We speak with Megan M. Conklin, who designs and implements professional development for substitutes in Washington state. Substitutes often don’t receive the support and compensation they deserve. Ms. Conklin’s union-backed program teaches subs classroom survival skills and advocates for equity among school staff members.
Overview
00:00-00:37 Intros
00:37-04:44 Why Megan Conklin has chosen to be a substitute
04:44-07:19 Major issues subs face
07:19-11:13 Structure and culture of Megan Conklin’s program
11:13-16:59 What a sub should do if thrown into a situation without support
16:59-17:34 Keeping a light-hearted mindset
17:34-19:47 What students want in a sub
19:47-21:46 What it’s like as a long-term sub
21:46-23:10 Pay scales
23:10-24:39 Effects of using classroom teachers to cover classes
24:39-26:34 Sub support programs in other states?
28:27-30:13 Differences in support among Washington districts
30:13-31:21 Supporting paraprofessionals and other marginalized groups in education
31:21- Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcript of this episode.
References
Megan Conklin’s website
Soundtrack by Poddington Bear
We speak with middle school teachers, Debbie Holecko and Claudia Bestor, and their former student, Rafel Alshakergi, about a student-led research project that led...
Jason Warwin is the Co-Founder and Associate Executive Director of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, an organization that provides comprehensive, holistic and long-term support services to...
Stacey Cervellino Thorp and Naima Moffett-Warden teach drama at Manhattan’s famed LaGuardia High School, and Abigail Rivera is a senior in the drama studio....
