In an extraordinary move praised by educators and parents alike, Greenfield School District Superintendent Dr. Evelyn Harper recently revealed she spent the past six weeks working undercover as a substitute teacher in several schools across the district — a bold initiative aimed at gaining firsthand insight into the day-to-day experiences of teachers.
Dr. Harper, who has led the district since 2021, said the idea came after hearing growing concerns from teachers about burnout, overcrowded classrooms, and a lack of administrative support. Determined to understand the issues beyond reports and staff meetings, she quietly obtained her substitute certification under the pseudonym “E. Hill” and began accepting assignments in middle and high schools without revealing her identity.
“I wanted to see what our teachers are really facing — not from the comfort of an office, but from the front of the classroom,” Dr. Harper said during a press conference Thursday morning. “What I found was both humbling and galvanizing.”
Over six weeks, Dr. Harper taught English, math, science, and even filled in for a gym teacher at Lincoln Middle School. She described juggling lesson plans, managing large class sizes, and navigating broken copy machines and outdated textbooks.
“I had students with no access to working Chromebooks. I had to teach geometry using only a whiteboard and markers because the projector hadn’t worked for months,” she noted. “And I witnessed our teachers going above and beyond — every single day — despite these conditions.”
While Dr. Harper maintained her cover, only a handful of principals were aware of her true identity. Teachers and students believed she was simply a new, eager sub — many even commenting on her strong classroom management and enthusiasm for student engagement.
Now that her identity has been revealed, reactions across the district have been overwhelmingly positive.
“I think it’s incredible,” said Mariana Torres, a 10th-grade history teacher at Greenfield High. “No one in administration has ever taken the time to really be one of us. It’s validating to finally be seen.”
Parents, too, are applauding the unconventional move. “It shows she cares, not just about policy, but about people,” said Chris Dunlap, a father of two elementary students. “She’s earned our trust.”
Dr. Harper has already begun drafting a series of reforms based on her experiences, including reduced administrative paperwork for teachers, expanded classroom resources, and a mentorship program for new substitutes.
“Empathy must drive policy,” she said. “And now that I’ve walked in their shoes — even briefly — I understand what needs to change, and why it can’t wait.”
The Greenfield Board of Education is expected to review her proposed initiatives at next month’s meeting, where community members will have the chance to weigh in.
As one eighth-grader who unknowingly had “Ms. Hill” for science class put it: “She actually listened to us. And she cared. That made all the difference.”