When substitute teachers know the ins and outs of a school’s flow, schedule, and code of conduct, it’s always a net positive for the district. Compared to the anxiety and time expense of on-the-job training for new folks, routine subs show up and can work without too many directions. Alicia Dixon is one such priceless fixture at Benton Grade School. “I’m glad that I can help,” she says. “I know I’m here a lot because I am here.” Emphasis added on “here” because Alicia’s presence is distinctly emblematic of her dedication to our district.
ALICIA DIXON
From Stand-In
to Standout
Alicia moved from Peoria to Franklin County with her husband twenty-two years ago but wasn’t quite ready to leap into the role she’s in now. She planned to use the time to participate in the “fun stuff” her daughter brought home from kindergarten. “My daughter’s kindergarten teacher would say every day, you know, we need subs,” Alicia remembers. It wasn’t long before she caved to the pressure. “I finally gave in,” she laughs. “That’s where it started in 2001 and I’ve been here ever since.” By “ever since,” she also means “pretty much every day,” and we wouldn’t be the first to tell you her extensive knowledge of Benton Grade School’s moving parts is a boon to student safety and community unity.
We are fortunate to have a well-rounded, caring group of teachers who want our students to succeed.
“We are fortunate to have a well-rounded, caring group of teachers who want our students to succeed,” Alicia says. “They all have their different quirks but they all care and they want their students to succeed.” Need to know if those quirks are compatible with your tyke? Alicia is a passionate advocate for every educator she knows, frequently telling parents how much they and their children will love their new teacher. Over the years, she’s become an honorary member of countless families through her interactions with students and parents. She considers Benton a very “welcoming” place, one where safety is paramount.
For many children in small communities, their immediate environment can define who they are for a lifetime. It’s important to Alicia that local kids see the world outside county lines. On top of her classroom outreach, she inspires students to try new things through her work with the Girl Scouts of the USA. “A lot of our girls don’t get out of Franklin County,” she explains. “I’ve taken groups to Indianapolis, Springfield, Evansville, Paducah. I try to do different kinds of things that they might be interested in.” In true Alicia fashion, Alicia is building more than a Girl Scout troop. She’s providing access to things that some kids might not have access to and fulfilling a need that might otherwise go by the wayside.
This substitute teacher is by no means “filling the gap.” Alicia is a catalyst for new experiences, and the extra layer of regional awareness this sub brings to the table is the cherry on the sundae. She’s not just substituting; she is enriching, complementing, and, in many ways, expanding the roles of the regular faculty. In doing so, she joins the other substitutes as integral threads in the complex tapestry of community education, inspiring the next generation to see beyond their immediate circumstances and confidently reach for whatever may be there.
