Having a substitute teacher is one of the best days of school for students. The expectations of the missing teacher, students not listening, the situations and atmosphere that lies unknown. But for the sub, this day will haunt them to the core. 

But with Stephanie Kaye, Oshkosh North’s full-time substitute teacher, she knows her way around a student’s mind. 

“[Subbing in different classes with different students] can be a lot some days, but I wouldn’t change it for anything,” Kaye says. 

Kaye took her first job at Oshkosh North in late 2019 serving as a long-term substitute for several teachers. When COVID 19 hit, her job as a substitute disappeared for a while. However, when students came back, not many people wanted to substitute, leaving schools scrambling for coverage. Hence, the Oshkosh School District created full-time substitute positions at each school.

Kaye started off by coaching the Boys Hockey team for the past five years before taking on the additional duties as a substitute teacher. She subbed at many schools as a general sub that takes a job daily or long-term.

“Transitioning from other schools to North was easy, but I still coach the team,” she says. 

When the opportunity arose to work for one building, she took it. With this year being her 2nd year at North, Kaye enjoys her job, along with the atmosphere. Outside of the classroom, Kaye takes on women’s empowerment when it comes to being a powerlifter. With her personal record being 500 for squat, [hold] bench press of 385, along with deadlift being 400. Becoming a powerlifter was an easy adjustment for Kaye due to her experience of sports, along with working out. 

“I always worked out, I played hockey in college and when I was done with that  I needed something else to do that was competitive and normal, working out was boring and I started powerlifting and got here.” 

Kaye has been to nationals for powerlifting, twice in the last three years. 

“I also started because it [powerlifting] was a good stress relief, but brings stress to train for nationals.” 

Besides powerlifting, Kaye also enjoys riding her motorcycle when the weather permits. However, she only recently bought her own bike with her now-husband, then-fiancee.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted. But we got bikes in early spring and went on from there. “ 

As you’d expect from a motorcycle-riding, powerlifting substitute, Kaye has numerous tattoos, each with its own special meaning.

“A lot of my tattoos represent something in my life, my flowers in my sleeve are all birth months of loved ones who passed away, I have a skull just for fun. “ 

She also emblazoned her passion for hockey on her skin, of course.

“I have a [Chicago] Blackhawks tattoo because I played hockey and grew up in Chicago. And I also love art, and tattoos are a way to show off art.” 

While Kaye’s stay at North still falls under substitute staff, she admits she would accept an offer to stay long-term. 

“If I was presented with the opportunity to do so, I absolutely would.”