Myles Aitken, who taught math at Chapel Hill High School from 2014-16, has returned to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools District as a substitute teacher.
“It’s weird [to be back] because I’m no longer a full-time teacher, but it’s cool to be back here and see a lot of my former students and colleagues,” Aitken said.
Senior Iris Chien took Aitken’s Math III-Precalculus class her sophomore year and did not know Aitken had returned until she bumped into him in the hallway. Chien believed that he “would be fantastic [as a substitute], especially at this school, with his previous experience.”
“He is well-versed in how classes are run, and he understands the high school culture and dynamic,” Chien said. “I could tell that he really likes teaching and cares about his students, with all the effort he put into his classes.”
Aitken said his previous experience at Chapel Hill High School helps him as a substitute.
“I know when kids are trying to goof off versus when they are being real about things like going to the bathroom,” Aitken said. “Knowing the school layout, knowing the people, knowing where to go—little things like that go a long way.”
Math teacher Keith Cooper requested Aitken as a substitute so that students could continue learning when he was absent.
“If you can get a substitute who knows the subject material, it’s wonderful,” Cooper said. “That person can actually answer questions while you’re gone, as opposed to just keeping aware of where [students] are and making sure they’re getting work done.” Chien thinks that substitutes just need to “understand how to run a classroom.”
Aitken is currently self-employed, working with his uncle and cousin to represent and sell sports apparel. He does not plan on returning to teaching professionally, but he likes being a substitute.
“[I enjoy] knowing that I’m a reliable and responsible substitute, knowing that I can help my colleagues when they’re out and that they can feel confident knowing that day’s lesson will be handled,” Aitken said.
