*UPDATE*
AISD recently increased pay for substitutes across the district. Substitute paraprofessionals and clerical workers can now earn a daily rate of $90. Substitute teachers will also make an additional $10 a day, with uncertified teacher subs earning $100 a day and certified teacher subs earning $110 a day. For more information about substitute work in AISD, visit https://www.abileneisd.org/departments/human-resources/substitute-resources.

For Beth Dukes, the job she does almost every day for Abilene ISD is all about children. Always has been; always will be.

As an AISD substitute working for ESS, Dukes has served the district since 2020, primarily in the area of deaf education at Ward Elementary School, which is home to the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf. Earlier this year, Dukes, who spent 12 years in the classroom as a full-time teacher in Birdville, Fairfax, Va., and in Abilene, was honored as the ESS “Impact Award” winner as the Regional Substitute of the Year for the 2021-22 school year.

She was selected from each of the nominations in the region, which includes 35 districts ESS serves in both Oklahoma and Texas. In addition to a $500 award, she selected Ward Elementary as the recipient of an additional $500 award.

“Everything is the children; it’s always about the children,” Dukes said. “To be able to work with them during the day and then see them out in the community, whether it’s at the pool, the ballpark, at church, or wherever, and have them scream, ‘Mrs. Dukes!’ reminds me that they need more adults to speak life into them and encourage them to keep working hard.”

As a substitute teacher, Dukes said showing up prepared for anything is the key to fostering the kind of relationship with students that go beyond substitute-student status.

“It’s crucial to show up at your assignment with a bag of tricks, whether it’s a joke, some type of trivia question, or something as random as a wig,” she said. “You don’t ever know what type of classroom you’re walking into, but if you can grab their attention and connect with them right away, the rest of the day should be smooth sailing. A bag of Skittles isn’t a bad idea either.”

Despite working as a substitute in both deaf ed and general education classes, Ward Elementary principal Dawn Ripple said Dukes has made herself part of the fabric of the campus.

“Mrs. Dukes is a treasure,” Ripple said. “As a supportive parent and a consistent substitute teacher, she is a warm and welcome presence on the Ward campus. She has an infectious smile and a friendly personality. She has a servant’s heart and is always willing to assist however and whenever needed. Mrs. Dukes is an inspiring role model and dependable support for our hearing-impaired community. She can step into a Deaf Ed classroom and effortlessly communicate, teach, and manage a class of students. Mrs. Dukes is a blessing to the education profession.”

It’s not just the campus principal who has noticed what Dukes has done for the campus; it’s also her fellow teachers who appreciate her efforts at Ward.

“Being in deaf education our subs are few and far between,” Ward deaf education teacher Meghan Martin said. “We have had years where we don’t have a single sub at all. Days off just weren’t a thing, whether we were sick, had appointments, or even when we needed a personal day. I just want an option. Beth has been a godsend to our district and our deaf education program. She is kind and patient, and I know my kids are getting the best possible education when I am away. That is huge for teachers: trusting that our kids will be safe, educated, and loved. And Beth does just that.”

Dukes said what makes it all work for her at Ward is the campus atmosphere, a tone that is set daily by Ripple and her staff.

“What makes it all work is that Ward Elementary makes it work,” Dukes said. “Each member of the staff at Ward is integral to the operations of the day: the kindness at the front desk when you arrive that morning, the custodian coming promptly to clean up a major spill, the lunch crew helping subs with the lunch tickets, the nurse helping you understand a student’s medical need, the administration, and, of course, each teacher. They all want their students to have a positive experience and they know it starts in the classroom with each child.”

Dukes hasn’t allowed being hearing impaired herself slow her down from being an athlete, teacher, wife, mother, photographer, or just about anything else she sets out to accomplish. Overcoming that obstacle and taking advantage of opportunities is something Dukes wants students to see daily.

“Deaf students – and hearing students in general education classrooms, too – need opportunities to see that someone can be successful regardless of any disadvantages they may have because we all have something,” Dukes said. “Any chance the students have to see other deaf adults will broaden their horizons, inspire them in their future, and give them hope that there is life beyond school. My ability to know and use American Sign Language (ASL) and communicate directly with the students is beneficial because there are very few deaf role models.

“Regardless of my classroom assignment for that day, I am always teaching ASL because it’s not only for deaf people,” she said. “I could be found subbing more for a general ed class, an art class, or in PE and I was able to incorporate ASL into the lessons. I made sure to remind others that ‘deaf people can’t learn to hear but hearing people can definitely learn to sign!’ “