Substitutes. Are they recognized? Are they recognized for good work? Dalia Pulido, AP English III teacher, recently had a substitute teacher who was very quiet and introspective, but according to Pulido, she went above and beyond and Pulido will probably ask for her next time.

“Ms. Burnstein was a great person overall. I can’t even describe her professionalism and work she did but it seems that she is a very observative sub because what she did here was just shocking, I loved it,” Pulido said.

Lori Burnstein observed and then typed everything that happened in each and every class. She wrote down  how many pages of notes each student did, which students were not on task and then comments on those particular students, and comments on the period in general.

“I am in a state of shock. It’s stunning. I’ve never, ever, ever, ever, ever experienced anything like this, but that’s not to say the other subs are horrendous, because the other subs leave their commentaries, which is wonderful and I like to see comments. Everybody has their own little style, but this is very unique, extremely unique. For a new sub she is phenomenal,” Pulido said

Burnstein’s hard work and attention to detail clearly impressed Pulido. Pulido couldn’t say enough positive things about Burnstein.

“I was very shocked because I have never had that done for me before but I’m in total awe, and the notes were the most detailed and organized,” Pulido said.

A student that saw this first-hand, junior Elizabeth Brown, mentioned that she has never seen the substitute teacher before, but that if Pulido liked her she must have been a great sub.

“She didn’t really stand out to me. She gave us the assignment and she didn’t yell or anything, she just stayed behind the desk and was writing most of the time. And the class behaved very well. I think they talked a bit in the beginning but she didn’t have to yell or even say anything, the class just got quiet and started working,” Brown said.

Substitutes seem to love when teachers have an updated seating chart so they can put names to faces. If students do not listen, the subs can call them by names instead of phrases like, “hey you” or “hey kid.”

“The more organized the teacher is, the easier it is for the sub for you to follow their instructions and the children know what they’re supposed to be doing,” Grace Sakowitz, a relatively new sub at Palmetto, said.

Lyndsay Segarra, a substitute teacher and coach for the Palmetto Girl’s Soccer team, is also relatively new to being a substitute teacher. Segarra realized how students can be hard to deal with, but it does not change the fact that she loves kids.

“Some kids don’t want us to get them into trouble, but if we don’t do our job we get fired, and they will also do everything to get themselves into trouble,” Segarra said.

Students hold many opinions on substitute teachers, whether they are strict or relaxed in their policies. Many students seem to like the laid-back substitute teachers for many different reasons.

“I like the hippie sub. He is really chill and always keeps us focused on our work while enjoying the class at the same time,” sophomore Josh Barkow said.

What about the substitutes? What do they think? Do they like the students? An opinion from a substitute teacher provides a new perspective in a different direction.

“The teachers say, or hopefully say, to the students [to] treat the sub like a guest and that you respect that person even if it’s more relaxed and easy-going,” Kathy Shwartz, a long-time substitute teacher, said.

Shwartz feels that the students need to give subs the same respect that is given to the teacher. If there is no respect toward the teacher, then Shwartz does not expect the students to give her any respect.

“It’s a combination of respect, because the sub has to make a judgment call on behavioral issues sometimes,” Shwartz said.

While some substitutes may slip under the radar, others leave an invaluable impression on Palmetto’s students and teachers.