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Upland Heights Elementary School

Frenship ISD Celebrates Substitute Teachers

Substitute teachers hold a unique and vital position within Frenship ISD, stepping in to ensure that students continue learning seamlessly, no matter the circumstances. 

“Frenship substitutes go above and beyond every day, and we are extremely grateful for all they do for our campuses,” said Jennifer Finan, Frenship ISD Human Resources Substitute Specialist. “When a substitute picks up a job, they are entering a classroom they have never been to before, with lesson plans they have never seen, and students they don't know. This is not an easy task, but our substitutes are up for the challenge every day! Frenship substitutes support Frenship and serve our students.” 

Joan Adams is a prime example of the exceptional substitutes who make a difference at Frenship. After retiring from Frenship three years ago, Adams knew she wasn’t ready to leave the classroom for good. She decided to continue teaching as a substitute, bringing her experience and love for education to students across the district. 

“Substituting provides the opportunity to enjoy the freedoms retirement offers in addition to teaching several days per month,” said Adams. “I truly enjoy seeing the joy students feel when they accomplish a task. As a substitute, I am able to help them do this. It warms my heart when students see me out in the community and stop to say hi!” 

Adams, who believes in fostering curiosity and lifelong learning, shares, “The curiosity of Frenship ISD students keeps me learning and researching right along with them. I encourage them to explore the world around us, and as long as I have my wits about me, I’ll continue to support them in their learning journey.” 

Adams has found a special home in the Frenship Family and encourages anyone who is interested to go through the substitute application process and try it out. 

“Even as Frenship ISD grows, it maintains a very high level of excellence while keeping the family environment that draws teachers and families to our district,” said Adams. “If you have a day or two a week to devote to students, come on and jump in our substitute pool!” 

Frenship continues to enhance its support for substitute teachers, making it easier for them to join the district and stay engaged. According to Finan, the role of substitute teachers at Frenship has evolved over the past year. 

“The number of substitutes we have has increased this year, which is a very positive trend! We’ve streamlined the process, making it easier to apply online, and we now offer orientation sessions to speed up the hiring process. We also introduced Red Rover, a user-friendly system that allows substitutes to accept jobs directly from their phones, making it even easier for them to work when they’re available,” said Finan. 

Human Resources has also taken steps to connect with substitutes, offering training and support as well as an annual meeting that educates the public on how they can use their degrees to become substitutes or teachers. 

“At this meeting we will also provide information on how to sign up to become a substitute. This meeting takes place in the spring and is a great resource for those interested in becoming an educator,” said Finan. 

Frenship ISD cannot express enough appreciation for substitute teachers and the hard work they pour into the classroom.  

“Frenship teachers are very thankful for our substitutes. Having a sub gives them the ability to be away from their classroom and know their students are taken care of,” said Finan. “Our teachers also do a great job preparing to have a substitute in their classroom.” 

There are substitute jobs available daily across our 16 campuses with training provided. If you are interested in substitute teaching, you must be at least 18 years old, have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent, go through a fingerprinting/background check, complete required paperwork, and attend a substitute orientation class.   

For additional information on substitute teaching at Frenship, CLICK HERE.

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