The Real Impact of the Sub Shortage

February is around the time the sub shortage gets real. I think for the last two weeks we have been short at least one sub the majority of days.

For example, yesterday PE was canceled. Too bad PE was the backbone of our professional learning time. So not only did our students miss out on PE, none of the teachers had their professional learning community time when we were going to be planning literacy instruction for the next six weeks. 

Last time this same group of teachers had a professional learning day (once every 7 days teachers get 40 minutes to meet), it was also canceled due to a lack of subs.

Another day we had no fourth grade teacher. That time the school counselor did not do her job for the entire day, and instead subbed. 

Another day we were short a teacher in the social emotional classroom, and so the administrator taught instead of doing the job of an administrator. 

I could go on and on. 

Maybe you are saying in your mind - but the administrator is supposed to sub. That is what the contract says. And you are correct. 

But I still ask the question, WHY are we chronically short subs? Who does that serve? Who does that hurt? How does it impact our most vulnerable students? 

So, the district never quite hires enough subs. When something happens consistently for over a decade, it starts to seem like it is part of the plan. We have been short subs when the economy was weak, we have been short subs when the economy was booming. 

We could have more subs. Even when the unemployment rate was significantly higher, we did not have enough subs. I know when I was applying, some 13 years ago, to be a sub (a bilingual Spanish teacher), I was hired in another district before I even heard anything from my current district. 

February often starts the real lack of subs. Routinely we have 50, 60 unfilled positions as a school district.  

What does this have to do with racism? 

Well, which schools do you think are most likely to not get subs?  

Who is most impacted by a lack of subs? Our most at risk students in all schools. 

Why? Without subs . . . 
  • Our administration gets pulled from the job of observing teachers, coaching and helping improve instructional practice. 
    • Schools where principals spend more time coaching and mentoring teachers have higher test scores. This should not be shocking. 
    • Administrators can not do big picture thinking if they do not have the time to do that. 
    • The administrative assistant become responsible for discipline often. This means they have less time to do their job as well. 
  • Professional Learning Communities are regularly canceled
    • Obviously, our most at risk students are damaged the most when we do not have professional learning communities. The kid who is already performing at the 80th or 90th percentile is going to be "fine". (I don't really believe that. We need ALL of our children performing at the best of their abilities if we are going to meet the incredible challenges our planet is facing.) 
    • The student at the 10th or 20th percentile really needs all of the expertise of all of the teachers as a grade level reviewing work and discussing practice. That collaboration helps everyone, but it helps the kids at risk the most (when properly run.) 
  • Counseling services are decreased or eliminated on days with no subs if that person gets put in the classroom. 
    • Do I need to mention that this is bad for our most at risk students? 
  • The instructional coach does not do their job
    • If pulled, the instructional coach can no longer help teachers plan or observe or give feedback. The ripple effect of this is tremendous, and once again largest on our most at risk students. 
  • Teachers do not attend as much professional development.
    • Teachers get called back from in district meetings because there are too few subs. 
    • Teachers are less likely to attend because they don't want the counselor or instructional coach to be pulled from their jobs. 
What can you do as a teacher? 
  • Be honest about the impact of a lack of subs at your school. When colleagues in the lunchroom talk about how annoying it is, and it is very annoying, refocus the conversation. This isn't just an annoyance. This is institutional racism at work. 
  • This is a systemic problem that impacts every part of the urban education system. 
  • This is a very solvable problem. 
    • Districts could: hire more subs, hire a permanent teacher that serves at a sub at the schools with chronic shortages, pay administrators and coaches their hourly rate when they sub to make an incentive for  fixing the problem etc. 
What can you do as a parent? 
  • If you are a parent - talk to the school board. Especially if you are a parent who the school board listens to. The lack of subs impacts ALL students. 
  • When your child complains about PE class being canceled again, talk about the real impact. Help children see systemic racism and understand how it is subtle, persistent and often looks like it is NOT about race. 
  • Next time someone asks about the achievement gap, ask about how often the school is short subs? How often are teachers required to come back from professional conferences due to a lack of subs? How often have professional learning meetings been canceled? How is your child's school and the school down the road being impacted by this?
  • Remember, it is your right to know as a tax payer if you are paying through taxes for the principal, instructional coach, counselor etc.? Or are we paying them to do the job of a sub while NO ONE does their job?  
If you are a sub? 
  • Thank you. The work you do is so much bigger than subbing. You impact countless lives of people you will never meet. 
  • Know that your job is instrumental in closing the opportunity gap. 

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