Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

If for the past three weeks your child has come home telling you that there was a sub 1-2 days per week, would you call the school to inquire more information?

On top of that, each week, a sub has given a test on those days that the teacher is out.

If you do call the school, who do you speak to and how do you gently broach this subject?

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

I would not call the school unless it was truly effecting your child

My son's teacher was ill last year and they had a sub a lot. It's none of my business, I heard from teachers I was friendly with what was going on, but I wouldn't call the school and ask. And Idk that they can even tell you anything.

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

Thank you for the advice. My initial thought was to leave it alone but there have been a lot of issues with this teacher.

I don't need to know the reason why because it is none of my business. I wasn't going to ask the reason why but more along the lines of wanting to know if this is going to a weekly occurrence.

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

This is the assigned teacher to the class, so you shouldn't be shamed for wanting to know if she plans to be out a lot. We had a sub like 4 days in the first few weeks of school, and the subs we have had do no work with them really. One day they were all told to just play on the computer, while she BENCHMARKED them. I wasn't happy about a sub benchmarking the students. I would ask the school if they plan to get a consistent sub in there if it continues on. A different sub each time really can impact the students IMO.

Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

So many factors can go into a teacher being out often. I’m a teacher, and we get 10 days a year (and encouraged to use them). Sometimes it’s a few at a time, others are more spread out.

Two years ago, my husbands grandma was dying, and my mil (a HS teacher), was taking off probably 4-5 days a month for the entire year. This year is her last year, and she has 40 days she’ll lose at the end of the year, so she’s likely taking most, of not all of them throughout the year.

I’m not really sure there’s much you can do about it though. It isn’t as if the administrators are unaware that she’s not there....

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

If the teacher is out for health reasons the school legally cannot tell you why she is out. Sometimes at this time of year teachers involved in IEP planning will be at meetings all day. So they are in school, but not teaching, and again the school legally cannot tell you that either. Anyone can administer a test, so the fact the teacher is teaching the material should give you some solace. Unless there were major issues, your kid is stuck in the class they have.

Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

I would ask if when she is out if the sub would be consistent. We have 2 permanent subs in our school so if a teacher is out for some time, they try to make sure it’s the same sub. (This happens most often during flu season). We also just had a K teacher out for over a week and it was the same sub the whole time. Consistency and routine is key.

Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

i would just ask about consistency-- if its the same sub as much as possible. i think thats the most important thing.
last year for 1st grade, my son ended up with 4 different teachers. the main teacher had to go out right after Thanksgiving- she told us it was because she was battling Lupus, and some other autoimmune disorder and needed to have a surgery. She ended up not being able to come back to finish out the year.
The sub they hired was horrible! I don't think she had ever been in an elementary level classroom before. Instead of just "riding along" with what the original teacher had set up, she completely changed a bunch of things, not for the better. The kids AND us were confused. We all complained so much, that she ended up resigning.
SOOO then they had a retired teacher come back as a sub. She was GREAT!! however, she could only work for so many hours, due to something with her pension-- so she couldn't stay on to finish the year.
FINALLY in early April they hired a new sub who was great-- and is now the new kindergarten teacher in the school
it was a CRAZY year, but there was really nothing we could do.... we just all kept pushing and working with the principal to have as much consistency as possible with the different subs ( have each sub there for as long as possible)

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

I don't think it is your business. Personally I am a teacher. I had a medical issue 2years ago and was out for 6 weeks. I would have been very upset if people shared my medical information without my knowledge. Last year my mom was diagnosed with cancer and passed away 8 months from being diagnosed. My goal obviously was to come in everyday but things happened and I ended up taking about 12-15 days last year too. My friend had a miscarriage and took time off. Honestly, while I love my job, my health and my family come first. And it is not really a parents right to know why. And in the case of last year, I couldn't tell you if I was or was not going to be out because obviously I planned to be in.

In addition, I would rather a sub administer a test, than actually teaching a lesson.

Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

I would not call the school. But if you’re really concerned, why don’t you email the teacher to just check in? My DD has had subs recently due to teacher meetings (not the whole day).

What’s wrong with the sub administering a test?

Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

As a teacher, I know they wouldn't let out her private health info. But don't you think OP has a right to ask for more consistency? I know that one of my co-workers had some health issues to deal with that required her to be out 3-4 days a month, sometimes more. She always had the same (dept linked) permanent sub who did exactly what she would have done. The school made sure that there was consistency. I don't see the harm in calling the school, showing compassion and concern for the teacher, but ultimately spelling out her request for consistency.

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

I'm pretty sure the OP wasn't going to call and ask for the detailed reason as to why the teacher is out, so settle down people . I think she wants to know if this is going to be a "thing" every week, if the subs will be like they are now, etc. I would want to know that also, especially if my kid was stuck with shiiittty subs every single week.

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

Thank you all for responding. Sorry if my question offended any of the teachers - that was not my intention at all.

Like I stated earlier, it is none of my business why the teacher is out. I just want to express my concern for consistency and routine within the classroom. We have already had several issues with this teacher and I just want to know that my child and the other children in the class are receiving the best education possible.

I am not going to contact the school at this point but rather wait and see how things go.

I am fine with the sub administering a test but what I am not fine with is if the sub was not given clear direction for said test. Obviously this has to do with the lesson plans that the teacher is leaving.

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class

Re: Frequent Substitute Teachers in class