Mizerski finds fulfilling role as substitute teacher at LPS

November 22, 2024

Chuck Mizerski is making a Hall of Fame difference for Lincoln Public Schools children in a fulfilling role as a substitute teacher.
 
Mizerski has traded in his coaching whistle for a satisfying second career as a substitute teacher. The former Southeast High School teacher and coach has spent more than a decade working in his new job at LPS buildings. He has chosen to spend the majority of his time helping students in special education classrooms.
 
Mizerski said working as a substitute teacher has been a worthwhile calling.
 
“I need to be doing something. I’m not good at just sitting,” Mizerski said. “I’ve found that subbing gave me something to do every day, and it made me feel like I still had kind of a purpose and had a little more to give back, because I’ve been given so much. It made me feel like I was giving a little back.”

LPS Assistant Director of Special Education Melissa Weber-Arnold said substitute teachers like Mizerski help students and staff in many ways.

“Substitute teachers play a critical role in special education programs within Lincoln Public Schools,” Weber-Arnold said. “Special education students thrive on routine and consistency. When teachers are absent, substitute teachers are essential in maintaining the schedule and programming, ensuring that students continue to engage with their plans.”
 
Mizerski grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Granite City, Ill. His high school math teacher recommended that he attend Peru State College, and the decision to come to Nebraska changed his life. He was a four-year letterwinner on both the football and baseball teams and earned an education degree in 1968.
 
Mizerski spent seven years as an assistant football coach in Granite City before accepting a teaching and head coaching position at Plattsmouth. His work at PHS caught the eye of leaders at Southeast, who hired him to replace Frank Solich as head football coach in 1979.
 
Mizerski’s teams won 230 games and qualified for the playoffs 20 times during his 27-year tenure. Southeast captured Class A state titles in 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2002 and finished in second place in 1988, 1989 and 1993. Mizerski was inducted into the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame in 2010, the Lincoln Southeast Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Peru State College Hall of Fame in 2013.

 
Mizerski retired from Southeast in 2006 and took a year off before deciding to try substitute teaching. One day an opening came up in a special education class, and Mizerski agreed to take the opportunity to lead students in the room. That was the start of a new passion for helping children of all ages receiving special education support.
 
“I really enjoyed it,” Mizerski said. “I felt better at the end of the day. The kids are so open and so honest that I just really enjoyed that. It was so much fun.”
 
Mizerski now serves as a substitute teacher at LPS four or five days each week. He works with students ranging in ages from early childhood to high school, and he handles assignments of various lengths at each of the schools.
 
“It keeps me young up here,” Mizerski said, pointing to his forehead. “I don’t look young and sometimes I don’t feel young, but it keeps me young in the head, I think. I look forward to it. I really look forward to subbing in special ed.”
 
Mizerski said his special education experiences have reaffirmed the importance of the All Means All action plan at LPS. He has enjoyed watching students type perfect sentences, play partner UNO with skill and share their knowledge and expertise about different subjects.
 
“Everybody has a gift to do something,” Mizerski said. “It’s fun to explore that and find out what their particular gift is.”
 
The ability to move throughout the school district has also given Mizerski a chance to meet many classroom teachers. He has been impressed with the thoughtful and attentive way they have led students.
 
“I’ve done special ed all over town, and I have yet to run into a teacher that wasn’t wonderful and really cared about the kids,” Mizerski said.

 
Mizerski said he has been happy to watch unified activities become more popular at LPS. He was working at East High School one day when several Spartans entered his classroom holding blue unified bowling uniforms. All of the students beamed when they learned they would get to wear them.
 
“When they came in and gave those jerseys to kids that said East High Spartans on them, it was amazing to see their eyes light up and to see the high fives and the smiles,” Mizerski said. “It was worth a million dollars to see how excited they were to represent their school in competition.”
 
Mizerski said he would like to continue working in special education for as long as possible.
 
“It’s just wonderful,” Mizerski said. “It’s an enjoyable experience. It’s a good retirement job for me.”
 
To learn more about substitute teaching opportunities at Lincoln Public Schools, visit our website at home.lps.org/hr/substitutes/.
 
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