My Day As A Substitue Teacher
By Dr. Frank Morgan, Kershaw County School District Superintendent
February 2009

Not long ago, I saw a promo for a show on one of the TV networks where the CEO of a company spends a day working a job in the company. The idea is for the CEO to do so anonymously to see how things really function. While I don’t think that I can do much anonymously around here unless I wear a pretty good disguise, I put out the word after Christmas break that I would be available to substitute from time to time. My desire to do so was twofold. First, I know I can learn a lot from working at the classroom level. Second, I thought it would be fun. I got into this profession because I deeply enjoy working with young people and still get a great thrill when I see a student “connect” with something being taught.

I was excited when Ms. Gail Stehle, principal at Wateree Elementary, took me up on my offer and assigned me to Ms. Carol Bowling’s fourth grade class on Friday, January 29. I won’t deny that I was a little nervous when I walked into the office at 7:00 a.m. to get the classroom keys and get ready for the day. I was a secondary teacher and have always been somewhat in awe of elementary teachers and the many things they have to juggle during a normal day. Ms. Bowling left me great plans and direction, which greatly eased any anxieties I might have had. The day went quickly. Before I knew it, it was 2:40 p.m. and time for the day to end. I was kind of sad it was over. When I got back to the office, a number of my colleagues stopped by to see if I had survived. I was able to tell them very honestly that it was the most fun that I’d had in quite a while. I will also admit that I fell asleep early and soundly that night.

But like the CEO of the cable show, this was an opportunity for me to reconnect with our core function—instruction—at the point of delivery. In reflecting on my day, several things struck me in particular. First and foremost, elementary teachers are a rare and special breed. In a “normal” day, they teach English language arts, math, social studies and science; they referee recess; and they supervise lunch and bathroom breaks, all while handling the normal trials and tribulations of children and dealing with lunch counts, Friday Folders, car-rider and early dismissal notes and the like. This is not a job for someone who can’t multi-task and who doesn’t have the patience and resolve of Mother Theresa. I came away with a renewed respect for my own fourth grade teacher, a sainted lady named Mrs. Marcella Hrach, who did this with 38 (yes, 38) of us.

The other thing that struck me is the high level of work that is now expected of young children. When my own son was going through school, I was frequently surprised at how much earlier he was learning things than his mother or I had. My day in the fourth grade reminded me of how much more is now expected of our young people academically than was ever expected of most of us. In math, the work we did with multiplication went far beyond multiplying numbers. The students were expected to do what I thought was pretty complex problem-solving for 9-year-olds. In social studies, the lesson for the day had to do with the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the development of the Northwest Ordinance. Nothing easy about these topics. Many of the spelling words I called for a test were ones most adults would find difficult. Again, remember these are fourth graders. It is not a myth that the standard being set for students in South Carolina is extremely high.

Let me also say that the Wateree Elementary community should be extremely proud of its school. The atmosphere of the school is supportive and focused. The school day is extremely well-organized. Everything ran like clockwork. And the young people were as well-behaved as you’ll see anywhere in this country. I want to especially thank Ms. Bowling for allowing me to work with her wonderful class for the day and the students in the class for making me feel so welcome and doing a great job all day. I hope I did okay.

I’m always pleased to talk with folks about our schools. My phone number is 432-8416 (extension 1218) and my email is frank.morgan@kcsdschools.net.  Citizens can also contact me through the “Ask the Super” link on the homepage of the district website. I also invite community members to read my “blog"  and listen to the podcast I record after each school board meeting with meeting highlights. Both of these can also be accessed at www.kershaw.k12.sc.us.