A stop gap to address teacher shortages, cadres raise voices for pay equity
The West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 convenes on August 5, 2024. HWH / Nicole Johnson
Natalie Mack loves her students and is just as committed as any licensed teacher to ensure that they have what they need to be successful.
Mack is among the many people who have signed up to help local school districts close the teacher shortage.
As a cadre, or substitute teacher, she’s “responsible for carrying out the duties of the classroom teacher, while serving in their absence,” according to a West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 job posting.
They create lesson plans. Grade papers. Engage parents. The district requires cadres to have a substitute teaching license.
In Illinois, short-term substitute teachers must have an associate’s degree, at least, and complete 60 hours of teaching-related coursework, according to state requirements for substitute teaching. For long-term substitute teachers, that could look like some combination of holding a bachelor’s degree, completing hours of coursework, and making progress toward receiving your teaching license.
But according to Mack and other cadres, pay is the same for all cadres, regardless of workload. In a statement read aloud at the board’s regular meeting this month, cadres are asking for increased pay to match that of certified teachers, paid holidays, and additional training opportunities.
“We’re looking for support in what they’re asking of us,” said Mack, a long-term fifth grade social studies cadre at Rosa L. Parks Middle School in Dixmoor. She’s a retired AT&T employee. “I did it last year and I enjoyed it—thoroughly.”
Classroom support and training
Latavia Austin, also a cadre at Rosa L. Parks, entered the classroom with two months left of the school year. “It was rough. At first I was going all over, then I was placed in fifth grade, then moved all over again.”
Depending upon the needs of the school, substitutes could rotate from one grade level or classroom to the next. This depends on the school’s ability to hire a certified teacher to take over.
According to state data, WHD SD147 147 reported 11 vacant full-time certified teacher positions, as of October 2023.
Earlier in the summer, the district offered a two-week summer institute to offer professional development to their teachers—both certified and cadres. Austin was grateful for the much needed guidance.
“Throughout these nine days, we went to a series of seminars and classes broken upon by whatever grade level you were going to be teaching the following year,” Austin said.
“They taught us stuff like managing your classroom effectively, draft and complete a lesson plan, how to do things to get the students engaged, and gave us strategies on how to be more effective in the classroom.”
Cadre Natalie Mack speaks during public comment. HWH / Nicole Johnson
A career change
Mack shared that because she’s enjoyed her time as a cadre teacher, she’s encouraged to go back and get certified to become a full-time teacher.
LIke Mack, Austin is a career changer, and has a master’s degree in business administration. “This is one of the first jobs where I’ve had pleasure in. It’s fulfilling.” She’s made this pivot because of how good instructional support helped her academically excel.
“Growing up, I was that student that struggled all throughout elementary school until about seventh grade. Then, my aunt went to a teacher’s store and got a bunch of books, and when school started back, I was ‘Most Improved.’”
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, a state-funded commission, offers the Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship for general education development and bachelor degree holders to complete a teacher preparation program and receive their initial education certification.
Despite test scores and proficiency that lag the state level, Austin, who plans to go back to school and get her certification, said she sees progress on the horizon. “You can see with some students that are pulled out because of their IEP (Individual Educational Plan). You can see the growth throughout the school year,” Austin said. “I can see how certain things have been done at the school to build up their confidence and be eager to learn.”
This summer, teachers and cadres participated in a two-week immersive professional development program. HWH / Nicole Johnson
Official business
The board approved the July payroll and highlighted the community garden that community members can visit for free fresh produce.
There were no additional board or superintendent reports.
The 2025 fiscal year budget is currently available for the public to review at district administrative offices, located at W. 155th Place in Harvey. The public hearing to discuss the 2025 fiscal year budget is scheduled for September 9 at 6:30p.m.