When it comes to filling substitute teacher positions in area school districts, some administrators are looking no further than their students’ families for assistance.
Parents and grandparents are among those raising their hands to take on vacant teaching posts.
“I thought it would be kind of fun to occasionally get into the schools my kids are in and see what’s going on,” said Shawn Tweten, who has three kids in Mankato Area Public Schools. “For any parents or grandparents who want to get in at the schools where their kids are at, getting a short-call substitute teaching license might be good for them.”
Tweten has a full-time job in mental health counseling so he subs infrequently, but enjoys it when he does take the day off from his day job to pitch in at a local school. Tweten’s kids attend Dakota Meadows Middle School and Mankato West High School.
For Nicki Anderson, substitute teaching at New Ulm Middle School is her only job and she’s working five days a week for a teacher out on long-term medical leave.
She is mom to a 10th grader at New Ulm High School. She was a social worker for 20 years but suffered from burnout and decided to quit her job and take some time off. When she returned to the work world, she opted to fill in as a paraprofessional and, other days, as a sub.
Anderson has returned to school to get her master’s in special education and sees substitute teaching as the ideal fill-in when she’s free from her duties as a student herself.
“It’s allowing me the perfect opportunity to gain some experience for my master’s,” she said. “On days when I don’t have anything, I can come in and work. It’s flexible. I can pick the days.”
Laura Schotzko is another New Ulm parent who has found her way to substitute teaching. She has a senior and a ninth grader in New Ulm Public Schools.
“It made being a mom easy because I was in the same place as my kids with the same hours,” she said. “I decided to try this. I like it. I’m here every day.”
She appreciates the interaction with students but being free from the “teacher drudgery, I guess,” such as lesson planning. She also likes giving teachers a break.
Tweten said his favorite part of substitute teaching is getting in the environment his kids are in. Schotzko said she favors the variety in her substitute teaching role.
“It’s fun to hang out with a different class every day,” she said. “When you do it every day you get to know who they are and they know who I am, so a lot of the unknowns are gone. I think students look at it as it’s not scary because she knows what she’s doing.”
Anderson likes the energy of her students and also enjoys picking which classes she’ll teach.
“I just think it’s a good way for anybody who wants to give back or be active in their kids’ or grandkids’ school,” Tweten said. “It’s a good way to give back to the community.”
“I love having summers off,” Schotzko said. “I enjoy being on the same schedule as my kids. And I do this for teachers — they need a day off and when they know they have a sub who knows the procedures and knows the kids, it is easier to take that day off.”
Sean Koster, superintendent of New Ulm Public Schools, said paying it forward is the chief reason parents and grandparents should substitute teach in the district.
“It’s giving back to the next generation,” he said. “There’s a lot of reward with working with kids. A lot of smiles working with kids, especially here in New Ulm.”
New Ulm Middle School Principal Michelle Miller said Anderson and Schotzko have become “part of our middle school family as they work regularly in the building.
“And I do think they have a unique view on subbing because their children are going through a similar life stage as the students in the building,” she said. “Having that experience as a parent is valuable to be a substitute teacher in the building.”
If Anderson and Schotzko weren’t in the building “it would put us at a disadvantage,” Miller said. “We’re really grateful for the time they put in subbing in our building. They make great connections with students and they do help fill those positions we have open each day.”
To obtain a short-call sub license, applicants must have a four-year degree. The school district and applicant apply to the state licensing board and generally a decision is rendered within a week, Koster said.