LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s not every day you see a doctor teaching school students. Usually, you’ll find primary care physician, Dr. Greg Ciliberti, practicing in his office four mornings a week. He’s semi-retired, but on Fridays you’ll find him inside a Jefferson County Public Schools classroom substitute teaching.

Spectrum News 1 caught up with Ciliberti at a kindergarten class at Cane Run Elementary. He described his teaching experience, saying, “It is challenging, but very enjoyable. I look forward to it every day. I actually think about it when I’m not here. I think, ‘Oh, I can’t wait, Friday’s just around the corner!’”.

In Fall 2021, Ciliberti kept hearing about the teacher shortage in Louisville and wanted to help. So, he became an emergency substitute teacher. He’s only served as a substitute about 10 days so far. Still, he’s taught everything from kindergarten, up to 7th-8th grade.

“The kids are really great. Yes, there are difficult periods taking care of the classroom, but most of the kids are really very good,” Ciliberti said.

Ciliberti doesn’t keep the money he earns. Instead, he donates the money he makes as a sub to the classroom teacher’s budget. 

“Which is just lovely.” Christie Horn, the Principal at Cane Run Elementary School, explained. “He feels strongly about giving back to society. So, every other Friday on an off day, he chooses to sub at JCPS. We’ve been so fortunate to have him multiple times.”

“I really liked the idea that I could give my pay to the very classes that I worked for and they could use it to maybe help the kids or help the substitute teacher who might have a need for her classroom,” said Ciliberti.

He hopes other people can step in to help too.

“I think we could solve our teacher problem pretty quickly, by just having people who are sitting home, maybe a little bored, who want to do something different,” he said.

Ciliberti also hopes that the kids he teaches will understand that learning is fun.