We have chosen Juli Brown as our September Sub of the Month. Juli is a team player. Over the past several weeks, she has rearranged her schedule and sacrificed her personal time to help in a time of need. She has shown so many excellent characteristics, including compassion, reliability, organization, and flexibility—all the wonderful things we look for in a substitute teacher. Please enjoy learning more about Juli, her family, and why she loves substitute teaching.

My story begins in high school, where I met my sweetheart. We’ve been married for forty wonderful years, and together we’ve built a family that is truly the joy of my life. We have two fantastic adult children, Hannah and Miles, who married incredible partners, Terrance and Morgan. On top of that, we’ve been blessed with four grandchildren who keep us laughing and on our toes: Gracie, who is 11; Cash, who is 7; Jaxon, who is 5; and little Emmy, who is 16 months old. They are truly the light of our lives!

In 2022, I decided it was time to retire. But not long after, when the substitute teacher shortage became a challenge, I felt called to step back in and help. Having been a teacher myself, I knew firsthand how stressful it was not being able to find a sub. My friends were still in the trenches, and I wanted to do my part to give them some relief.

One of the greatest blessings of this new role has been seeing my grandchildren at school. Having Gracie and Cash in my class, or even just passing them in the halls, and seeing their faces light up, is a gift I’ll never forget.

When I step into a classroom, I make sure to introduce myself to the students right away. I tell them honestly, “I’m not your teacher and I’ll probably do some things differently—and that’s okay!” I remind them that it’s okay to ask questions and that I’ll ask for help, too. To me, subbing isn’t just about filling a spot; it’s about helping teachers rest easily knowing their students are cared for and making a difference—even in small ways—every day.