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BECOMING A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
- Check for state and local requirements 每 Find out what is required of a substitute teacher in your state. Some areas will require a college degree, while some will only ask for a certain number of completed credits. An education major is typically not required. You can find out this information from your state Department of Education or local school districts. On the local side, find out if school districts expect you to register with individual schools or with a county/regional consortium, making you available to multiple schools at once.
- Apply 每 Pick up an application packet from your local school district or county/regional consortium. This application may be quite lengthy, but make sure you follow it out completely and accurately.
- Complete any necessary background checks 每 You will need to be fingerprinted and perhaps fill out other forms. You may be able to do this at the school district or they may send you to the local sheriff＊s office. Don＊t be surprised if they expect you to pay for the fingerprints and any processing. They perform these checks to prevent those with criminal backgrounds from working with children.
- Apply for state certification 每 The school district might do this for you as part of the application process, but be aware of the necessary paperwork. There will be a charge for this document, payable to the state Department of Education, which can also help answer any questions pertaining to certification. When you receive your certification, read it carefully and look out for any limits that are placed on the number of days you＊re allowed to work as a substitute teacher.
- Attend a training session 每 The school district or consortium will plan a training session at least once a month for new substitutes. They will cover local policies and procedures, give you classroom management advice, and go over legally-mandated content, like avoiding blood-borne pathogens and reporting suspected abuse.
- Begin scheduling jobs 每 The method of scheduling substitutes varies by district. If you are working with a single school rather than a large consortium, then teachers or secretaries will probably call you on an individual basis when they need your help. When working as part of a district-wide or county-wide system, then you will usually schedule your jobs through an automated system. Traditionally, these systems have worked through phone calls, but they have recently moved to scheduling websites as well. Make sure you＊re comfortable with using your local system, as it is your key to receiving assignments.
- Work as a substitute teacher 每 After you＊ve received an assignment, record all of the information you receive and find out where the school is located if you don＊t already know. On the day of the assignment, dress comfortably, including comfortable shoes. Plan your morning so that you will arrive early and have time to settle in to your classroom for the day. When you get to the school, sign in at the main office, where they can direct you to the teacher＊s classroom. Follow the teacher＊s lesson plans as closely as possible while maintaining good control of the classroom. Leave a note for the teacher at the end of the day, letting him or her know what you covered and how the day went. If you think you did a good job and would like to return to that classroom, don＊t be shy about letting the teacher know how to request you in the future.
Are you still undecided about substitute teaching? Consider the following advantages and disadvantages of the job:
ADVANTAGES OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHING
- Flexibility
- Variety
- Set hours
- A chance to try out teaching
- A chance to make a difference
DISADVANTAGES OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHING
- Dealing with misbehavior
- Stress of constantly dealing with new situations
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