Salaries of a substitute teacher:

The job of substitute teaching might be a rewarding one but it is not a job with high pay. Still it’s the best way for those to enter into the teaching field. This is also the quickest way for those with no experience to start teaching the students in schools and colleges.

Salary based on experience:

In general, a candidate with more experience gets a higher pay. In the same way, if an employer calls the candidate with ten years of experience and if he does not meet the said requirements, then he may get less pay. Negotiate salary on the experience you have if you have the said requirements as well. Below is the table that shows you the relation between the experience and the salary he or she gets.

Salary based on Location:

Location of the job plays a major factor in deciding salary of a substitute teacher. This especially gains more importance in areas where cost of living is high (Metropolitans). Below is the table that shows you the relation between the state and the salary the substitute teacher gets.

Salary by state:

Salary based on Certification:

Fulfilling minimum educational requirements might help one to get into substitute teacher’s role; but having done some certifications related to teaching; one can earn better pay packages. The below table depicts the salary structure and the variations depending upon the certification being possessed.

Salary based on Industry:

Depending upon the industry into which one enters the salary varies. The table below describes the variations based on the industry.

Salary based on Gender:

This is one of the professions where female substitute teachers earn better than their male counterparts. Following table shows the variations based on the gender.

Salary based on Employer type:

Below table lists out the salary range depending upon the kind of school (For example, a state owned school versus a private school).

Duties and Responsibilities of a substitute teacher:

The substitute teacher basically replaces regular teacher temporarily. Even though duties and responsibilities of a substitute teacher are similar to a regular teacher, he or she has to perform those duties and responsibilities in a short response time. Following are the duties and responsibilities that a substitute teacher has to take care of:

• The main duty of a substitute teacher is to manage the lessons according to the plan of a regular teacher.
• The substitute teacher makes sure that the provided instructions are under the school policies.
• He generates positive atmosphere in the classroom.
• He or she changes his or her teaching style and makes sure that the students understand the lessons.
• They check on the progress of the students periodically.
• Try motivating students.
• He also reports about the problematic student’s behaviour to the concerned department.
• He even reports to the designated authority if a student is not feeling well or has met with an accident.
• He discusses with the parents or the guardians about the students behaviour in the class.
• He does not reveal the school policies or any student related information to the third party people.
• They are answerable to the authorities for their decisions regarding the students.
• Should follow lesson plans and also the school syllabus.
• Should also respect school rules and regulations.
• Should be able to work in flexible hours.
• Takes all necessary precautions to check if the student is fit and healthy.
• Maintains the privacy of the internal information related to student and school staff.
• Collects papers from the students and places it in the teacher’s desk.
• Makes sure that all the students under his or her supervision do not face any health issues.
• Substitute teachers are responsible for protecting the students and the schools equipments.
• Reports office before the school hours, check the reports of the regular teacher and based on that information, he tries to assign work for the students.
• Handles the materials and the equipments to the concerned authority of the school.
• Fills out the substitute teachers form for the regular teacher.
• Sends home all the students before he or she leaves the school.
• Finds out if his or her services are needed he next day.

Skills to become a substitute teacher:

• A substitute teacher requires good communication skills to communicate with the students and the parents.
• He or she should always approach the students in the positive way and should create a positive environment in the classroom.
• Decision making and creativity skills are must for a substitute teacher to have when he or she deals with the students.
• He or she should also have listening skills and should be able to apply verbal instructions and written instructions whenever required.
• Time management is very important for this kind of job.
• Substitute teachers when dealing with students should be patient, polite and good.
• Creativity skills help them to maintain silence among the students and also can teach the lessons according to the plan of the regular teacher.
• Having good verbal and written sills helps them to understand the instructions given by the regular teacher, they can implement their own lesson plans and he or she prepares a report of her day’s activities.
• They should also be in touch with the school management for future employment. Networking skills are important to have as many of the substitute teacher’s work on contract basis.

What does a substitute teacher do?

Teaching is one of most responsible jobs. Classes cannot be skipped in the absence of the teacher as it would definitely affect the students and their studies. To avoid such situations, today many schools and colleges are finding out for a solution. The solution is none other than the substitute teachers. Regular teachers cannot make up to the classes for various reasons like illness, maternity leave, vacation, etc. This is the time when the substitute teachers are actually needed.

A substitute teacher is a teacher who is on hand available for a school. Substitute teachers are called when the regular teachers are on leave or when he or she is not in a position to report to the school. Being a substitute teacher is a bit difficult when compared to the regular teacher as the students get adjusted to the teaching methods of the actual teacher. Substitute teachers are expected to be the role model for the students. The substitute teacher comes into picture when the regular teacher cannot make up to take their responsibilities. He or she may not follow the lesson plans that are actually to be taken by the regular teacher.

Substitute teacher are in charge of instruction the students in the classroom and he or she should also manage the classroom environment in the absence of the full-time teacher. They sometimes need to stand for the entire day or sit continuously for long periods. Substitute teachers should also maintain a report to communicate that day’s activities to the full time teacher when ever required.

There are actually 2 types of substitute teachers; permanent and the day substitutes. Permanent or the long term substitute teachers are those that work for more number of days at a time. These long term substitutes are normally hired when the regular teacher is on a long term leave. On the other hand the day substitute teachers are those that work for one day when the regular teachers are on leave for that day. Education system suffers a lot without the substitute teachers.

Educational Requirements for a substitute teacher

To be a substitute teacher in US, there aren’t any qualifications defined as such. However, the qualifications vary from state to state.

The following can be generalized across the states as qualifications required for a substitute teacher:

• A high school diploma; which is a diploma that can be done for two years after the secondary education.
• A bachelor’s degree in any field will be an advantage to be a substitute teacher. There are several degrees offered that has few credits offered for education related courses.
• A formal teachers license would be a good add to one’s basket to get into substitute teacher’s role. One can get a teacher’s license only after finishing a bachelor’s degree in educational field.
  • In some states, the government also offers a temporary teacher’s license for the substitute teachers. This also helps one to become a substitute teacher.
  • Many states in US are in great need for substitute/stand-in teachers in many schools across the US.
  • To meet this need, man states came up with various courses and training sessions to encourage and train individuals to become substitute teachers.
  • Such courses / training sessions also offer college credits and also at certain level offer teacher’s licences.
  • Even though few states do not require any college education to get into substitute teacher role, few states have put guidelines forcing people to possess at least on college degree.
  • For instance, in Nevada, it is required for one to have a hold of a bachelors degree in any field provided, it has minimum 62 credits, out of which at least six should be from courses related to education and training.
  • Another instance would be of Iowa, where it is required for one to possess a teacher’s license to be a substitute teacher.
  • And attaining a teacher’s license requires one to complete a college bachelor’s degree successfully.

How is a substitute teacher certified?

• If you are looking to make your career in the field of substitute teaching, you need to consider many steps to make that dream of yours come true.
• Certification is one of the important steps to consider reaching your goal by becoming a substitute teacher.
• First thing you need to think is the age group of students you like to teach.
• This helps you to select the right college that teaches everything you need; so that you can deliver the same knowledge to your students of the age level you wished for.
• If you cannot think on the age level, then you will be given a chance to teach different age group students in the school, so that you will get clarity with that experience and it would be easy for you to select the desired age group students.

• The next step you need to think is that what you wish to teach the students.
• There are teachers who are both generalists and specialists.
• For instance, elementary teachers are generalists as they teach each and every subject to the students.
• On the other hand, you can have specialization in art, music, driver’s education and physical education.
• This is the best way to gain more and more knowledge on the subject.
• If you receive more knowledge that means you can take up the certification.
• Clearing the certification will gain you more power and will be asked to teach any subject.
• All the substitute teachers should have at least a four year bachelor degree.
• Additionally, you will even receive excellent training on how to teach the students.
• Initially, you will observe expert taking classes in the classrooms just to get an idea on teaching.
• The expert will also provide you guidelines on how to teach the students.
• In this way, you can gain experience.
• You will start your work with teachers, as time goes, you will start practicing and later with experience you will become a perfect substitute teacher.
• The expert will observe few of your classes and will give you feedback so that you can improve on teaching.
• He/she may also ask you to attend the meetings that he/she attends regularly.