgeable about the material their talking about, and is able to engage the students,” Shuster said. “After you have a day with a good sub you don’t feel a day behind.”

Deborah Hughes, LZHS substitute teacher, was once a Spanish teacher at LZHS, which gives her more experience when substitute teaching in the language department.

“My favorite subject to sub for is Spanish, because that is where I feel I can be the most help to the students,” Hughes said.

Hughes enjoys subbing for LZHS students and enjoys having the freedom of being a substitute, but still being able to spend time with the students.

“For me, subbing is more fun [then being a teacher], because you get the contact with the students without the other responsibilities of being a teacher,” Hughes said.

Like Hughes, many teachers have a favorite subject to substitute for. Substitute teachers are able to pick which classes they do not want to sub for, and can also pick and choose which jobs they want to work.

“I like working in the science department, just because I have an interest in science,” Nicholas Tonkery, LZHS substitute teacher, said.

Tonkery is a retired sales executive, which helps him in classes such as economics and also gives him the social skills he needs to be a substitute teacher.

“I became a substitute because I enjoy coming to the school and being with students,” Tonkery said. “I like contributing to their education.”

For some students, having a substitute can be a chance to slack off and bring out their inner rebel.

“Students know they can get away with more when they have a sub, and that they won’t get in trouble,” Shuster said.

Tonkery and Hughes both say that they have not had many issues with LZHS students, other than seat changes, but have had a few students act out while they sub.

“I did have to send a student to the dean’s because they got very mouthy and disrespectful,” Hughes said. “It was like they were challenging my authority and saying, ‘you are a sub, you can’t do anything about it’.”

Other than that one incident, Hughes has not had many problems with students, and Tonkery has only sent two students to the deans, because they were acting disrespectfully, in the ten years he has been a substitute at LZHS.

To be a substitute teacher, it is necessary to have confidence and the ability to handle students. It is a way for teachers to take a break from the classroom and a change of pace for the students.

According to Jennifer Brown-Banks in Substitute Teacher Magazine, “We are partners in education.  Substitute teachers allow full-time educators to take time off for much needed mental health days, thereby avoiding burnout. Love us or hate us, we’re here to stay.”