THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610160055
SECTION: REAL LIFE PAGE: K1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: MY JOB
SOURCE: BY WENDY GROSSMAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 103 lines
SURROUNDED BY maps of Portugal, Argentina and Spain, Karen Johnson sits at Ms. Posey's desk reading over the lesson plans for today's Spanish classes. She's just about got them memorized.
Today, Johnson, a certified art teacher, is substitute teaching at Norfolk Collegiate School. Last week, the 23-year-old taught German and computer science. Yesterday, she hung out with the third grade.
``I can't wait for the day when I have my own class and my own plans,'' she says.
Sometimes teachers leave her just a couple of lines of instruction; other days she finds six pages of typed notes. Single-spaced.
Johnson always comes a half-hour early when she substitutes. Just in case it's a six-page day.
A 1995 graduate of Virginia Wesleyan College's education program, Johnson is looking for a full-time teaching job.
``I've sent resumes and letters out to 80 schools since August,'' says the Annapolis, Md., native, laughing. Well, really just about 20 local schools.''
Sixteen-year-old Billy Braun walks into Ms. Posey's class before the bell and opens the blinds behind his seat.
Whether it's ``Scrambag,'' ``Mr. Trollman'' or the ``Cow'' - as kids call some of the subs - Braun likes substitute teachers. They give him a change.,
With a red pen, Johnson tucks a lock of hair behind her ear and calls the role.
No one's in their assigned seat.
One girl leaves to get her senior picture taken. She doesn't come back.
The plans say to have the kids work on their research projects.
What research projects?
It's due Monday, Johnson says.
``WHAT?'' they chorus.
She's a sub. So they might get her to believe the work doesn't exist.
``People think of it as a free bell'' when there's a substitute, says Barbara Rosenblatt, 16. ``It turns into a study hall; we never get anything done.''
``That doesn't happen in my classroom,'' Johnson says. ``I don't just go in, baby-sit and leave.''
She's there to teach.
Courtney Zinovis walks in 30 minutes late without a hall pass. She knew there was a sub.
``It's pretty easy to get away with stuff,'' says Shaun Smith, 15. ``Like making up fake rules and junk. Or if there's a project, we say we're working in groups even if we're alone.''
Johnson herds the class to the library. Two guys tossing a football take a right, heading down the hall toward the courtyard.
``Where're you going?'' Johnson asks them.
``Oh, I forgot,'' one says. ``You guys are going that way to the library.''
What other way is there?
But, playing tricks on subs can backfire, Rachel Goldin, 13, has found. She and a couple of friends changed names one test day. ``I got a failing grade because my friend didn't study,'' she says. The teacher changed her grade but made her write the substitute an apology.
Jason Garrett, the Eddie Haskell of the class, sits across the library researching Costa Rica.
``Last year we had the slackest substitute,'' he says. ``He drove a Harley and raised pigeons. He was the best - he let us curse and stuff. But he got fired.''
Johnson, though, is not there to pass the time. She mills around, asking students what they're studying. Where they've looked. And what have they learned. She wants to help them. She wants them to work. She wants to teach.
Johnson brooks no goofing off when she's on the watch.
If they say they've already finished an assignment, she pens it next to the roll call list. If they're slacking off or doing other work, she writes it down after talking to the offenders.
Brain Glaser, who's seen his share of subs, thinks Johnson is all right. And she's had him twice.
``One substitute was so mean, she kept me after the whole next bell since I didn't act very well and made me write a page on what she should do to be a better substitute,'' Glaser says.
Senior Bryan Williams remembers his class kicking a sub out themselves. She left the room for a minute and they moved her desk in front of the door. Arak Solomon remembers a sub who used to cry every day after school. Johnson has no trouble getting work as a sub. Two weeks ago, she subbed every day, getting three calls a night. Last week, she taught every day but Tuesday.
She makes $35 a day at private schools and $50 at public. Johnson also works for a temporary agency answering phones to earn a little extra, and she teaches classes at the D'Art Center in Norfolk.
She works no matter how she feels. A couple of weeks ago, she woke up sneezing and couldn't breathe. Thinking it was just her allergies, she went ahead and taught a fifth-grade class. When she went home, she had a 103-degree fever.
``I just didn't feel right calling in sick,'' she said.
Who'd sub for the substitute? ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
WENDY GROSSMAN
Karen Johnson, a certified art teacher, fills in as a sub in
everything from German to computer science while seeking a full-time
job.
Photo
WENDY GROSSMAN
Karen Johnson substitutes for the teacher of a Spanish class at
Norfolk Collegiate School. by CNB