Substitute educators play an essential role in keeping students supported, engaged and learning when their regular teachers are away. In this Substitute Spotlight, Allison Murphy shares how familiarity and flexibility can help students navigate change, and how substituting has strengthened her own journey as an educator.
How long have you been working as a sub?
I have been subbing since September 2025.
What do you like best about being a sub?
I like the idea of being a sub at a specific school or two, building rapport with students as much as possible by being a consistently inconsistent person. What I have learned from teaching in many different scenarios during the 2025/26 school year is that students really struggle when subs step in for the day. Initially, some may seem excited to not have their regular teacher, but at the end of the day, a new person steering the ship is very dysregulating for students. If I can be a familiar person for most students at a school, learn the school culture, class expectations, etc, hopefully, students will be able to settle in faster so that learning can ensue, despite their regular teacher being absent.
What would you say to others who might be thinking about becoming substitutes?
Being a sub is the ultimate practice in being flexible, quick-on-your-feet, and dynamic. Subbing does not get boring!
Anything else you’d like to share?
When I started my MAT program with OSU-Cascades, I wanted to be able to jump right into the classroom if needs arose, and wow, did needs arise! I was able to sub for both of my Coordinating Teachers at my internship placements, as well as for colleagues in the building, which allowed me to get to know different teachers, their styles, and work with different students than I normally taught.
HDESD is thrilled to share that Allison has been hired as the new Art and Social Studies teacher at Sisters Middle School! A perfect example of how subbing can lead to careers in education!
Allison Murphy
HDESD Substitute