Join our team: substitute teachers are essential and valued

Wanted: Substitute Teachers

 

Teaching and learning don’t take a sick or vacation day, so when a teacher needs to be out of the classroom for whatever reason, a substitute teacher is essential.

Substitute Teachers have become the unsung heroes of the school world, as Districts raise pay and increase recruitment efforts.

“It’s the most freeing teaching job I’ve ever had,” says Heidi Christensen, a retired NISD teacher. “I don’t understand why more people aren’t doing it.”

Christensen retired from NISD after teaching for 15 years as a kindergarten teacher at Braun Station Elementary School. Today she is subbing at Marshall High School, but next week, she may be somewhere else.

“The best part of substitute teaching is that you control where and what you teach and when you want to work,” Christensen said. “And, you don’t have to do any lesson plans or paperwork. It’s great!”

According to Christensen, retired teachers who serve as substitutes get to do what they wanted to do when they got into the teaching profession. “We get to teach kids and help them succeed without all the extra stuff that is now part of the profession.”

When asked what she would say to someone about substituting, she replied, “You shouldn’t hesitate – at least give it a try.”

 

Great way to get your foot in the door

DeShandra Miller, a third-grade teacher at Michael Elementary School, served as a substitute teacher before becoming a full-time teacher in the District. As a military spouse, when her family moved to San Antonio she didn’t know anyone nor was she familiar with school districts in the area. Substitute teaching was a great way for her to get her foot in the door.

“I would encourage any recent college graduate or someone looking for a full-time teaching job to apply to be a substitute teacher,” Miller said. “It’s a great way to get to know a school district and make some contacts before committing to a contract.”

Her husband will soon be retiring and they plan to remain in San Antonio. “I’m glad I found my home at Northside ISD,” she said.

 

What are the qualifications and requirements?

There are three areas for qualifying to be substitutes:

  • Those who are certified teachers who for whatever reason don’t want to work full time or retired.
  • Those who have a college degree but no teacher certification; or
  • Those who have 90 or more college hours.

 

An increase in pay

In September, the NISD Board of Trustees approved an increase in pay for substitutes ranging from $150 for a long-term substitute who is a certified teacher to $110 for those with 90+ semester hours. There is an added $20 per day for teaching Mondays and Fridays.  Below are the different rates of pay:

Type

Length

Tuesday, Wed., Thurs.

Monday & Friday

Certified Teacher

Full Day

$130

$150

 

Half Day

$85

$85

 

Long Term

$150

$150

Degreed, not certified

Full Day

$120

$140

 

Half Day

$75

$75

 

Long Term

$140

$140

90+ semester hours

Full Day

$110

$130

 

Half Day

$70

$70

 

Longer Term

$130

$130

 

Supporting our substitute teachers:

Training of substitute teachers is an integral part of the NISD Substitute Teacher Program. Before beginning their duties, all substitute employees new to NISD must complete an online Orientation session.  Additional training is available for substitutes who will work with special education students.

Substitutes become a part of the school culture and have a SmartFind Express administrator that can provide additional support.  Campus administrators are always available to support their substitute staff that come frequently to their campus.

 

Apply now!

Anyone interested in applying to be a substitute must complete an online application, and then fill out various pre-employment forms like all NISD employees (I-9, W-4, Direct Deposit, TRS/Social Security, etc. Additional details can be found here.

 

“Substitute teachers play a critical role in our school district,” said Patricia Hill, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. “Even if someone has only one day a week when they can sub, that’s one day a week when our students are going to get a really amazing person.”

“Substitute teachers help make our team complete,” Hill added.