The pandemic has school districts across Long Island clamoring for substitute teachers to help fill specialized roles or at least fill in when a teacher is out.

Giovanni D'Ambrosio is studying to become an Italian teacher at Stony Brook University. D'Ambrosio always thought he would be teaching once he got his master's degree, but instead he is in the classroom now.

"I thought I'd be substitute teaching after I got my degree and certifications, but then the opportunity came up and I took it," says D'Ambrosio.

Dr. Roberta Gerold, the superintendent of the Middle Country School District, says her district needs five substitute teachers. Gerold says the district and many others are partnering with universities like Stony Brook to get substitute teachers into the classroom. This is all possible since the state eased some certification requirements during the pandemic.

"It's even more difficult this year than it was last year," says Gerold.

Zachary Schulman is an English major and says his experience as a substitute teacher has been invaluable.

"I have been able to work as if I was a teacher five to 10 years down the line," says Schulman. "So, it's really giving me a look at what my future is going to be looking like."

The problem with getting substitute teachers isn't limited to just Long Island. School districts in the city and nationwide are having similar challenges.