Long-term substitute fills in for history teacher out on maternity leave

There are few subjects that Colleen Haas hasn’t subbed for. She has taught science and history at Los Gatos High School, filled in at four middle schools and taught history at UC Santa Barbara — the school from which she graduated as a history major.

She is now teaching AP U.S. Government/Economics and U.S. History in place of history teacher Margarita Morelle, who is on maternity leave until November.

“I love being a substitute teacher,” Haas said. “You never know what to expect.”

Haas also has great expectations for this year as she shares her enthusiasm of history with her students.

“I’m looking forward to digging into the stories with the students, and showing them that history still matters even it happened a long time ago. [History] still gets in heated conversations,” said Haas.