National Substitute Educator Day is celebrated the Friday before Thanksgiving each year to highlight the important role of substitute teachers, according to NationalDayCalendar. A substitute teacher must be adaptable to diverse learners, flexible with their schedule, and resilient to students’ moods. I had the pleasure of interviewing three substitute educators from Lakewood High School: Dante Cornacchione, George Scelti, and Jed Pearlman.
Dante Cornacchione, affectionately known as Mr. C, is a retired Lakewood art teacher with an impressive 54-year career. He recalled, “When I was in high school, I enjoyed my art classes and I thought my teachers were having such a good time. So I thought it would be a lot of fun to do that.” Following his retirement, he filled in for a couple of months for a teacher on extended leave, which was in his area of expertise. Since then, he has primarily taught high school, although he was also asked to substitute at the elementary and middle school levels.
George Scelti, on the other hand, has held various jobs in the education field and even worked at his friend’s garden center before his wife urged him to apply for a substitute position at Lakewood. As of January 2025, Mr. Scelti will have worked at Lakewood for nearly 18 years.
Jed Pearlman worked as a paraprofessional at Lakewood High School for eight to nine years before becoming a substitute teacher, and he has now been at Lakewood High School for a total of 10 years. Prior to his career at Lakewood City Schools, he served as a sourcing specialist contracts administrator for FirstEnergy, where he negotiated contracts for various projects.
When asked, “What do you like best about teaching at Lakewood?” both Mr. C and Mr. Scelti agreed that they love the new school building. Mr. Cornacchione noted, “Things have changed quite a bit over all that time within the old building we used to work in. Everything is new, lots of lights, better equipment and it’s a nicer building to work in.”
They also agreed that the students were a highlight of working at Lakewood. Mr. C. said, “Meeting students whose parents were my former students or even grandparents—I have been here that long.” As he spoke, it was clear he took pride in the multigenerational bonds he has built over the years and how much they impact him. Mr. Pearlman added, “The students are absolutely amazing…they’re challenging, bright, and they keep someone who is getting older open to new ideas, new things, and new opinions.”
On the other hand, when asked about their struggles and challenges, each individual had a different perspective. Mr. Scelti shared, “Every once in a while, there’s some bratty kid [who] reminds me of how bad I was in ninth grade. They give me tough sometimes, but it is very rare.” Mr. C noted, “When you don’t know everybody’s names, it gets difficult to put things together and get things organized.” Lastly, Mr. Pearlman remarked, “You don’t get to establish close personal relationships [and are] limited to how much you can provide because you’re not seeing the same students all the time.”
The final question granted them one wish: What do you want people to understand about the role of being a substitute teacher? Mr. Pearlman emphasized, “We’re more than babysitters; most of us, hopefully, have a wealth of knowledge about different things, and we certainly have the experience.” Mr. Scelti added, “I don’t have any real complaints, other than the occasional tough group of kids who goof off….” Mr. C expressed a desire for students to recognize that “we may know more than they think when we are stepping into that room.”
On this special day, Lakewood High School students would like to express their gratitude to a remarkable group of educators. We are fortunate to have them, and Lakewood as a community is stronger because of their contributions in the classroom. Conversations with Mr. Cornacchione, Mr. Scelti, and Mr. Pearlman highlight their flexibility, commitment, and dedication, which have a significant impact on education and the development of future leaders.
