Most of my absences are pre-planned and I have time to find a sub I want. But today I called in at 4 in the morning because I felt like shit. Thinking because I called so early the job would get picked up. The sub job went unfilled. I do have a student teacher and she'll take over, but technically it's not legal for her to be in the classroom without a certificated teacher. This is happening all over the district. It's so frustrating to everyone. Is this happening where you are?
--I'm a Teachers Asst for Head Start in a public school district.
I had a horrible stomach bug Tuesday-Wednesday this week so was out. I put in my absence 9pm Monday night for Tuesday and got no sub. In fact my teacher had only our intern with her until 11am (and we have kids at 9:10am). That is against so many laws. Everyone knew I was out because I called and emailed the necessary people when I put in for a sub.
It happens all.the.damn.time. I had no teacher for the first 6.5 weeks of the school year and everyday they scrambled to find a sub. Some days they had no sub so random other people from the building would 'sub' in my room. It was an effing nightmare.
IMO we have a shortage on subs because it's a crappy job to have. I subbed for 2.5 years and hated it so that colors my opinion significantly but whatever. New schools, classrooms, kids, and routines every day. I thrive on routine and schedules so it was not for me. However, I know my district is hiring because they have notice in my building's front office that they're hiring for subs in case any parents or visitors are job hunting etc.
It is not. Even though I teach at a tougher school, we don't usually run into this problem--I guess our corps of subs really want to work. I'm actually pretty surprised...at my very first school (back in 1995), we had to split classes for coverage on the regular--no subs.
What's the job/economic climate of your area? Are subs paid well?
It is not. Even though I teach at a tougher school, we don't usually run into this problem--I guess our corps of subs really want to work. I'm actually pretty surprised...at my very first school (back in 1995), we had to split classes for coverage on the regular--no subs.
What's the job/economic climate of your area? Are subs paid well?
Up to $145 a day, maybe more. I live in Seattle and the economic climate is hot! The stupid district just won't hire more people, because they are assholes.
joenali, that's complete bullshit. That's excellent pay. I think our long-terms only make about $120 a day. Seattle needs to get their shit together to hire more substitutes--esp. in light of what is legally required in terms of supervision, IEPs, etc.
If we don't have enough subs, they don't put subs in for specialists- resource, reading specialist. Usually though, the reading specialist just never gets a sub. I called at 10:30 last night because I've been feeling like shit for 2 days now (and I was getting observed yesterday) and got the best sub we have! She actually retired from my school 2 years ago, and she's amazing. I was so happy to hear it was her. Sorry you didn't get your job filled...what did they do with your class?
I'm sure the student teacher is just in there, probably other teachers or the principal might pop in occasionally,
Subs here get $20 per day and I think they are filled most of the time. DH was going to do it when he was between jobs a few years back and he could get more not working than being a sub.
Subs here get $20 per day and I think they are filled most of the time. DH was going to do it when he was between jobs a few years back and he could get more not working than being a sub.
Post by EmilieMadison on Feb 6, 2015 14:16:24 GMT -5
Yes, in a lot of our schools it is a problem. Most teachers have "preferred" subs that they call directly to fill spots, even last minute. And subs get shit pay and we have some really tough schools and those are the schools where most subs are like "peace out, I'll pass".
Subs here get $20 per day and I think they are filled most of the time. DH was going to do it when he was between jobs a few years back and he could get more not working than being a sub.
Subs here get $20 per day and I think they are filled most of the time. DH was going to do it when he was between jobs a few years back and he could get more not working than being a sub.
Wait. What? That's not minimum wage.
I assumed it was a typo and she meant $120/day (which is sadly still more than I get in my district). AND all subs have to actually hold a teaching license.
Yes, it was a problem when I was teaching. Certain times of year were really bad when sickness was going around and there just weren't enough subs to go around.
One issue we had was that the district would say the sub list was full (because it had x number of names on it) but many subs only want to work certain days or at certain campuses, so while there might be 200 subs, not all of those subs are wanting to work. Some don't accept jobs without prior notice (I typically did not when I was subbing before I was teaching since I was subbing 4-5 days a week with advance notice) and some don't remove their name from the sub list when they move and/or no longer want to sub.
It's very frustrating. Getting a sub in advance was typically NBD. Getting a sub for illness was a crap shoot. Student teachers, non-classroom teachers, and aides were pulled if possible or the kids were split amongst the grade if there was nobody to fill in.
Subs here get $20 per day and I think they are filled most of the time. DH was going to do it when he was between jobs a few years back and he could get more not working than being a sub.
Is this a typo? Because even my cheap-o district paid $110.
Ugh, yes. In one week, I lost four out of five preps. Needless to say, it was fun. O.o
In our district, it seems the issue is that our subs are required to hold teaching certs, instead of the 60 credit state requirement.
Yes, our district requires certificated subs, not emergency subs with at least a bachelor's degree.
That cut down our pool of regulars who were education students. Do you use Aesop? We're about ten years behind every other school and just started using it this year. We have a huge pool online, but no one picks up jobs.
Post by UMaineTeach on Feb 6, 2015 14:29:19 GMT -5
we have a sub shortage. They are willing to hire, but there are only a few names on the list.
I had to take today as a sick day, due to +strep test yesterday. I haven't heard who my sub was, but I alerted all relevant parties at 6:30 last night.
We get subs for classroom teachers. Sometimes there is no sub for SPED or Specialists (PE, art, music, guidance), but it is avoided as best as possible to get a sub for everyone.
Our subs get $55/day. The school board is looking into giving them a raise, as a market study shows they are the lowest paid in the area. The year I spent subbing the highest pay I got was $85/day in a large for Maine city district. It ranged from $45-$85/day.
Adding: we don't require a certificate to sub. I don't think you need more than a HS diploma/GED. We would have no subs if we required certified teachers.
Post by usuallylurking on Feb 6, 2015 14:34:00 GMT -5
My aunt subs in the lake washington school district. She is highly sought and has teachers already requesting her for next year. Anyways, there is a sub shortage, in part because retired teachers are being told that if they come back to the classroom to sub it can mess up their pension and retirement benefits.
This happens occasionally here. This week we had two jobs go unfilled, so I have teachers use their prep time to cover and then I call in a sub another day to pay them back. Our subs make about $238 a day.
edit: all subs have to be certified, all teachers in the public sector have to be.
we have a sub shortage. They are willing to hire, but there are only a few names on the list.
I had to take today as a sick day, due to +strep test yesterday. I haven't heard who my sub was, but I alerted all relevant parties at 6:30 last night.
We get subs for classroom teachers. Sometimes there is no sub for SPED or Specialists (PE, art, music, guidance), but it is avoided as best as possible to get a sub for everyone.
Our subs get $55/day. The school board is looking into giving them a raise, as a market study shows they are the lowest paid in the area. The year I spent subbing the highest pay I got was $85/day in a large for Maine city district. It ranged from $45-$85/day.
Adding: we don't require a certificate to sub. I don't think you need more than a HS diploma/GED. We would have no subs if we required certified teachers.
Whoa...seriously??!! I had no idea!! I thought it was a nationally governed thing where they all had to be certified!
I know they don't have to be certified. I'm guessing on the qualifications. I looked up the application, but it doesn't say. I'm not too motivated to look up state law.
A sub the other day was telling me navigating college for her child this year is hard, b/c she and her H didn't go. She was a SAHM and a sub and her H worked his way up in a company to be a senior executive.
Edit: we do need a certified teacher in that area if it's a long term sub (more than so many weeks in a position). Sometimes to avoid this they change subs every x weeks.
Post by Jalapeñomel on Feb 6, 2015 15:09:49 GMT -5
We have ATRs who sub for us. They are tenured teachers who are unable(willing) to find jobs, so they are kept on as subs (and are compensated on their salary steps).
We have a sub shortage but we also have a teacher shortage so the lack of subs is no surprise. Here you only need a HS diploma to sub and the pay is $75 a day. You have to be certified to be a long term sub. Specialists don't get subs, but thankfully, they don't ask specialists to act as subs either. Our schools usually split classes if a sub doesn't take the job.
When a vacancy doesn't get filled at my school (high school), the kids are sent to the cafeteria for the class period. You can imagine how much learning takes place there.
In my district, you only need to have a HS diploma and complete a 3 day training class to be a sub. I think starting pay is roughly $70/day, more if you have a college degree.