Editor’s Note: “Hawks Uncovered” is a series that tells the often unknown stories of Hebron students and staff.

Twenty-two years.

Maryann Kvancz has been a substitute for twenty-two years and she loves it.

Her teaching journey started when she was a teenager. She ran a summer day care program for neighborhood kids. After that, teaching became a part of her. Along with teaching, she worked at a restaurant, where she would keep working for the next 45 years.

Five years into teaching, she switched to being a substitute. It was a flexible part-time job that kept Kvancz in the classroom while raising her two small kids, moving houses and working at the restaurant. She said it was also easier because she could teach them in a different way. She taught math originally, so explaining things in different ways for each student was her expertise.

While it offered the flexibility Kvancz needed, however, it was not perfect. There were times she wouldn’t be made aware of a kid’s situation or disciplinary issues, and it was hard when she didn’t know.

As the years went on, Kvancz started to teach less. With budget cuts, there were fewer substitute jobs, and those that are available tend to get canceled last minute. Because of that, this might be her last year substitute teaching.

But, even with the challenges, Kvancz said teaching is worth it. She will sometimes see her previous students and seeing that they remember her and how her kids have changed is one of the best things about her job.