Imagine being happy because your phone rang at 6:00 am. Staff shortages recur continually and often unexpectedly due to teachers taking days or time off for training and health-related or other reasons. A Substitute Teacher helps schools tide over such situations quickly and effectively by standing in fo... Continue Reading
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Explore Career Imagine being happy because your phone rang at 6:00 am. Staff shortages recur continually and often unexpectedly due to teachers taking days or time off for training and health-related or other reasons. A Substitute Teacher helps schools tide over such situations quickly and effectively by standing in for the regular teacher so that the students carry on with their studies and activities uninterrupted.
What are the typical responsibilities of a Substitute Teacher?
A Substitute Teacher would typically need to:
Substitute Teachers work within schools, spending time in classrooms, the school library, theatre, music room, gym, science labs and wherever they are required to fill in for regular teachers. The school management may request them to supervise students on the playground or in the lunch room and accompany them on school trips if required. They may also need to attend meetings in the staff room and meet with parents, typically on appointment before or after school hours.
In primary school classrooms, substitutes often play a more active role that includes leading activities, reading aloud, and sometimes teaching fundamental topics. Middle and high school substitute instructors typically have additional managerial responsibilities, which they may carry out in their assigned rooms or the staff room.
Substitute Teachers interact directly with students and their parents. They teach students of all ages and sometimes those with special needs. Additionally, they work with other educators and teaching assistants and often answer to an assistant principal.
Dress sensibly and neatly, avoiding any inappropriate piece of clothing or accessory that disrupts the classroom atmosphere, may distract colleagues or is hazardous to the community.
Flexibility is critical to working as Substitute Teachers since they frequently fill in when necessary, sometimes at short notice with little time to prepare for lessons. Their weekly and daily work schedules vary substantially as a school may hire them for a single class, a day, a week or even up to an entire year but rarely longer. The typical workday lasts 7 hours and 30 minutes, and you follow the same timetable as regular teachers. The time you arrive or leave will depend on your assignment. You may also need to work on holidays or teacher in-service days and during summer vacations.
You may take up freelance and part-time work, accepting assignments as they come and if they suit your availability, or you may be on a permanent roster for a school and be prepared to float from one assignment to another as and where needed. You may also be placed on relatively long-term duty to fill in for teachers on extended leave for maternity or other health reasons.
Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in the number of employers willing to give promising employees the chance to adjust their schedules as per the demands of the job.
Finding a new job might seem challenging. Substitute Teachers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting schools directly, registering with agencies, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media and inquiring at staffing agencies.
Substitute Teachers are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organisations, such as the International Teachers Association (ITA), are crucial for Substitute Teachers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.
Employers may be less stringent about the experience requirements for Substitute Teachers than for full-time, regular educators. However, they may prefer candidates who have some experience working with children and imparting knowledge, regardless of whether that experience stems from previous substitute teaching assignments or in the roles of childcare assistant, tutor or camp counsellor.
Fieldwork in the form of student teaching, internship, or other teaching experience for the prescribed number of hours is often the cornerstone of a teacher education program. It complements classroom instruction, whether the program is a bachelor’s degree in teacher education or a certification program following it. The location of your experiences will vary, although most of them will likely be with the grade you are preparing to teach. Programs may also require that a candidate spend some time in all classes and ensure that they gather some experience with special needs children.
You will gain optimal benefit from your tasks outside of the classroom when they line up perfectly with your lessons inside it. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.
In some locations, Substitute Teachers must have teaching experience within the preceding three to five years of applying for a job. They must also demonstrate a thorough grasp of the school's curriculum and the competence to organise, prepare and teach lessons following the official standards. A background in early years education may be essential for those seeking to fill in for teachers at the primary school level.
Summer internships, part-time work at an entry-level position or short-term paid/voluntary work offer you a taste of the career, give you valuable insight into how a company or institution operates, help build useful contacts, and improve your prospects of getting a permanent job.
The experience may also help you determine whether the public, private, or voluntary sector is best suited to realise your ambitions. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable opportunities for work placements, internships and voluntary work in diverse sectors.
Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in substitute teaching to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.
Aspiring candidates, must typically hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education or a related field, particularly for long-term and permanent substitute positions. If they possess a degree in a different subject, they may top it up with a post-baccalaureate certificate in education. It is to the benefit of candidates if they undertake teacher training that helps them build expertise in teaching strategies and classroom management.
A bachelor’s degree is also a prerequisite to qualify for the QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) certification, which Substitute Teachers may require, particularly if they wish to work in state-run institutions in certain locations.
Since different locations may have different standards for the education that Substitute Teachers require, it is advisable to check with local authorities to confirm the specific requirements in your area and the validity of your qualifications and licence if you already possess them.
Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee your entry into the profession. Be that as it may, your professional qualifications and transferable skills gained may open up more than one door.
Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.
Certification demonstrates a Substitute Teacher's competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement, and become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.
Substitute Teachers may need certification to teach a particular subject, for instance, a core subject, such as mathematics. When a school faces an emergency, local authorities may grant credentials on an urgent basis. In general, certification requirements for Substitute Teachers during such situations are less strict than during regular times.
Depending on location, Substitute Teachers may require QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) credentials, particularly if they wish to work in state-run institutions. Although not mandatory, Substitute Teachers who work in private schools also typically possess QTS. A postgraduate certificate in education may also earn you a QTS.
Substitute Teachers may also consider acquiring TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. Certification in first aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is valuable, and some employers may make it mandatory.
Depending on location and whether you will sub in a public or private school, you may require a valid teaching or substitute teaching license, which qualifies you to be included in the local pool of substitute teachers. Urgent requirements may allow authorities to issue provisional licences. On the other hand, whether retired or in-service, certified teachers may not be asked for additional certification. The pandemic resulted in the easing of requirements to make it easier to compensate for staff shortages, although an application process and reference letters will likely be necessary.
Individual government entities conduct the licensing process. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship. Check with local or national educational authorities to determine whether you need licensure.
Given the need to deal with children, most employers, particularly public schools, demand a background check that can include but is not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), fingerprints, criminal record, medical history and immunisation records, use of social media, and drug screening.
Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years.
Substitute Teachers may progress to permanent teaching employment if they possess or acquire the necessary training and certification. From the role of a regular Teacher, you may choose to diversify into administration and become a Consultant, Assistant/Vice Principal or Principal. You could also take on the role of Superintendent, Lead Educator, Programme Director or Education Administrator. With advanced qualifications and experience, you may even become a Professor, Tutor or Dean.
The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.
Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees in search of a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills along the way.
Candidates with the necessary skills, experience, a bachelor’s or master’s degree in education and flexibility have the best job prospects.
Continuing professional development (CPD) will help active Substitute Teachers build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.
Orientation sessions and training on the job help you understand the school’s philosophy, protocols, rules & regulations, curriculum and pedagogical methods. You may observe or help current teachers as they give lessons and manage the classroom. Training would also cover lesson preparation, classroom management, and teaching strategies. Learning to foster positive connections with the administration, instructors and staff is also helpful.
Substitute Teachers must take relevant online or in-person courses to keep their knowledge current and maintain a competitive edge in the industry. Library resources help you expand your knowledge about your subject or teaching. Schools are using replacements more frequently to fill in for absent instructors. By earning their certifications or being trained to teach a range of subjects and age groups, Substitute Teachers can profit from this trend. They might network with other professionals in the education sector to learn about open positions.
As technology develops, more and more institutions are embracing online learning tools, such as video conferencing, to aid students in their studies. Substitute Teachers must become conversant in a wide range of skills if they are to work in an online or virtual classroom. They must be able to interact with students, monitor their grades and behaviour, and conduct themselves in a suitable way for an online setting.
Unions may provide their members with free courses and resources. The school you work at may allow you to join some of its professional development programs, or the school board may open up its training sessions for you. If courses are recorded, you can watch them at leisure without missing a day of work or pay.
All-Round Benefits of Substitute Teachers
The practice of hiring Substitute Teachers provides benefits to various stakeholders in the school community. The immediate beneficiaries are students whose learning continues under the guidance and supervision of replacement teachers who may be familiar faces. By extension, regular teachers also derive reassurance from knowing that their absence will not disrupt their class routine. Parents feel secure knowing that the school is fully prepared to deal with sudden or anticipated staff absences. It is, therefore, to the advantage of all to create a system that optimises the efficacy of substitute teaching while fostering stability for regular staff and keeping them motivated.
Substitute Teacher vs Assistant Teacher
Substitute Teachers fill in for regular teachers temporarily. Their fundamental duties and responsibilities are identical to those of the educator for whom they are standing in. However, assistant teachers work in a role subordinate to regular teachers. They prepare materials for classroom assignments and work one-on-one with pupils while the lead teacher conducts the class. Assistant Teachers may be in the process of acquiring credentials and classroom experience, while Substitute Teachers may already possess them.
What is Classroom Management?
The total of the skills and techniques teachers employ to enlist student engagement is called classroom management. It encompasses teaching and keeping students organised, attentive and productive during class time. Effective classroom management strategies minimise student behaviours that hamper learning and optimise those that facilitate it for individuals and groups. Effective teaching goes hand-in-hand with effective classroom management, which results in an attentive and orderly class.
Historically, effective classroom management may have meant enlisting students’ compliance but now is a combination of the positive behaviours that teachers use in class and the environment they foster to support and motivate students in their learning, the expectations they clarify and manage, the materials they use and the activities they design and organise for their class.
Carelessly designed lessons, bland learning materials, or unclear expectations can result in students tuning out of the learning process out of disinterest and engaging in undesirable behaviours. The overall outcome of ineffective classroom management can be an indisciplined and chaotic class. In short, the overall quality of both teaching and classroom management defines the class atmosphere in a class and its positive outcomes for students.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Substitute Teachers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, a full-time Substitute Teacher has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
Substitute Teachers help the show go on at schools by filling in for regular teachers on planned or unexpected leave for various reasons. They play a critical role in educational systems by delivering quality and uninterrupted instruction and discharging the responsibilities and obligations of the teacher for whom they are substituting. You can make a positive difference not just with what you write on the board but with what you etch on students’ minds, even in a day.
Be aware of your goals and skill set. Some Substitute Teachers excel with students in elementary school, others with those in middle or high school. Go ahead and experiment to discover your strengths. Each school has a distinctive leadership, student body and challenges, but clear and consistent standards and direction will help you do your best for your students. Use creative ways to engage with your students, especially at the start of a lesson. Make them feel valued and inspire their confidence in you.
Substitute Teachers in schools in Los Angeles and New York City are often struggling actors, given their need for additional and flexible work and skills in public speaking and improvisation.
What do Substitute Teachers do?
A Substitute Teacher would typically need to:
Accredited
$46,638
