Substitute teachers take on the difficult task of filling the shoes of Stone Bridge staff. The often thankless task of being a substitute plays an important part in keeping schools up and running while also supporting and giving opportunities to the motivated professionals in these roles.
In Loudoun County, there are two types of assignments that substitutes can choose from to fill both the daily and long-term needs of a school. Long-term substitutes are defined as a classroom assignment lasting more than ten consecutive days, and anything less than that total time is considered to be a short-term substitute assignment. One such long-term substitute teacher at the school is Afia Paracha. Ms. Paracha grew up in Loudoun County and began her substitute teaching career in early October 2025 while waiting for a job in computer science. Ms. Paracha started at Stone Bridge in early February as a long-term substitute for art teacher Dr. Faith Ibara.
“I love art,” Ms. Paracha said. “I didn’t major in it, but because I’ve done a lot of these projects in high school and kept up with it on my own I thought it worked”
While Ms. Paracha enjoys being at Stone Bridge, teaching it is not her first career choice. Viewing this role as a temporary position is a common approach for many substitutes who are finding challenges in the typical job market. Last year, overall unemployment rates in Northern Virginia increased from 2.7% to 3.8%. Alternatively, education jobs in the D.M.V. saw a 1.6% increase in hiring employees from the start of 2025. By filling some of the job demand in the education field, substitutes, both short- and long-term, like Ms. Paracha, allow students to continue their education while providing the substitutes with a stable source of income as they search for jobs in their desired field.
“[The job market] is pretty bad with AI and a lot of people who graduate [can not find jobs],” Ms. Paracha said. “I graduated a year early, so I didn’t have as much experience, and just with layoffs and everything, some people are getting jobs, and then some people are struggling. A lot of people are exploring different fields, which is why I’ve thought about teaching.”
Mason Friend, another substitute at the school, started subbing full-time in 2024. His most recent position is serving as a long-term P.E. substitute for Mrs. Charlotte Ratcliff.
“Teaching is something I didn’t go to school for, and I do really enjoy teaching a lot, just getting other kids and just being involved,” Mr. Friend said. “It’s a new profession, like something you learn a lot, pretty much every day. I feel like that every day isn’t the same. That’s what makes it fun and exciting.”
Loudoun County has one of the highest salary rates for substitute teachers in Virginia, with long-term subs earning the fourth highest rate for a substitute role at $200 a day. Loudoun has also implemented a daily substitute loyalty rate in order to increase substitute retention. With a competitive pay and the fact that the job does not require a college degree, substitute teaching also attracts college students and recent graduates who want to make some money before taking on a full-time job.
“[I stopped subbing because] I had to go back to college and finish up my degree,” Mr. Friend said. “I was taking a class online. And then I needed something to do in the meantime, while [finding a job] so I came back.”
Subbing provides opportunities not only for young adults that want to pursue other career paths, but for inspiring teachers who want to get a foot in the door. For example, Substitute Coordinator Patrick Randolph was a former substitute at Stone Bridge before filling his current position in the front office.
“Before I started here in the front office, I was a sub for about a year and a half,” Mr. Randolph said. “So I started off in 2023; I was a daily sub. Last year 2024, I was offered a site sub position here at Stone Bridge. And then when Ms. Romell, the person who was here earlier this year, when she moved over to counseling, I applied and got this position.”
While subbing does have its advantages, the job is not without its drawbacks. Short-term substitute teachers have to manage a constantly changing environment and have less time to get to know students thoroughly. Long-term substitutes have the challenge of teaching and grading subjects that they may have no educational background in. On top of these obstacles, there is technical knowledge, like understanding learning software like StudentVue and Schoology, that long-term substitutes have to learn to find ways to connect with students in a short amount of time.
“I think [making a student-teacher connection] is definitely hard, because when you get there, the [students] think like you’re going to be gone, so there’s no point in talking to you sometimes,” Ms. Paracha said. “But I think by looking at their work, complimenting their work, and then talking to them about their other interests, it has really helped form a connection.”
The symbiotic relationship that the Loudoun County substitute system has with working adults in the community plays a vital role in keeping schools like Stone Bridge up and running. By filing teacher absences and allowing learning to continue, substitutes have the stability and flexibility to achieve their long-term goals.
“Most counties always need substitutes, and it’s just something you can do where it’s not permanent, so you’re not just abruptly leaving when you find a job,” Ms. Paracha said. “It’s a good job”
