April 22, 2025 • 17 mins
Substitute teaching comes with unexpected social dynamics that we rarely discuss openly. What happens when students loudly proclaim you're their "favorite substitute" while another sub stands nearby? Should you feel proud or guilty when teachers request you instead of other substitutes? Today's episode dives into these delicate situations and explores the sometimes awkward relationships between substitute teachers.
I share personal experiences from my recent months in the classroom - moments when students approach me in hallways asking which class I'm teaching, teachers who express their preference for me over their assigned substitute, and the subtle (or not-so-subtle) tension these interactions create with other substitutes. Rather than feeling guilty about these moments of recognition, I've learned to appreciate them while remaining sensitive to how they might affect my substitute colleagues.
The reality is that substitute teaching can sometimes feel like a competition, with certain subs developing reputations as the "cool" or "preferred" options. Like my past experiences as a volleyball referee, I've noticed how quickly this can create a hierarchy that breeds resentment. Instead of participating in this dynamic, I suggest focusing on building positive relationships with students, teachers, AND fellow substitutes. Remember that different personality types can be equally effective in the classroom - your authentic approach matters more than trying to be the most popular sub in the building.
Looking ahead to summer, I'm excited to announce a new interview series featuring substitute teachers from our Facebook community! We'll gather perspectives from across the country (maybe even worldwide) to learn from each other's experiences. Make sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss these upcoming conversations with fellow subs who understand exactly what you're experiencing in the classroom.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Greg (00:00):
This is Greg Collins, episode 288 of Substitute
Teacher's Lounge podcast.
It is April 22nd 2025.
All right, listen up.
Should you feel guilty when astudent walks up to you in the
public hallway and says you'remy favorite substitute teacher.
(00:22):
You're my favorite substituteteacher.
Should you feel guilty whenyou're in a hallway and a
regular teacher is standingthere and one of the students
goes up and says Can you ask MrCollins to be our substitute
(00:42):
teacher the next time you'regone?
Should you feel guilty ifyou're standing in the hallway
and there's students in thehallway that aren't in the class
?
You're getting ready to sub,but then the teacher comes out
and says you know, they surewish you were subbing today
instead of my substitute.
Well, should you feel guilty?
Should you feel guilty is underall three of those
(01:06):
circumstances, anothersubstitute teacher heard the
conversations.
Well, that some of the thingsthat have happened to me in the
last three months and we'regoing to talk about that today.
Substitute Teacher's Lounge.
All right, all right.
(01:32):
First of all, let me tell youabout something I'm excited
about.
I hope you will be too, becauseyou all hear me yak too much
every week and I appreciate allof you that listen.
We have the Substitute TeachersLounge Facebook group and we've
got well, I think we're up to4,500 or something.
(01:54):
I should have looked before Istarted this, but that page was
originally intended for peopleto respond to the podcast
episode.
Well, it actually migrated intosomething else because I let
all the members talk aboutwhatever they wanted to.
They could be negative topicsif need be, as long as they
(02:18):
weren't negative about anotherperson on the board.
I wouldn't allow that.
I wouldn't really allowanything political.
I mean, those are just opinions, things along that line.
But uh, shout out to one of themembers of that group named
Star.
She talked about how she'd beenlistening to the podcast and
(02:41):
would love to be interviewed.
And I got to thinking man, youknow, that's a great idea,
especially headed into summer.
So I replied to her post andsaid you know, that is a great
idea.
I would love to get people'sperspectives from all over the
country, maybe even all over theworld, and we'll set up some
(03:03):
Zoom meetings.
And I replied and said anybodyelse that might be interested
reply to this post.
I think we got at least 10.
We'll probably get some more.
So I think what I'll do tostart out one of the closing
episodes of this school year.
Sometime in May, I think, I'llset up a Zoom meeting with all
(03:24):
of them at the same time andwe'll also make it a video
edition so that, if you want itto see some of their faces, if
they choose to let you see theirfaces, you can do that.
You can see who's talking.
That will be fun, and then I'llprobably let them talk
(03:44):
individually on a differentepisode throughout the summer
and maybe even make that like asummer series.
We're really not off that long.
What are we off 12 weeks?
Well, you know, I can probablyfind 12 of the members of that
Facebook group that would wantto be interviewed, and everybody
has a different perspective.
What are we off 12 weeks?
Well, you know, I can probablyfind 12 of the members of that
Facebook group that would wantto be interviewed, and everybody
has a different perspective.
The group one, just like everyother group.
(04:04):
There's going to be a few thatdominate that discussion and
I'll let them do that and thenwe'll do individual ones later.
So look forward to that in thenext few weeks.
Now when I thought about a titlefor this episode and I don't
know if the AI picks a differenttitle and I like it, I'll go
(04:26):
with theirs.
But you know, mine was going tobe something to the effect of
when substitute teachers dislikeother substitutes, and let me
tell you the three things that Imentioned to open the show.
Now, on the flip side, thereare classes, and one of the
reasons I don't go back to someschools anymore that I used to
love is that there's studentsright there right now and some
(04:50):
of them are straight A students.
They think they can get awaywith anything and they think
they can get away with anythingand they think they can do
anything they want.
And I'm sorry, I'm 67 years old, I'm still old school in that
respect and I'm not going to letyou talk back to me.
And because of that and becauseI love elementary school so
much, I'm probably not going togo back to that middle school
(05:13):
again the rest of the year.
We'll see how things work outas we move down the line.
Middle school again the rest ofthe year.
We'll see how things work outas we move down the line.
But there are substituteteachers that I really, really
like, not because of their jobas a substitute I don't know
their job right, I've neverobserved them teach but it's
because of their friendlinessand their positivity when I meet
(05:35):
them in the hallway hey, goodto see you again, greg, what
grade are you teaching today?
And I run into them all thetime because they're looking at
the same jobs I am, and thoseguys are pleasant to be around.
It reminds me some of myreferee days.
I don't referee volleyball muchanymore and one of the reasons
not the only reason, but one ofthe reasons, not the only reason
, but one of the reasons is thatsome of the other referees you
(05:59):
know that gets to be kind of adiva thing if you're not careful
, because we're always set upone referee is quote in charge,
they're referee a and somebodyelse is referee b and that means
referee a is up on the stand.
They're in charge of the mostimportant game, usually the
(06:19):
varsity game and the other oneis down, and sometimes the up
referee then has the attitudethat I'm better than you.
So you've got to do what I say,and you know me by now.
You know that I joke aroundwith everybody and sometimes
I'll joke around with them andthey don't appreciate it.
Like who is this guy?
So I decided it was time for meto get out of that, at least
(06:41):
for a while, and the person incharge is very understanding and
has always told me, as thesoftball person as well, that
the door is always open.
Here's what my observances havebeen All three of the things I
mentioned at the beginning and Isaid should I feel guilty about
(07:01):
?
Well, no, I don't feel guiltyabout them.
In fact, there's some pridethere, right?
I've had an episode before it'sprobably been over a year ago,
maybe two years ago where I'vetalked about.
You know, I haven't really beenconsidered cool any time in my
life, even.
You know, even in my schooldays, I had plenty of friends,
(07:21):
but you know, they didn't walk.
I didn't walk down the hallwayand the other students were
saying, oh, that's the coolstudent, that's Greg, he's the
cool student here.
Well, you know, I actually getsome of that at schools from the
students.
Now, why do they think I'm cool?
Only because I'm friendly?
Only because I share stories?
(07:41):
Only because I joke around withthem?
Only because I will give themsecond chances?
Only because I occasionallybribe them with the Jolly
Rancher?
Those are the reasons they likeme to be there, but I like to
think that the teachers like methere too.
I have teachers.
Now that I am the top person ontheir list, they contact me
(08:06):
first and that always makes mefeel good and I'm excited about
it.
But the reaction of some of theother substitute teachers and I
know they're popular too is ifI see another substitute called
out in a situation like they'rebetter than me, I mean I didn't
do anything, I didn't say oh,all these students here think
(08:28):
that I'm a better substituteteacher than you, but when they
hear those comments in thehallway it makes them feel bad.
And then, just like thatvolleyball referee, if I should
say something to them in thehallway, even if it's just the
best way to go about a firedrill, because I had been
through it at school so manytimes, I've seen some take
(08:50):
offense to that.
There's the one lady I ran intoa few months ago.
I could tell that she didn'tappreciate something that I said
to her and I think she thoughtshe was my elder, when I know
for a fact that I am older thanshe is, and it was just an
(09:11):
uncomfortable situation.
When we would then later go outon recess, she would always
talk about how, oh, ms So-and-soasked me to come and sub her
class.
She likes me in there as muchas possible.
I don't say that in front ofother subs, I don't want to
Occasionally.
I've told you, just like today.
I tell you what students say tome.
(09:32):
I tell you what to strive for.
I'll make some suggestions thatsome of which mesh because of
my personality and noteverybody's personality is the
same, and just because yours isnot the same as mine does not
mean that you will not be a goodsubstitute teacher.
But I am not going to just let asnub go by.
(09:56):
I'm not going to say anythingnegative at the moment, but if I
see a substitute teacher reactthat way to me, I'm going to
think all right, what do I needto do to make that substitute
teacher feel better aboutthemselves?
And if I just happen to have acasual conversation with them on
(10:17):
the fly about something else Imight mention, ah, these kids
are crazy.
Some of them know me fromchurch, some of them know me
from volleyball.
That's the only reason theymake comments about me.
They will.
It's kind of funny, I was goingto say.
Sometimes even they will give mea hard time here lately.
(10:38):
I don't know what it is, but itseems like the students that
I've had to call down the mostfor doing something they
shouldn't be doing.
Even to the point I made onekid cry with my words just
because I embarrassed him, Iguess in front of some of his
friends.
(10:58):
That student every time I seehim in the hallway he's the
first one to come up and hug me.
There are students that I'vehad to fuss at in the past that
they look the other way when Icome in.
That's more the middle schooland high school variety.
But I appreciate that they atleast respect me, to realize to
(11:18):
the point they're either doingone or two things they're trying
to make up with me so that theywon't get in trouble again when
I'm in their class or theylegitimately realize that I'm
supposed to respect this person.
I did something wrong.
I understand.
Anytime you react in the timeof the event.
(11:39):
Usually it's the wrong reactionI mean, but anyway, that's what
I've been going through.
But anytime you run into, do nottry to brag in front of other
substitute teachers.
I've, I can't imagine, I can't,I can't fathom sometimes.
(12:00):
A couple of years ago again,this happened when one
substitute teacher she was alady, very friendly lady, a lady
that I could get along withwell, and she just made the
comment.
You know she said it's gettingkind of embarrassing when the
students tell me I'm theirfavorite substitute teacher.
Well, I couldn't let that go.
(12:22):
I didn't say anything to her,but I asked the students and you
know, generally they would say,oh yeah, she's okay.
And you know, some of themwould go ahead and say no, we'd
rather have you in the class.
But that's okay.
Though.
If that substitute teacher, ifit motivates that, if she feels
that way in her mind, great,full steam ahead.
(12:46):
If she's really just sayingthat to make me feel inferior to
her, that is not good.
I mean, I know she went to apublic event.
She went to enough publicevents that I saw a couple of
teachers kind of roll their eyes.
Now, that's okay that she wentto public events.
(13:08):
They came across to the otherteachers like she was really
desperate and wanted to be ontheir good side, so bad they
would.
She would come to and when Isay that, it's like when
something negative has happenedin a member's family and maybe
there was some kind of notmemorial, but some kind of
(13:28):
Thanksgiving thing or prayersession or something.
She would come to that and itjust, you know, that's not.
You know, I don't feel like I'mclose enough to the teachers to
feel worthy of doing that.
Now, if they invite me, that'sdifferent.
But my feelings are this I amnot going to feel bad.
(13:50):
In fact I am going to enjoy it.
When teachers, when studentscome up to me and say, mr
Collins, when's the next timeyou're going to teach your class
?
Or I'll walk in the building,mr Collins, whose class are you
in today?
I love that, you know.
That's another one I hadn'teven thought about that one when
I walk in the front door at thebeginning of the day, well,
(14:17):
guess who's standing there?
A lot of different students.
And if I have a student come upto me and say, mr Collins,
where are you subbing today?
And they say that in front ofall those subs, all those other
subs, and they don't say thesame thing to those other subs
yeah, it's kind of anuncomfortable feeling, but no, I
don't feel bad about it.
To those other subs yeah, it'skind of an uncomfortable feeling
, but no, I don't feel bad aboutit.
I will never.
If a substitute teacher reactsto me negatively, I will never
(14:38):
react negatively as well.
I'll say you know, have a goodday.
Maybe they'll think I'm beingcondescending, but I try my best
to have good relationships, notonly with the students and the
teachers but with the substituteteachers, because there's a
possibility that you're going torun into other substitute
(15:02):
teachers more often than you'regoing to run into certain
teachers because they rotatearound to schools like you
rotate around to schools, so I'mnot going to worry about it.
It's a bad thing if onesubstitute teacher dislikes the
other.
There's a bad thing if onesubstitute teacher is jealous of
(15:23):
the others, get jealous andenvious.
I think it's jealous in thissituation because you're talking
about a person in thissituation, because you're
talking about a person.
But I won't get mad if I don'twant them to be I should say
jealous of anything they seewith a student interaction or a
teacher interaction with me.
I just want to go in andsubstitute teach.
I will always try to be theirfriend.
(15:46):
I will socialize.
You know usually, especiallyrecess, that's when you get the
chance to talk to them.
Most of the subs don't eat withthe teachers, eat lunch with
the teachers, so we usuallydon't get to talk then.
And that makes it worse becausea lot of them know me and
they're having personalconversations with me in front
(16:07):
of the other subs and some ofthem will even ask me after it's
over.
Man, you know a lot of teachershere and I said, well, some of
them I know personally.
Some of them I know becausetheir kid played volleyball and
I was a volleyball referee, sothat's no big deal.
I try to encourage them as muchas possible and, yes, I'm sure
there are substitute teachersout there that are even more
(16:30):
highly thought of than me.
Imagine that.
But I want us all to do a goodjob of substitute teaching.
Doggone it, what do we got lefthere Five more weeks at the
most.
It's April 21st, so it'sprobably less than that.
But I want you to do a good jobof substitute teaching.
I want us all to.
My paperwork already had to befiled for next year,
(16:57):
no-transcript.
This is Greg Collins, episode 288 of Substitute
Teacher's Lounge podcast.
It is April 22nd 2025.
All right, listen up.
Should you feel guilty when astudent walks up to you in the
public hallway and says you'remy favorite substitute teacher.
(00:22):
You're my favorite substituteteacher.
Should you feel guilty whenyou're in a hallway and a
regular teacher is standingthere and one of the students
goes up and says Can you ask MrCollins to be our substitute
(00:42):
teacher the next time you'regone?
Should you feel guilty ifyou're standing in the hallway
and there's students in thehallway that aren't in the class
?
You're getting ready to sub,but then the teacher comes out
and says you know, they surewish you were subbing today
instead of my substitute.
Well, should you feel guilty?
Should you feel guilty is underall three of those
(01:06):
circumstances, anothersubstitute teacher heard the
conversations.
Well, that some of the thingsthat have happened to me in the
last three months and we'regoing to talk about that today.
Substitute Teacher's Lounge.
All right, all right.
(01:32):
First of all, let me tell youabout something I'm excited
about.
I hope you will be too, becauseyou all hear me yak too much
every week and I appreciate allof you that listen.
We have the Substitute TeachersLounge Facebook group and we've
got well, I think we're up to4,500 or something.
(01:54):
I should have looked before Istarted this, but that page was
originally intended for peopleto respond to the podcast
episode.
Well, it actually migrated intosomething else because I let
all the members talk aboutwhatever they wanted to.
They could be negative topicsif need be, as long as they
(02:18):
weren't negative about anotherperson on the board.
I wouldn't allow that.
I wouldn't really allowanything political.
I mean, those are just opinions, things along that line.
But uh, shout out to one of themembers of that group named
Star.
She talked about how she'd beenlistening to the podcast and
(02:41):
would love to be interviewed.
And I got to thinking man, youknow, that's a great idea,
especially headed into summer.
So I replied to her post andsaid you know, that is a great
idea.
I would love to get people'sperspectives from all over the
country, maybe even all over theworld, and we'll set up some
(03:03):
Zoom meetings.
And I replied and said anybodyelse that might be interested
reply to this post.
I think we got at least 10.
We'll probably get some more.
So I think what I'll do tostart out one of the closing
episodes of this school year.
Sometime in May, I think, I'llset up a Zoom meeting with all
(03:24):
of them at the same time andwe'll also make it a video
edition so that, if you want itto see some of their faces, if
they choose to let you see theirfaces, you can do that.
You can see who's talking.
That will be fun, and then I'llprobably let them talk
(03:44):
individually on a differentepisode throughout the summer
and maybe even make that like asummer series.
We're really not off that long.
What are we off 12 weeks?
Well, you know, I can probablyfind 12 of the members of that
Facebook group that would wantto be interviewed, and everybody
has a different perspective.
What are we off 12 weeks?
Well, you know, I can probablyfind 12 of the members of that
Facebook group that would wantto be interviewed, and everybody
has a different perspective.
The group one, just like everyother group.
(04:04):
There's going to be a few thatdominate that discussion and
I'll let them do that and thenwe'll do individual ones later.
So look forward to that in thenext few weeks.
Now when I thought about a titlefor this episode and I don't
know if the AI picks a differenttitle and I like it, I'll go
(04:26):
with theirs.
But you know, mine was going tobe something to the effect of
when substitute teachers dislikeother substitutes, and let me
tell you the three things that Imentioned to open the show.
Now, on the flip side, thereare classes, and one of the
reasons I don't go back to someschools anymore that I used to
love is that there's studentsright there right now and some
(04:50):
of them are straight A students.
They think they can get awaywith anything and they think
they can get away with anythingand they think they can do
anything they want.
And I'm sorry, I'm 67 years old, I'm still old school in that
respect and I'm not going to letyou talk back to me.
And because of that and becauseI love elementary school so
much, I'm probably not going togo back to that middle school
(05:13):
again the rest of the year.
We'll see how things work outas we move down the line.
Middle school again the rest ofthe year.
We'll see how things work outas we move down the line.
But there are substituteteachers that I really, really
like, not because of their jobas a substitute I don't know
their job right, I've neverobserved them teach but it's
because of their friendlinessand their positivity when I meet
(05:35):
them in the hallway hey, goodto see you again, greg, what
grade are you teaching today?
And I run into them all thetime because they're looking at
the same jobs I am, and thoseguys are pleasant to be around.
It reminds me some of myreferee days.
I don't referee volleyball muchanymore and one of the reasons
not the only reason, but one ofthe reasons, not the only reason
, but one of the reasons is thatsome of the other referees you
(05:59):
know that gets to be kind of adiva thing if you're not careful
, because we're always set upone referee is quote in charge,
they're referee a and somebodyelse is referee b and that means
referee a is up on the stand.
They're in charge of the mostimportant game, usually the
(06:19):
varsity game and the other oneis down, and sometimes the up
referee then has the attitudethat I'm better than you.
So you've got to do what I say,and you know me by now.
You know that I joke aroundwith everybody and sometimes
I'll joke around with them andthey don't appreciate it.
Like who is this guy?
So I decided it was time for meto get out of that, at least
(06:41):
for a while, and the person incharge is very understanding and
has always told me, as thesoftball person as well, that
the door is always open.
Here's what my observances havebeen All three of the things I
mentioned at the beginning and Isaid should I feel guilty about
(07:01):
?
Well, no, I don't feel guiltyabout them.
In fact, there's some pridethere, right?
I've had an episode before it'sprobably been over a year ago,
maybe two years ago where I'vetalked about.
You know, I haven't really beenconsidered cool any time in my
life, even.
You know, even in my schooldays, I had plenty of friends,
(07:21):
but you know, they didn't walk.
I didn't walk down the hallwayand the other students were
saying, oh, that's the coolstudent, that's Greg, he's the
cool student here.
Well, you know, I actually getsome of that at schools from the
students.
Now, why do they think I'm cool?
Only because I'm friendly?
Only because I share stories?
(07:41):
Only because I joke around withthem?
Only because I will give themsecond chances?
Only because I occasionallybribe them with the Jolly
Rancher?
Those are the reasons they likeme to be there, but I like to
think that the teachers like methere too.
I have teachers.
Now that I am the top person ontheir list, they contact me
(08:06):
first and that always makes mefeel good and I'm excited about
it.
But the reaction of some of theother substitute teachers and I
know they're popular too is ifI see another substitute called
out in a situation like they'rebetter than me, I mean I didn't
do anything, I didn't say oh,all these students here think
(08:28):
that I'm a better substituteteacher than you, but when they
hear those comments in thehallway it makes them feel bad.
And then, just like thatvolleyball referee, if I should
say something to them in thehallway, even if it's just the
best way to go about a firedrill, because I had been
through it at school so manytimes, I've seen some take
(08:50):
offense to that.
There's the one lady I ran intoa few months ago.
I could tell that she didn'tappreciate something that I said
to her and I think she thoughtshe was my elder, when I know
for a fact that I am older thanshe is, and it was just an
(09:11):
uncomfortable situation.
When we would then later go outon recess, she would always
talk about how, oh, ms So-and-soasked me to come and sub her
class.
She likes me in there as muchas possible.
I don't say that in front ofother subs, I don't want to
Occasionally.
I've told you, just like today.
I tell you what students say tome.
(09:32):
I tell you what to strive for.
I'll make some suggestions thatsome of which mesh because of
my personality and noteverybody's personality is the
same, and just because yours isnot the same as mine does not
mean that you will not be a goodsubstitute teacher.
But I am not going to just let asnub go by.
(09:56):
I'm not going to say anythingnegative at the moment, but if I
see a substitute teacher reactthat way to me, I'm going to
think all right, what do I needto do to make that substitute
teacher feel better aboutthemselves?
And if I just happen to have acasual conversation with them on
(10:17):
the fly about something else Imight mention, ah, these kids
are crazy.
Some of them know me fromchurch, some of them know me
from volleyball.
That's the only reason theymake comments about me.
They will.
It's kind of funny, I was goingto say.
Sometimes even they will give mea hard time here lately.
(10:38):
I don't know what it is, but itseems like the students that
I've had to call down the mostfor doing something they
shouldn't be doing.
Even to the point I made onekid cry with my words just
because I embarrassed him, Iguess in front of some of his
friends.
(10:58):
That student every time I seehim in the hallway he's the
first one to come up and hug me.
There are students that I'vehad to fuss at in the past that
they look the other way when Icome in.
That's more the middle schooland high school variety.
But I appreciate that they atleast respect me, to realize to
(11:18):
the point they're either doingone or two things they're trying
to make up with me so that theywon't get in trouble again when
I'm in their class or theylegitimately realize that I'm
supposed to respect this person.
I did something wrong.
I understand.
Anytime you react in the timeof the event.
(11:39):
Usually it's the wrong reactionI mean, but anyway, that's what
I've been going through.
But anytime you run into, do nottry to brag in front of other
substitute teachers.
I've, I can't imagine, I can't,I can't fathom sometimes.
(12:00):
A couple of years ago again,this happened when one
substitute teacher she was alady, very friendly lady, a lady
that I could get along withwell, and she just made the
comment.
You know she said it's gettingkind of embarrassing when the
students tell me I'm theirfavorite substitute teacher.
Well, I couldn't let that go.
(12:22):
I didn't say anything to her,but I asked the students and you
know, generally they would say,oh yeah, she's okay.
And you know, some of themwould go ahead and say no, we'd
rather have you in the class.
But that's okay.
Though.
If that substitute teacher, ifit motivates that, if she feels
that way in her mind, great,full steam ahead.
(12:46):
If she's really just sayingthat to make me feel inferior to
her, that is not good.
I mean, I know she went to apublic event.
She went to enough publicevents that I saw a couple of
teachers kind of roll their eyes.
Now, that's okay that she wentto public events.
(13:08):
They came across to the otherteachers like she was really
desperate and wanted to be ontheir good side, so bad they
would.
She would come to and when Isay that, it's like when
something negative has happenedin a member's family and maybe
there was some kind of notmemorial, but some kind of
(13:28):
Thanksgiving thing or prayersession or something.
She would come to that and itjust, you know, that's not.
You know, I don't feel like I'mclose enough to the teachers to
feel worthy of doing that.
Now, if they invite me, that'sdifferent.
But my feelings are this I amnot going to feel bad.
(13:50):
In fact I am going to enjoy it.
When teachers, when studentscome up to me and say, mr
Collins, when's the next timeyou're going to teach your class
?
Or I'll walk in the building,mr Collins, whose class are you
in today?
I love that, you know.
That's another one I hadn'teven thought about that one when
I walk in the front door at thebeginning of the day, well,
(14:17):
guess who's standing there?
A lot of different students.
And if I have a student come upto me and say, mr Collins,
where are you subbing today?
And they say that in front ofall those subs, all those other
subs, and they don't say thesame thing to those other subs
yeah, it's kind of anuncomfortable feeling, but no, I
don't feel bad about it.
To those other subs yeah, it'skind of an uncomfortable feeling
, but no, I don't feel bad aboutit.
I will never.
If a substitute teacher reactsto me negatively, I will never
(14:38):
react negatively as well.
I'll say you know, have a goodday.
Maybe they'll think I'm beingcondescending, but I try my best
to have good relationships, notonly with the students and the
teachers but with the substituteteachers, because there's a
possibility that you're going torun into other substitute
(15:02):
teachers more often than you'regoing to run into certain
teachers because they rotatearound to schools like you
rotate around to schools, so I'mnot going to worry about it.
It's a bad thing if onesubstitute teacher dislikes the
other.
There's a bad thing if onesubstitute teacher is jealous of
(15:23):
the others, get jealous andenvious.
I think it's jealous in thissituation because you're talking
about a person in thissituation, because you're
talking about a person.
But I won't get mad if I don'twant them to be I should say
jealous of anything they seewith a student interaction or a
teacher interaction with me.
I just want to go in andsubstitute teach.
I will always try to be theirfriend.
(15:46):
I will socialize.
You know usually, especiallyrecess, that's when you get the
chance to talk to them.
Most of the subs don't eat withthe teachers, eat lunch with
the teachers, so we usuallydon't get to talk then.
And that makes it worse becausea lot of them know me and
they're having personalconversations with me in front
(16:07):
of the other subs and some ofthem will even ask me after it's
over.
Man, you know a lot of teachershere and I said, well, some of
them I know personally.
Some of them I know becausetheir kid played volleyball and
I was a volleyball referee, sothat's no big deal.
I try to encourage them as muchas possible and, yes, I'm sure
there are substitute teachersout there that are even more
(16:30):
highly thought of than me.
Imagine that.
But I want us all to do a goodjob of substitute teaching.
Doggone it, what do we got lefthere Five more weeks at the
most.
It's April 21st, so it'sprobably less than that.
But I want you to do a good jobof substitute teaching.
I want us all to.
My paperwork already had to befiled for next year,
(16:57):
no-transcript.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!