Math teacher Margie Brindley has taken a leave of absence due to a personal matter. “I actually have a personal family emergency I have to be gone for,” she said. The absence, effective April 4, is expected to last until May 26. This has left Brindley’s five classes of students without their regular teacher. “It’s kinda rough every time you have a teacher leave because you get into the groove of having them,” said sophomore Mahren Hudson, one of Brindley’s students. “You have to learn how to deal with a new teacher, but it’s not like the worst thing.”

In order to make the transition easier on her students, Brindley has carefully chosen a substitute teacher who will take over her classes for the duration of her absence. “[Math teacher Rebecca Henn’s]…daughter [is] getting a teaching credential, and…she’s teaching over at Sage and she knows math really well,” Brindley said. “I also know her and think she’s an amazing person, and I thought the combination of those traits would be a great opportunity for her and a great opportunity for the students.”

Laura Henn, the substitute for Brindley’s classes, said she is looking forward to taking over Brindley’s classes. “I haven’t taught before but I’ve tutored for a very long time. I’ve tutored in high school, tutored in college, and I tutor now. I will be [getting my teaching credential] next year,” Henn said. “I’m excited…it’s a little bit new and kind of scary, but I appreciate the opportunity. Everyone in the math department has really helped me…and the students have been really respectful.”

Sophomore Nicki Brass is in Brindley’s class and has had a positive experience with Henn so far. “[Henn] seems really nice, she seems like she’s excited to teach,” he said.

Brindley said it was important to find a substitute who could cover the duration of her leave. “I also really wanted to be sure I could get a consistent sub so that my students wouldn’t have to have different people, and their learning wouldn’t be disrupted in any way,” she said. Hudson agrees that a long term substitute is better than multiple ones for this reason as well.

Brindley said she would be in touch with Henn. “I think because I’ve picked a good sub who I’m going to be very open with about communicating, she can call me, text me, email me,” she said. “I’m worried about my students and I don’t want them to be stressed out which is why I was very careful about picking a sub who I think is going to be really good.”

Hudson said she is glad that Brindley plans to return before the end of the year. “I think [Mrs. Brindley coming back] will be good, because then she can see for the final how much we’ve learned and if we have questions she can help us,” Hudson said.