With Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week approaching, the ATA is ready to celebrate the contributions of substitute teachers.
Substitute teachers play a crucial role in maintaining continuity and helping keep students engaged and productive when their classroom teachers are away. Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week represents an opportunity to recognize the important contributions these colleagues make to public education in Alberta. This year, Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week takes place March 10–14.
“The work substitute teachers do is invaluable,” says ATA President Jason Schilling. “They have to step in, often with very little notice, and build connections with students so quickly to ensure that the learning continues.”
The ATA offers supports and services for substitute teachers throughout the year, including a Substitute Teachers’ Conference each fall. During Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week, the ATA encourages school divisions, locals and individual schools to find meaningful ways to celebrate the substitute teachers in their communities.
Saying thanks
There are many ways to show gratitude and support for substitute teachers, both during Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week but also on an ongoing basis. Below are some strategies and activities to meaningfully acknowledge and offer continuing support to these colleagues.
- Recognizing contributions: Highlight the strengths and achievements of substitute teachers within the school community, whether through items in newsletters and social media posts or at your next meeting or event. During Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week, you might consider hosting a special coffee, tea or lunch to say thanks.
- Offering support: Equip substitutes with information packages that contain essential information about the school and classroom procedures to set them up for success.
- Providing timely information: Offer substitutes a mailbox where they can access copies of the ATA News and the ATA Magazine, as well as local, school and district information.
- Sharing lessons or activities: Offer helpful teaching materials to make their work smoother and more effective.
- Organizing an orientation seminar: Collaborate with the ATA local to provide a session that familiarizes substitute teachers with expectations and resources.
- Creating an inclusive environment: Invite substitute teachers to attend staff meetings or events to foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
- Supporting professional development (PD): Provide access and invite substitute teachers to ongoing PD activities and consider planning a special PD event tailored for them. Encourage them to attend teachers’ convention and the Substitute Teachers’ Conference.
- Creating space for feedback: Consider providing frequent substitute teachers with a letter or card outlining their strengths and contributions to the school and the profession, and, when appropriate, encouraging your school leaders to observe and evaluate these teachers to support their efforts to achieve permanent professional certification.
- Making small gestures of gratitude: A simple thank-you note or a kind word can go a long way in making substitute teachers feel valued.
Free PD opportunities for substitute teachers
As part of Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week, the ATA is offering free evening workshops tailored to substitute teachers in Alberta. This year’s sessions are “Roles, Responsibilities and Supports for Substitute Teachers,” “Economic Issues for Substitute Teachers,” “Teacher Wellness — Don’t Just Survive … Thrive!” and “Regulation and Resilience: Supporting Students with Challenging Behaviour.” These sessions aim to enhance substitute teachers’ knowledge, resilience and capacity, says ATA staff officer Dan Grassick.
“We are always looking for the best ways to support substitute teachers,” Grassick says. “Aside from helping them manage the complexities of their work, we want to ensure they understand their rights and responsibilities, as well as their agreements.”
Members can register online at https://2025atasubweek.sched.com/ for workshops, which will be held online via Zoom at 6 p.m. each day from March 10 to 13.
Showing support and appreciation for substitute teachers is another way to show solidarity.
“We are all in this together,” Schilling says. “This is just another opportunity to remind ourselves of the great work our colleagues do every day for our students and for public education.” ❚
Support for subs
Substitute teachers who need work-related support or advice are encouraged to contact the Teacher Employment Services duty officer by calling 1-800-232-7208.
