Mary Brown can now stake a claim to a rare and admirable feat—teaching at all 50+ campuses which make up the A-rated Collier County Public Schools (CCPS). You might ask how this is possible. Brown is a guest teacher for CCPS, a term used in place of ‘substitute’ teacher.

Brown, a self-described ‘snowbird,’ and her husband live seven months in southwest Florida and five months along the Jersey Shore. Theirs is one of countless stories of the extended CCPS Family. Brown teaches in our schools and her two daughters have children of their own who are enrolled in CCPS. “I do this because I want to continue doing what I love, teaching.”

The guest teacher’s role in the educational progression of CCPS students is crucial. We all know that providing continuity in the classroom is essential; however, teacher absences are unavoidable. Continuity can be maintained by guest teachers who are well-versed in District policies, classroom procedures, and the school’s expectations. Through professional training and invaluable experience, our guest teachers—like Mary Brown and 700 others—provide students with a continuance of instruction. This aids in minimizing instructional gaps, which may result from teachers’ absences.

“This role has given me daily challenges and chances to both share and gain professional experiences,” Brown added. “It has also rewarded me with new adventures, new acquaintances, new cultures, and a variety of academic studies.”

If you are excited about education and committed to student growth, you can apply to be a guest teacher. We welcome the opportunity to add to our CCPS Family. The public is invited to join us on January 31, 2020, for our next Guest Teacher Recruitment Fair. To learn more about this event or the Guest 2 Teach program, please visit the CCPS Guest Teachers and Guest Assistants website at https://www.collierschools.com/guestteachers.