I am a certified teacher in Eugene School District 4J, and I’m writing in support of the Eugene Association of Substitute Teachers (EAST), who are currently in contract negotiations.

We already have a shortage of substitute teachers, causing classrooms to be left without a substitute when many teachers are out sick on the same day when, for example, the flu is going around. When this happens, other teachers, counselors and instructional coaches scramble to cover those classrooms. It means those professionals cannot do their regular jobs, and our students suffer the consequences. 

Being a substitute teacher is incredibly difficult. I’ve done it, and I watch others do it every day. I’m sure we all remember how our peers treated substitutes when we were kids. These hard-working professionals deserve to be paid extremely well. How can we attract qualified people to do the job without adequate pay? 

I saw during the pandemic what happened when people without proper training were allowed to be substitute teachers. It was borderline unsafe. I believe our licensed substitute teachers are absolutely essential to the function of our schools. They deserve to be paid a fair wage.

Jenny Potter
Springfield