Tulsa church volunteers train to be school substitutes

A Tulsa church is answering the call over the need for volunteers to go into the classroom to serve as substitute teachers. <br><br>As News on Six anchor LeAnne Taylor tells us, at the age of 70, Jim

Wednesday, January 15th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A Tulsa church is answering the call over the need for volunteers to go into the classroom to serve as substitute teachers.

As News on Six anchor LeAnne Taylor tells us, at the age of 70, Jim Allison is looking for ways to give back to his community. That's why he's joined other members of his church for this one hour volunteer substitute teacher training. â€œIâ€™m interested in volunteering, struck me as an idea."

Asbury United Methodist Church hosted the training session in hopes of helping relieve some of the financial pressure on the local school district. "For most of these people, their just wanting to give back to the community, they come from all walks of life and most don't have any classroom experience."

For that reason, these adults became the students, learning a few tricks of the teaching trade. Representatives from both Tulsa Public and Jenks Public schools helped explain how subbing works, what subs can expect in the classroom and answered even the most basic questions. Each person must go through a background check. Once cleared they could be facing their first true teaching test within just a few days.

There are special training sessions set up over the next few weeks for Tulsa Public schools, sessions open to the public. There will be one Thursday from 9 to 10 AM at the Education Service Center near 31st and Harvard. One the following Thursday from 1:30 to 2:30 PM.

For more information, you can call the Tulsa School Districtâ€™s public relations office at 746-6899.