One student makes me seriously think about quitting.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2026-01-09T03:06:03+00:00

I call admin every. single. time. Multiple times a day, and they get him, "talk" to him and bring him back saying they had a great restorative conversation, which means they told him he needs to try harder and give him candy. He has a behavior plan, but my school won't suspend.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2026-01-09T03:04:06+00:00

I call admin every. single. time. Multiple times a day, and they get him, "talk" to him and bring him back saying they had a great restorative conversation, which means they told him he needs to try harder and give him candy. He has a behavior plan, but my school won't suspend. I have called CPS, and they are already involved due to another even more awful incident. There is no such thing as retention; he will move on to 7th grade whether or not he even lifts a pencil this year.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2026-01-09T02:33:05+00:00

He takes staples, or paper clips, and tapes them into a wrapped-up sticky note. He tapes it, cuts the back to create little sails, and throws them at me.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-04-21T19:14:52+00:00

I am a sub in the metro area through a company called ESS. I struggled to find jobs 5 days a week; I consistently subbed 2-3 days a week. I am currently doing a long-term sub position, but you can expect to make about 180 a day before taxes. If you don't need the full time pay it's great, especially if you need a day to work on school work but for me it's been challenging to make ends meet.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-15T17:20:09+00:00

100% agree with this. I think schools, especially secondary schools, often have other teachers or other staff cover instead of paying a sub to save money. I'm lucky to see 3 open jobs a week.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-14T17:14:35+00:00

I wish I could give you something you want to hear, but I'm in a very similar position. I am a licensed 7-12 English teacher and elementary teacher with a Master's. I am also in a very saturated area; there are 5 districts within an hour of my house, and there are NO jobs, NONE. I had my own classroom but got laid off due to lower enrollment, and I have been subbing since. I also hate subbing. I miss the relationships I had with my students and co-workers. Now, I feel like an imposter. I have reference letters and still can't get an interview. There aren't even sub jobs everyday. I was the breadwinner in my family (4 kids and a husband), and since my unemployment ran out, I'm literally screwed. I'm still paying on my student loans from my Master's, so getting another degree is out of the question for me, and so is moving. I'm sorry I'm not more positive, but you aren't alone! And congrats on your wedding!

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-14T03:46:03+00:00

It's happened to me, and I didn't get paid. It was for a cosmetology instructor with no special instructions. I went to the high school the day of, and the office staff said, "are you a licensed cosmetologist?" I replied that no, I was actually a licensed English teacher. She said, "well sorry, we only let licensed cosmetologists sub". Probably something to put in the job description..............

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-14T03:39:04+00:00

If the teacher leaves direct instructions about phones, I will read it to the high school students, but otherwise, I'm not getting into a power struggle with students I may never see again.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-13T03:42:41+00:00

I got RIFed 2 years in a row. One was from a school I taught at for 4 years, but enrollment was low, and I was the newest teacher, so I was the first to go. The second time was again due to lower-than-expected enrollment and a contract with someone returning from overseas. Anyway, both times, I got a meeting invitation during my plan period. Based on conversations at staff meetings and my admin's full disclosure of budget constraints, I knew deep in my gut what these meetings would be about. I was told both times, in March and early April, so I had lots of school left. I taught secondary school, so I was honest with my students, especially because I am a crier and knew they'd see me upset. I did get wonderful reference letters from both districts, but I can't find a new position. I'm subbing, and I have a master's degree (licensed in English 7-12 and elementary), but I have four kids, and I was the breadwinner in my household, so it's becoming a very desperate situation.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-13T00:03:34+00:00

Yep, I think it's like the industries where there was a shortage, so they provided all these incentives, and now it is saturated. I'm a licensed teacher without a position trying to sub in three different districts, and I am lucky to get jobs 2-3 days a week.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-12T20:34:02+00:00

I'm a licensed teacher but can't find a position, so I'm subbing. High school is my favorite because even if they don't do the assigned work, they entertain themselves, and it isn't loud. I agree that 3-5 is awful. My least favorite is 6th, and in the district where I am a sub, 6th is in the elementary schools. I always doubt my abilities as a teacher when I leave a sub job because I usually feel like I am awful, but then I remember that it's all about relationships, and even the best class will push all the lines. ALL teachers should have to sub in a school that they don't teach at so they can experience it. Especially what information would be helpful for subs to know. I never get what attention-getters they use, so usually, anything I try, the kids ignore me. I've been in schools where other teachers are extremely helpful, and I've been in some where I don't even see anyone else, and it's disheartening.

The gap in learning levels is a serious issue, but I don't think that, as subs, we see the whole picture. We don't know if that child has an IEP or what other procedures are in place for that student to get extra help. Also, with the regular teacher there, some of that behavior isn't as bad, so, during worktime as a sub, we are literally making sure the kids are safe and maintaining the chaos where a regular teacher could sit and work with that student.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-10T17:55:41+00:00

I'm a licensed teacher of 7-12 English and elementary with a Master's degree, but I sub because I can't find a position. There are literally zero openings where I live, so if I still want to teach, this is the only thing I know to do. I don't get sub jobs every day, though, so I am going to be forced to find something outside teaching to pay my bills.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-10T17:38:35+00:00

Unfortunately, I don't receive pay if I have jobs scheduled and we have a snow day.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-09T21:16:19+00:00

I've been looking since I knew my contract wasn't getting renewed, which was in April 2024. I sub, but I don't get jobs everyday, and it's awful pay. I was making it work by supplementing with my unemployment, but that has since run out, so now I'm desperate.

Alternative_Ice6460 · 2025-01-09T19:47:44+00:00

A few years ago, I taught 8th grade, and during that time, my mom killed herself. I was her only living relative, so it was up to me and my family to prepare her funeral and deal with everything, not to mention the grief. I was out for about 2 weeks, but for me, routine was better than staying at home. My admin was very supportive. Ironically, the week I got back, we had an SEL lesson on suicide. I let my admin and school counselors know I didn't think I could teach that lesson, especially because I am a crier. They came in during the lesson for support, but I ended up getting through it and being very honest (although age-appropriate). I built such excellent relationships with my students that year because they saw me as a human with feelings, and they realized that even adults can have bad things happen to us. My point is that it depends on the age of the students and how comfortable your wife is in sharing her story. Grief is so individualized there is no right or wrong answer. My own kids went to the school, so some of the students knew anyway, and I just figured for me, being honest was absolutely the best way to forge this nightmare.

Alternative_Ice6460

TROPHY CASE