On a Friday morning in early April, students walked into an English class and were pleasantly surprised to find a substitute teacher. The room buzzed. Some students chatted excitedly, others took out their work and prepared to listen. Some put their heads down to sleep.

Many students see a day with a substitute teacher as a free day in class. But for Alise Stawicki, BHS building sub, it’s just a regular day at work.

Stawicki applied to BHS this fall when she saw job postings for yearbook and science olympiad advisers. After being hired for these positions, she was also hired as building sub.

Stawicki graduated from John Carroll University in 2013 with a major in middle childhood education with concentrations in math and science. This is Stawicki’s first job out of college.

“I saw the job opening for yearbook and science olympiad…I was really interested and it kind of worked out,” Stawicki said.

Stawicki went to Independence High School. She was always involved with school life, participating in extracurricular activities and exhibiting school spirit. Her activities consisted of key club, SADD, glass ceiling, biology society, band, vocal ensemble and culture club. For Independence Homecoming week, which had a Willy Wonka theme, Stawicki went all out.

“I spray painted [my hair] green and was an oompa loompa,” she said.

Ever since she was little, Stawicki knew she wanted to help kids and become a teacher.

“I have always wanted to be a teacher since second grade,” Stawicki said. “I had good teachers [who] helped me through my life. I kind of want to do the same for others.”

Throughout her high school and college career, Stawicki was devoted to helping people. She joined clubs and did volunteer work.

“I did a lot of tutoring in Cleveland schools. I also traveled to Joplin, MO for the tornado clean up, [and] I worked with refugees in Louisville,” Stawicki said.

She also went to Oklahoma City last summer to help clean up after the 2013 tornado.

As a student at John Carroll, she planned many events including Carroll Idol, a huge music festival called Carroll Fest in 2012 and many other events. She was also in charge of the Student Union Programing Board.

While at John Carroll, Stawicki gained experience as a student teacher at Wiley Middle School in Cleveland Heights.

“It’s a lot different student teaching versus taking classes about education,” Stawicki said. “[While teaching], you are actually practicing versus just reading about how one would handle situations.”

These experiences in student teaching and helping people have helped Ms. Stawicki prepare to become a teacher.

“She’s very dedicated…whenever we need something she would go out and get it for us, and she never complains. I think that she is a great advisor,” said senior and science olympiad member Rebecca Kuang.

Her devotion also carries over to yearbook, which was lacking an adviser at the beginning of the year.

“She is a great adviser,” said Editor-in-Chief Soliana Goldrich. “Without her, we couldn’t have made [the yearbook] happen.”

Goldrich praised Stawicki for balancing the commitment of advising multiple clubs with teaching.

The daily life of a substitute is less predictable than that of a classroom teacher.

You’re somewhere new every day,” Stawicki said. “It’s got its good sides and its bad sides…”

“I get a variety [and] I’m never bored, always seeing new things. Bad sides: I have a locker instead of a desk. My stuff lives with me when I’m going around the building.”

She also feels that she is learning from her experience as a building sub. Just as the students are learning, so is she. Stawicki hopes to have her own middle school math or science classroom some day.

“I’ve had a good experience with Beachwood kids,” she said.