![\"S\"](\"http:\/\/hdhstory.net\/Storyblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/S.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhen I retired, I decided that one thing that I didn\u2019t want to do is become a substitute teacher as some of other retired colleagues had become. I was going to work on my <\/p>\n I got the job with BOCES and following a Suffolk County Library showcase in front of librarians from all over Suffolk about my storytelling\/singing program, I got enough work those first few years supplement my pension income enough. The hardest thing that I had to deal with as a retiree, with time on my hands, was going from a social profession (teaching) to being by myself a lot more. My wife was working full time and I wasn\u2019t working every day. I missed the interaction with other people. And for the most part still do.<\/span><\/p>\n As the years went by and my son started college, the amount of work that I had decreased. Because of budget cuts in school districts, due to tax caps, Model Schools programs were decreased, so there was not as much need for part-timers (or casuals, as we were called). Similar budget cuts made PTAs and schools look to booking people that they\u2019ve had before to make sure they had good programs. They were less likely to want to try a new person or program and since I hadn\u2019t been getting gigs, they couldn\u2019t see me in actual performance. I attended a number of Suffolk and Nassau County PTA showcases every year and had very little luck breaking into the school circuit. The only school that tended to hire me was the one I taught in. <\/span><\/p>\n At first, I only got a few assignments due to the electronic system that the district used (AESOP). I had to check often to see if any jobs were posted and then take them before someone else did. Even when someone wanted me as a sub, I would only get an email that it was posted. By the time I read the email, the posting was already taken by someone else. I occasionally got jobs by teachers going through their school\u2019s secretaries, who would assign me and then tell AESOP. \u00a0That changed a couple of years ago when I was introduced to an iPhone App that notified me exactly when a position was posted. I could accept or reject it on the spot. My district also restructured itself so that all of the 3rd through 5th grades were in the same building and there was a person directly responsible for getting subs. As I am usually available and am a preferred sub, I usually get called or asked. Thank you Donna.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So far both students and teachers like having me in. Because of the school redesign, I\u2019ve added 3rd grade to my repertoire. I\u2019ve even done some Kindergarten, first\u00a0and second grade classes. I tip my hat to all those teachers. I always introduce myself to the class I\u2019m in by saying that I\u2019m their \u201cguest teacher\u201d for the day. I\u2019d much rather be treated as a guest than a sub. Since I\u2019ve taught and performed in the district most of the students know me already. They usually ask me when I come in if I\u2019m going to tell a story? If the schedule allows it I usually do. Teachers usually like the fact that I really teach things both to the students and to the teachers (In some classes there are two teachers in the room and only one of them is absent.) Some teachers find it easier to leave plans if they know I\u2019ll be their sub and even give me some flex time to work on things I\u2019m working with such as technology stuff or storytelling. Generally, when I\u2019m in a classroom and I find pieces of equipment that don\u2019t work, I fix them if I can or report that they are broken. Teachers like that. If I\u2019ve found a new program or Smartboard activity, I\u2019ll share it. I also write detailed emails to the teacher that I have been replacing so they know exactly what happened during the day – Another plus. Teachers have said that they enjoy having me as a resource. <\/span><\/p>\n With all that, even being called a Super-Sub by the Assistant District Superintendent, because of all I do, it\u2019s nice that I don\u2019t have to work every day. \u00a0I\u2019d still rather do storytelling and train teachers, but for a way to spend my time, being a guest teacher isn\u2019t all that bad.<\/span><\/p>\n We Need You! When I retired, I decided that one thing that I didn\u2019t want to do is become a substitute teacher as some of other retired colleagues had become. I was going to work on my storytelling career and … Continue reading <\/a>storytelling career and having finished my Advanced Certificate in Educational Computing degree, I would apply to BOCES Model Schools program as a part-time consultant to work as a Technology Integration Specialist in Suffolk County schools.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/a>So my next foray was to go into substitute teaching in the district that I had taught in for 33 years. I was still involved heavily in the district. I was a resident, I had a lot of connections to staff, I was somewhat trained in educational technology, and I was a member of the community part of the district\u2019s Technology Committee (even was made chairperson, a somewhat figurehead position). With subbing, I could pick and choose what grades I wanted to work in. I chose 4th through 6th, which were the grades that I taught.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"