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It’s like learning how to ride a bike. The more you do it, the better you get. And with training wheels, you forget the scary unknowns and enjoy the ride. Subbing can be the training wheels you need to naturally transition from your current job to the role of full-time teacher. Are you ready to make a positive difference in the lives of others? Here’s how substitute teaching can get you there.

1. See what teaching is really like

Teachers are the tightrope walkers of the education system. They balance the good with the bad, dealing with responsibilities in and out of the classroom with a positive mindset and the will to succeed. Through subbing, you see what it’s truly like to be the head of the classroom. You get to try out various grade levels, subjects, and classroom types while you discover your niche. Maybe you’re a middle school math maestro or a kindergarten king. Just like that fluorescent Jell-O salad at the company potluck, you won’t know if you like it until you take a risk and try it.

2. Have a network of support

When you sub, you jump right into all the action. Throughout each day, you meet educators and administrators who offer insight into your future role. These connections can lead to references or job opportunities. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions – it’s your chance to get all the answers you seek directly from the source.

3.Develop teaching skills

By filling in for absent teachers, you learn how to plan lessons, manage classrooms, and deescalate behavioral situations. These qualities are pricelessly helpful when it comes to building out your resume for future jobs. Subbing also helps you understand curriculum, learn diverse instructional methodologies, grasp policies and procedures, and beef up communication skills. By doing, you learn!

Making the switch from your current job to teacher can be one of the most rewarding career decisions you ever make. Teachers help shape the minds of the next generation and inspire children to reach their full potential. Additionally, teaching offers stability and job security. Teachers are always in high demand, and the skills you develop in the classroom are transferable to other fields.

The “what’s next?following a successful stint of substitute teaching depends on your background. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, start there. Morgan Hunter partners with MidAmerica Nazarene University and the University of St. Mary to provide tuition discounts to our employees that lowers the costs of obtaining a degree. Contact us today to learn more!