Subby Subby Subby, Can’t You See?

That’s what Ernie’s phone says when the sub service calls to see if he’s available to substitute teach in Thurston County. And it says that a lot! Unfortunately for the students in Thurston County, he is usually already spoken-for by a teacher in Lewis County. And since he likes to teach Special Education, he is in high demand. Sometimes he has multiple teachers request that he sub in their classrooms for the same days. (Usually because all of the special ed teachers sign up for the same workshops.)

There have been many positives to Ernie substitute teaching. His schedule has been very flexible, which has come in handy more than once! He has been able to get a feel for which school districts he likes best in terms of philosophy, size, and location. (Let’s be clear – he hasn’t found a district he doesn’t like, just some are in better locations than others.) His choice to teach elementary special education has been affirmed, and more than once! Ernie has taught at all grade levels, from pre-school to post-high school special education. (There is a program in Lewis County that helps 18-21-year-old special ed students transition to living independently.) He has taught special education (life skills and resource room), art & music (I’ll wait while you laugh out loud at the thought of Ernie teaching art & music), health, home economics, band, and Spanish. And through all of these varied experiences, Ernie has felt most fulfilled teaching in elementary special education classrooms.

We are very grateful that he has had these experiences, and for the bonus income it has provided. We are hopeful that God will lead us to a permanent teaching position for next school year.