Eureka, CA (May 31, 2024) – The Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) celebrated the vital contributions of substitute teachers at the annual Subbies awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 29th. Approximately 30 exemplary substitute educators were recognized for their outstanding service to students across the county’s 40 school districts and charter schools.
“Substitute teachers are vital to the success of our schools,” said Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools Michael Davies-Hughes in his welcome speech. “When our regular teachers are absent, you step in to ensure that our students continue to receive a quality education. Your job requires a great deal of flexibility, quick thinking, and dedication. You often come into unfamiliar classrooms and still manage to keep things running smoothly. This ability to adapt is crucial for our students’ learning and growth.
“Your work guarantees that there are no interruptions in our students’ education. Each day you spend in the classroom helps maintain stability and continuity in their learning experiences. This is important because every day in the classroom counts toward a student’s academic progress. Your presence ensures that their education stays on track, no matter the circumstances.
The Subbies event is coordinated by HCOE’s Substitute Teaching Consortium, which provides qualified substitute teacher staffing to educational institutions throughout Humboldt County. The honorees were nominated by school administrators for consistently going above and beyond in their substitute roles.
“Our substitute teachers play an essential role in ensuring continuous, high-quality instruction when our regular classroom teachers are absent,” said Marika Myrick, Credential Services Manager at HCOE. “The Subbies gives us the chance to express our deep gratitude for these dedicated professionals who step in at a moment’s notice to support our students.”
Awardees
- Substitute Duo of the Year: Ashe and Michael Kolden
- Substitute for the Most Districts: Becka Duerr
- Classified Substitute of the Year: Cody Killingsworth
- Rural School Substitute of the Year: Tsewiniche Van Pelt
- Charter School Substitute of the Year: Dana York
- HCOE Substitute of the Year: Keith Delawder
- Substitute of the Year: Margaret Hague
The awardees received engraved cutting boards made by Career Technical Education (CTE) students under the tutelage of Ian Hall, CTE teacher.
The HCOE Substitute Teaching Consortium will hold its next new substitute teacher orientation on August 13, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Humboldt County Office of Education in Eureka. Individuals interested in joining the valued ranks of substitute educators are encouraged to attend. Registration for the orientation is available at my.hcoe.net.
For more information, please visit hcoe.org/hr or contact Marika Myrick, Credential Services Manager at HR@hcoe.org or 707-445-7039.