Interview with Substitute Teacher Felice from Texas

Send a text Ever wonder what life is really like for substitute teachers navigating classrooms in today's educational landscape? This candid conversation with Felice, a substitute teacher from the Houston suburbs, pulls back the curtain on this vital yet often overlooked profession. Felice brings a remarkably diverse background to her role, having worked as a Department of Commerce geographic specialist and an air quality planner before eventually finding her way into education. After five years as a certified elementary teacher specializing in science, she transitioned to substitute teaching for the flexibility and variety it offers. Her unique perspective bridges the gap between full-time educators and substitutes, giving her valuable insights into effective classroom management and building meaningful connections with students. Throughout our discussion, Felice shares the genuine rewards of substitute teaching—from witnessing those "lightbulb moments" when concepts click for students to the freedoms of choosing when and where to teach. She doesn't shy away from the challenges either, addressing head-on the post-COVID behavioral issues many students exhibit, the frustration of missing lesson plans, and the need for flexibility when suddenly reassigned to different classrooms. Her story of improvising a 20-minute motivational talk when technology failed illustrates the quick thinking required in this role. What makes this episode particularly valuable is Felice's practical advice for both new and experienced substitutes. From how she maintains classroom order with brain teasers and proximity techniques to her philosophy of treating each assignment as a job interview, her strategies translate across grade levels and subject areas. Whether you're considering substitute teaching, are already in the classroom, or simply curious about education today, Felice's story offers both inspiration and actionable takeaways for creating positive learning environments despite the inherent challenges.

You can listen to Interview with Substitute Teacher Felice from Texas online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Interview with Substitute Teacher Felice from Texas is an episode from Substitute Teachers Lounge by Greg Collins.

This episode is 18:47 long.

This episode was published on May 6, 2025.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Substitute Teachers Lounge when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.