While students have likely encountered many substitute teachers throughout their time at Redwood, few will get the chance to learn from the same sub for a sustained period of time. Whether due to planned maternity leave or an unplanned accident, long-term subs have the responsibility of taking over a class part way through the year and putting them back on course until their teacher returns.

Karen Saura, who recently was a long-term substitute for chemistry teacher Millie Hackworth due to a sudden medical injury, said that subbing long-term gives her the opportunity to get to know the students and course material better, as well as the challenge of keeping the class headed in the right direction.

“It’s long enough to get to know the kids, to get to know the school community, to get to know the curriculum – I love it much more so than just subbing,” Saura said. “Usually, you are stepping into a situation where there is already a curriculum in place and you step in and keep that going. You bring your own expertise to bear.”

Saura said that previously having been a sub in both planned and unplanned occurrences, the two can be very different. She said that the students usually have to take more responsibility when a long-term sub comes in.

“In an unexpected situation there is a bit of a rocky period until things settle down,” Saura said. “When [the students] have a sub come in, they have to be a little more responsible for themselves and advocate for themselves more. It makes kids learn to be flexible and more self-responsible.”

Another replacement teacher this semester is Russell Hill, who is taking the place of English teacher Emily LaTourrette while she is on maternity leave until the end of May. He said he had an easy transition because he was a teacher in the Tam District for over 20 years and that this is not the first time he has stepped in for teachers on maternity leave.

“I don’t think of myself as a long-term sub, I think of myself as a long-term teacher who is called in to teach,” Hill said.

Before LaTourrette left, Hill said, they had a chance to plan a smooth transition, and he even observed each of the classes. Hill said that although he is following the same curriculum, including preparing some classes for upcoming AP tests, he acknowledges that he teaches in his own way.

“Same subject, same curriculum, but it’s going to be different,” Hill said. “We early on understood that I’m not her and therefore it’s going to be different.”

Lance Cossey, new to the Social Studies department th

is year, had a long-term sub position at Re

dwood during the fall semester of last sch

ool year. He said that being a substitute for an extended length of time can be difficult at first for both students and the teacher, but provides enough time to be able to connect with the students.

“You’re just a different person. [The students] don’t know what to expect from you,” Cossey said. “I think it’s really hard for the students and I try to take that into account.”

Cossey said that as a long-term sub, he tried to refine his methods to be very similar to the previous teacher.

“It’s hard for the students because they have to adjust to a different style of teacher, and they don’t know my expectations,” Cossey said. “I try to keep many of the same things in place that the other teacher did, but sometimes that doesn’t work with your style.”

Comparing his substitute position to his current full-time teaching position, Cossey said that starting with his students now at the beginning of the school year made a difference.

“You are able to start the year and set your expect

ations and do all the things that you need to do at the very beginning,” Cossey said. “When you walk in middle of the year, you don’t know them. They’ve had a chance to get to know each other so it’s a difficult situation. [Being a long-term sub], you get to learn them as they’re learning you.

Hill, who is now a published novelist and has been nominated numerous times for the Edgar Allen Poe award by the Mystery Writers of America, said he feels that switching teachers can either be viewed positively or negatively depending on the student.

“It depends upon the student and what their expectations are,” Hill said. “Sometimes students are happy with a change because it’s a chance to maybe do better.”

Even though Saura’s sub position was unanticipated, she said she has valued the experience and the challenges that have come with it.

“I really enjoy coming in and rolling up

my sleeves and making order out of a challenging situation,” Saura said. “This one was challenging because Mrs. Hackworth had an accident and wasn’t expecting me. It felt really good to be able to help Mrs. Hackworth out – it worked out for our situation in kind of an interesting way.”