Sioux City, Iowa - What is the value of a simple “thank you”? For long-term substitute teacher Eric Boe, it is priceless.
A Sioux City native and East High School alum, Eric lived in southern California for 34 years before returning to Siouxland with his mother in 2020. Having recently retired from a career in aerospace engineering, he enjoyed 18 months of retirement before deciding he wanted to find a way to make a positive contribution in the community.
A call to Jim Vanderloo, Director of Secondary Education for Sioux City Community Schools, led him to substitute teaching.
“I chose the Sioux City Community School District and, more specifically, the high schools for my efforts as it is the place where I believe we can remove barriers, open up doors, and inspire our students into striving higher than they had previously considered possible,” says Eric, who has subbed in the District’s middle and high schools and Sioux City Career Academy during his nearly two years as a long-term sub.
While Eric has subbed in almost every subject, he has put his background in aerospace engineering to use, taking on three long-term subbing assignments in math and science. It introduced him to a world where he can make a difference daily.
“One of my students from the prior year’s long-term science assignment introduced me to his buddies. He stated something to the effect of ‘you should know what he did for me at the end of last year so I would pass my class,’” recalls Eric. “It really meant something to him. I have similar stories where I have been invited to graduation events for students I helped graduate on time by investing my break time blocks with the intervention and credit recovery rooms.”
While Eric has devoted countless hours to students in the classroom, he’s also making an impact in other ways. Eric donates all of his subbing salary back to the District - to the tune of $40,000.
“I have been very blessed in my life and have the opportunity to put the wages I earn back into the District. This has given opportunities to dozens of students, maybe more, that they would not have had otherwise,” says Eric, who hopes to give back another $10,000 by the end of this school year.
When he’s not giving back financially or subbing in the classroom, Eric volunteers his time by tutoring on Saturday mornings or helping teachers in the building with their duties.
“When I have been able to help a student pass a class, help them graduate on time, or help them understand something that eluded them before – or when I’ve helped a staff member who is overtasked by offloading them during one of my open blocks, those special words ‘thank you’ mean everything to me. Those that I’ve helped are truly grateful,” says Eric who enjoys cars, photography, travel, and attending high school sporting events outside of the classroom.
While he has discovered the rewards of subbing, Eric has also found one of the biggest challenges to substitute teaching is overcoming the preconceptions and biases against substitutes.
“Hearing the words ‘just a sub’ goes against my philosophy that every person has something of value they bring into their associations and workplaces,” adds Eric. “I find that in raising everyone up, I find myself raised up as well. A rising tide lifts the whole ship.”
For someone who wanted to make positive contributions to those around him, Eric has done that and more during his time in the District. At the end of the day, it takes getting out of one’s comfort zone and a commitment to making a positive difference he says.
“To paraphrase Professor Dumbledore (from Harry Potter), ‘help will always be given…to those who ask for it,’” Eric says.