On Being a Substitute Teacher

RALEIGH — On a typical day in North Carolina, hundreds of substitute teachers take control of classes in the state’s 117 public systems, filling in for faculty that are sick, on vacation, or attending conferences. Parents may hear a passing reference to these stand-ins as children give a synopsis of their day. Other than that, substitutes are largely unnoticed by the public, but they have tremendous responsibility. I know firsthand. For four months last year, I was a substitute teacher in the Orange County School System.