By Megan Munson
Health Editor

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ot many subs will give students homemade candy and do a headstand. Not many subs will finish out an injured teacher’s year. Not many subs go above and beyond the call of duty. Clare Strickler is one such educator, a substitute teacher who frequently exceeds expectations.

A retired teacher originally from Cape Cod, Mass., Strickler has been subbing at FFHS for the past six years. Strickler has a diverse past, working in the United States Army both overseas and at home, an Army career that ended at Ft. McClellan in Anniston, Ala. Strickler has lived all over the world, including Vietnam, Thailand, and Germany, as well as various South American countries.

“Not only was I in the Army, but I worked for the Army as a civilian, and I worked in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1974, which was the end of the Vietnam War,” Strickler said. “I became a drill sergeant for a very brief period of time.”

After completing her career in the military, Strickler went back to school as an adult, graduating from what is now Shepherd University, the same school football coach Jim Prince attended. Strickler taught at the  high school level in Hampshire County, West Virginia for twenty years. Her favorite class to teach was law.

“We actually put Goldilocks on trial. We held the trial in the courthouse with all of the students taking the roles of the judge, bailiff, and other characters. A friend of mine’s Honors History class was the jury pool,” Strickler said. “We made the front page of our local paper.”

According to Strickler, she returned to work as a substitute teacher after retiring in 2006 because she missed the structure. The enthusiasm of the students and teachers at FFHS made a strong impact on Strickler.

“I think most of (the students) are pretty cheerful and willing to work,” Strickler said. “I think that the teachers and staff are extremely dedicated. I was really impressed, just by how much they get involved, and how much they go above and beyond.”

Other teachers have been grateful for the assistance provided by Strickler. After suffering serious injuries from being hit by a car while walking her dog, Parenting and Child Development and Early Childhood Education teacher Jann Gorham was searching for a sub willing to properly teach her classes. She found that sub in Strickler.

“She has a gift for being there just at the right time when needed and being able (to) take what is given (to) her to make the best out of what is before her,” Gorham said. “I am so fortunate to have her as my sub this semester, and I know she has prepared my students well.”

For Strickler, assisting the faculty of FFHS whenever needed is natural.

“I see something that needs to be done, and I do it,” Strickler said. “I stepped in and did what I could at a bad time.”

Students remember Strickler for her various abilities to make homemade candy and stay in the headstand position for a couple of minutes.

“She substituted for jazz band and brought us candy, and we talked her into doing a headstand,” sophomore Symone Marquand said. “She’s pretty cool. How many subs do you know (that) can do a headstand?”

For other students, Strickler’s policy of mutual respect is valued most.

“She follows the rules but can be lenient to students,” senior Alex Brown said. “She respects all students as long as they can respect her.”

Strickler’s tradition of baking and sharing hard, sugary homemade candy started five years ago at FFHS. She only cooks it in the fall to keep her sweets special for the holiday season.

“If I made it year-round, it would become too ordinary. I actually make it for Christmas, because I give a lot of food and cookies and stuff at Christmas, and so I start making it in the fall to have enough,” Strickler said. “And then it became sort of a tradition, but…good things are worth waiting for, so they have to wait till the fall.”

While Strickler said that she does miss the variety of classes, she looks forward to the upcoming school year and plans to continue substituting for many more years.

“I’ll be back subbing for all the teachers that might want me,” Strickler said. “I’ll keep subbing as long as it’s fun. When it stops being fun, I’ll retire again.”

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