Where’s Waldo?: Substitute Teacher Edition

Renne Harrell, Reporter

Due to COVID, EHS has had a substitute teacher shortage these last few weeks. COVID has rapidly spread among teachers around the school and there are not enough substitutes to fill the positions.

A teacher’s empty desk, missing a teacher or substitute teacher (Photo taken by Hayley Kidd)

Having constant subs makes school very difficult for some students. Lydia Robinson, a freshman, agrees with this statement. “The substitutes aren’t fully college-educated on that specific subject making it harder on them to help us,” Lydia says. “There are so many teachers getting COVID and there aren’t enough subs, leaving the children without a teacher or a different teacher as a whole.” Having constant substitutes may impact students’ grades in class. “I had an A in a class and when I had a sub it dropped to a B- because of the lack of proficient help,” said Lydia.

Mr. Clemmons’ classroom, who often has multiple classes in his room due to an absence of substitutes (Photo taken by Hayley Kidd)

People say having subs can be stressful to a lot of students. Lydia says, “I believe a sub every once in a while isn’t always a bad thing, however, if it’s a constant always having substitutes it can get stressful.” Lydia believes that sub shortages have definitely affected her daily school life. “Going to different classrooms, having different teachers, classes being mixed together, this has definitely changed a lot,” Lydia says. Some students don’t feel too bothered by the changes that the substitute teacher shortage has caused. Alexis Rupert, a freshman, says “I don’t mind it.” Some people wonder if having a substitute in the classroom is beneficial or not. “I think having substitute teachers has been both beneficial and not, however, if I had to choose I would say no because there are more cons than pros,” says Lydia.