A Win-Win-Win

The most effective partnerships ensure that everyone involved wins. This is one of the reasons a new partnership facilitated by Binghamton University’s Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership (TLEL) has been so successful.

The program, Substitutes with a Purpose (SWAP), embeds graduate education students in Greater Binghamton school districts, where they are able to meet fieldwork requirements, as well as substitute teach.

It seems like a simple concept on the surface, but the benefits go much deeper.

“It’s a huge win for everyone involved,” says Andrea Decker, TLEL’s director of field education.

Decker says the program was first piloted in 2017, after leaders from TLEL met with leaders from area school districts to discuss needs. TLEL needed clinically rich experiences for students, and the school districts needed substitute teachers, due to a shortage.

“The idea to partner the two needs and create a mutually beneficial program for both was a model we wanted to explore, which led to the current SWAP model,” says Jason Van Fossen, Maine-Endwell Central School District superintendent. “This creative model is a win for all.”

Jackie Luchetti ’18, MSEd ’20, always knew she wanted to be a teacher. The Long Island native attended Binghamton University as an undergraduate student, double majoring in English and psychology.

“I originally thought I wanted to be a high school English teacher, but after working with children in some of my courses, I realized I liked working with younger students,” she says.

Luchetti says the decision to stay for graduate school to earn her certification in early childhood, childhood and special education was an easy one. Shortly after her acceptance into the Master of Science in Education program, she was asked about taking part in SWAP.

“I thought it sounded perfect. I’d be able to get in my required field hours while earning some money and getting extra experience in a school setting,” Luchetti says.

Decker says the extra income is one of the major appeals for graduate students, who often take side jobs.

“Students would often work at a restaurant or in retail. But now we have an offering that allows them to make some extra money while getting more experience in their field,” Decker says.

Luchetti was placed at the Binghamton City School District’s Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School.

“I was definitely a little nervous at first because I was new to being an education student,” she says. “But it ended up being very helpful to me as far as growing as an educator.”

Luchetti says the faculty and staff at Roosevelt made her feel part of the team.

“They were so willing to help and share advice,” she says. “I think it was helpful for them too because they knew who would be coming in to sub for them when they were out.”

Van Fossen says this interaction is key for the school districts.

“When faculty members require a substitute, the SWAP students are the best alternative because they are aspiring teachers, and have served in their classroom and in the building,” Van Fossen says. “They’ve built relationships with the students, faculty and staff.”

“The school districts really help to take ownership of their development as teachers,” Decker says. “Our TLEL students are seeing firsthand the continuum of education, and are subbing across multiple buildings.”

This means students are often assigned to teach outside their specialty areas and age groups. Luchetti says she often wouldn’t find out which classroom she was covering until the morning of her assignment. While it sounds stressful, she says thinking on the fly made her more versatile.

“There was one day where the curriculum called for me to teach the students about digraphs, which was something I hadn’t learned about in so long. So I immediately hopped on the computer and started researching digraphs so I’d be prepared to teach,” she says, with a laugh.

“You have to be pretty flexible in that regard.”

As she completed her master’s degree, Luchetti attributed SWAP as being a vital component to her education at Binghamton University.

“I was able to get extra time in a classroom that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” she says. “It’s a great way to build confidence and to feel OK in front of a classroom by yourself.”

Luchetti’s successes led her to become the 2019 Binghamton University recipient of the SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher Scholarship for Teacher Education.

“It was really nice to be recognized in that way. It was definitely an accomplishment, and something I’m very proud of,” she says.

Decker says that nearly 15 area schools are participating in the program. With more students taking part, she says the continued development of SWAP is creating a richer education for TLEL students.

“Our students are coming back to our classes with more experiences and more questions, because they are seeing so much more,” Decker says. “It’s broadening their experiences.”

Van Fossen believes his district’s dedication to helping new teachers is significant.

“Teachers are the most important asset of any school district,” he says. “We have an obligation to provide guidance and expertise to those who are new to the profession. We have a responsibility to provide clinical and professional opportunities within a school setting.

“If we do not provide these experiences for the next generation of teachers, who will?”

COVID-19 update: In light of the global pandemic, school districts in the Greater Binghamton area closed March 16, with Binghamton University courses going fully online a few days later. With the substitute teaching portion of the SWAP program no longer needed, a number of TLEL students continued their fieldwork virtually. TLEL anticipates resuming SWAP in the fall.