Substitutes Slipping Away
Declining numbers of substitute teachers nationwide affect Conifer High School Classrooms
By Mia Vaughn
Schools all over the United
emergency, we can put a request in
substitutes,” McFadden-Barr
States, including Conifer High
our automated sub system and subs
said.
School, have been struggling to
from around Jefferson county can
find substitutes when teachers
pick up the sub job. Frequently,
pandemic, issues only got worse.
are unable to work. Although
it’s these last-minute sub-jobs that
Many people did not want to
Conifer has not been hit as
aren’t ever picked up by a sub,
have lengthy interactions with
hard as other schools within
leaving us without coverage for a
others, and this included subs.
the district, substitutes are still
teacher.”
The risk of being exposed to
hard to come by, especially with
The shortage is not
During the COVID-19
COVID-19 in a classroom is high
COVID still looming over the
something completely new.
because many people are in a
public.
Substitute teachers have always
room with limited ventilation.
Ariana Pensy is a senior at
Getting sick often isn’t worth the
Conifer who recently moved to
risk of being in class for sub-
Colorado from Arizona.
stitute teachers, not to mention that many of these substitutes are
“It seems like here they are handling it better because you
older, which makes them particu-
actually have subs,” Pensy said,
larly susceptible to the virus. Cindy Klinker has been
“There were times at my school
a substitute teacher for 11 years.
[in Arizona] where we would be in class and there would just be no teacher.” Full-time teachers have been hard-hit by the shortage. When something comes up where
“ Wh e n t h e p a n d e m i c h app e n e d , m a ny of ou r s u b s t it ut e s , w h o a re re t i re d t e a c h e r s t h e m s e l v e s , d e c i d e d t h e r i s k of t e a c h i n g on t h e c l a s s ro om w a s t o o g re at ,” Mc - Fa d d e n s a i d . ( C or y Ne u me i e r, C H STo d ay )
one to cover their class. “Typically, if we know we are missing a day in advance, we can call our favorite substitutes to see if they have the availability to cover our absence.” Jessie McFadden-Barr, a science teacher at CHS, said. “If it’s an
20
through the Jeffco school system and she has connections with many teachers, making it easier to find jobs. “It’s been way busier
they are not able to be at school, they need to scramble find some-
Her kids have come and gone
been difficult to come by due to controversy over pay. Teaching can be a strenuous job, especially if the students don’t behave. “If subs aren’t compensated at a rate that makes the job worth their time and energy, many subs are going to decide not to continue as
than ever,” she said. “I have been receiving calls ever since the beginning of school. This year I have been asked months in advance to sub. I have had so many phone calls and texts, and have even been stopped in the hall.” Teachers need to be proactive about filling absences,
