Linda Suarez’s Journey from Long-Term Sub to Permanent Spanish Teacher

Linda Suarez’s path to becoming a full-time high school teacher may not seem conventional at first glance. She spent 15 years as a licensed early childhood educator, spending time as a program director. Then, in a notable career shift, she worked for her local police department for a few years before doing both short-term and long-term substitute teaching in Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). 

So, why not continue working with younger children? Why make such a switch after a decade-and-a-half working in early childhood education? 

“My children were at that age back then, so it fit my lifestyle great,” she said with a smile, “but as they started getting older, I felt I could probably move on.” 

Now completing her first year as a full-time, permanent world languages educator with MCPS, Suarez teaches Spanish at the high school level — and having teenagers of her own gives Suarez useful insight into the lives of her students. 

“I feel like I can understand where they’re coming from, the things they’re kind of going through, and the stage of development that they’re at,” she noted, “and I just find it very fascinating how they’re like young adults — they’re not quite adults, but they’re not children either — so it’s a very unique stage of development that I enjoy teaching.” 

“I’m Just Really Grateful that I Found this Program” 

Suarez credits Moreland University’s TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program for helping her seamlessly transition between her students’ significantly different age groups, even with the law enforcement detour in between. 

“I am so impressed with the Moreland program because it fit so well with the needs of my work and my certification needs,” she said thoughtfully. “Every single assignment I had was so relevant, and it allowed me to implement it into the classroom.” 

Having completed her student teaching experience this spring, Suarez noted the program’s flexibility and structure helped her successfully finish the program while working full-time and managing family responsibilities. 

“The program is so well-organized that you really feel like you have support,” she remarked. “You have support from your professors, from your advisor. Any question that you might have or any doubt, it’s always answered quickly.” 

Being able to attend classes and complete coursework entirely online also helped. 

“It’s very convenient, and I would always choose [online learning] over any other format because you really do save time commuting,” she said. “And don’t be afraid if you don’t have very high-tech skills!” 

Having learned to use new education apps and platforms through relevant lessons, there is a clear similarity between Suarez’s experience as a candidate in TEACH-NOW and the experience that she strives to create for students in her classroom. 

“The thing that I love is giving students tools and skills that they can take into their real life and beyond school,” she said. “That’s going to improve their quality of life. That’s going to give them a better outlook on life, and so I always try to tailor my lessons toward that.” 

Building a New Resume 

Even though she has finished her certification program and her first year of teaching as a permanent educator in a secondary school is in the books, Suarez’s journey as a high school teacher is just beginning. In fact, she’s not quite ready to be finished as a student. 

“I also want to possibly look into [a] French [endorsement] because I’m fluent in French, as well.” 

Speaking multiple languages is an obvious asset as a member of MCPS’ World Languages Department, but it also dovetails with the global perspective and multicultural cohorts Suarez experienced during her time as a Moreland candidate. 

“I thought it would be only people locally. I didn’t realize it was [people] not only all over the nation, but all over the world, like from Korea, Africa, [and the] Middle East,” Suarez said. “I was so surprised by that.” 

Engaging with a diverse community of educators provided her with new insights, particularly about cultural differences in parental involvement and classroom environments around the world, Suarez noted. 

Advice for Shifting Gears Mid-Career 

Making a mid-career adjustment like Suarez’s can feel daunting, but she notes that it was a freeing step that she would encourage other teachers to take if they feel the need. 

“My advice is: take a risk. It’s okay to change your mind,” she reflected. “You’re not boxed in, and you don’t have to feel like, ‘Well, because I’ve been doing this for 10 years, I’m stuck here.’ No, it’s okay to change directions. Sometimes we’re so afraid to do that, but then when we actually take that risk, it’s liberating. And you think, ‘Wow, I should have done this sooner.’” 

Suarez’s journey is proof that career transitions can be fulfilling rather than limiting, proving that it’s never too late to pursue a profession that makes you happy or to make a lasting impact on those around you. 

If you are considering becoming an educator or want to grow your teaching practice, Moreland is ready to support you with our 9-month TEACH-NOW Teacher Certificate Preparation Program and 12-month master’s degree programs. You can complete your free application in less than 15 minutes and start the next stage of your teaching journey today!