Make it easier to become a substitute teacher

[Anonymous]

Last year, my daughter's principal asked me to help her out by becoming a sub. I had just started a job that was pretty flexible and I was happy to help out as long as it meant keeping the school open. Before I started my job, I was a stay at home parent for years.

When I went to do the application, it required 2 recommendations - one from a current employer. Though my job was flexible, I definitely didn't feel comfortable asking my new boss to write a recommendation so I could substitute teach. And as a stay at home parent for the past 8 years, I didn't have a previous employer. As a result, I didn't apply.

The application also required transcripts from my universities - I have them but most stay at home parents don't - and it can be expensive to collect them - something like 1/2 day's work substitute teaching.

FCPS needs to temporarily make it easier for parents to substitute teach. There are a lot of parents willing to help out the schools but FCPS has not made it easy. Instead of doing everything they can to keep schools open, they are defaulting to closing schools. In the midst of an historic pandemic, it's still business as usual.

[Anonymous]

Lol. Yeah, lower the bar for who is around kids. Great idea Marge.

[Anonymous]

We don’t only suffer from a quantity of subs, but also a severe quality number of them. The process is slow, but criteria is fine. We need more than a warm body.

[Anonymous]

Have the principal write you a recommendation and explain your circumstances in the cover letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don’t only suffer from a quantity of subs, but also a severe quality number of them. The process is slow, but criteria is fine. We need more than a warm body.

Last year all you needed was a low-paid warm body, remember? A lot of qualified parents (my one friend who wants to be one has a law degree, I have a master's in econ) just don't have references because we've dedicated ourselves to raising our kids for the last 5 years at least.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have the principal write you a recommendation and explain your circumstances in the cover letter.

It's an automated system. The last thing the principal needs to be doing is writing recommendations right now. Plus recommendations don't tell you anything - "It seems to me that this person I see at drop off and pick up is a nice person?" What is the point of that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol. Yeah, lower the bar for who is around kids. Great idea Marge.

Np here. It’s not lowering the bar, it’s mKing the requirements more realistic. I’m sure op is not the only person with a part-time job who’d be open to subbing on occasion but would not be comfortable getting a reference from their current employer. Non-employer references should be enough, especially with approval from a school principal. Why do they need a transcript from college? I’ve never had to provide that for a job. They should run a background check which would confirm that the person graduated from the college they say they graduated from. Op is right, if they really want subs they should have a more reasonable application process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol. Yeah, lower the bar for who is around kids. Great idea Marge.

You think we’d be lowering the bar to make this mother who crafted a well-written appeal and explanation a substitute? Are you kidding me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don’t only suffer from a quantity of subs, but also a severe quality number of them. The process is slow, but criteria is fine. We need more than a warm body.

Right, and the person writing this thread sounds high quality to me. I agree with OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the principal write you a recommendation and explain your circumstances in the cover letter.

It's an automated system. The last thing the principal needs to be doing is writing recommendations right now. Plus recommendations don't tell you anything - "It seems to me that this person I see at drop off and pick up is a nice person?" What is the point of that?

Get lost, jerk. I don’t know who you are but you do not speak for FCPS teachers AT ALL.

[Anonymous]

You people are insane. You would give this person a job with students because her post makes her seem “high quality”? It’s clear none of you have ever actually worked in a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people are insane. You would give this person a job with students because her post makes her seem “high quality”? It’s clear none of you have ever actually worked in a school.

Would you give me a job if I gave you a recommendation letter from someone you don't know? What changes because I include a recommendation letter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year, my daughter's principal asked me to help her out by becoming a sub. I had just started a job that was pretty flexible and I was happy to help out as long as it meant keeping the school open. Before I started my job, I was a stay at home parent for years.

When I went to do the application, it required 2 recommendations - one from a current employer. Though my job was flexible, I definitely didn't feel comfortable asking my new boss to write a recommendation so I could substitute teach. And as a stay at home parent for the past 8 years, I didn't have a previous employer. As a result, I didn't apply.

The application also required transcripts from my universities - I have them but most stay at home parents don't - and it can be expensive to collect them - something like 1/2 day's work substitute teaching.

FCPS needs to temporarily make it easier for parents to substitute teach. There are a lot of parents willing to help out the schools but FCPS has not made it easy. Instead of doing everything they can to keep schools open, they are defaulting to closing schools. In the midst of an historic pandemic, it's still business as usual.

I am sorry you are receiving negative replies to an excellent proposal. I think they are all from the same troll, BTW. Based on your well crafted and clearly written post, I think you would be an excellent substitute teacher and I like your ideas for adjusting the criteria. Please don’t let some multi-posting DCUM idiot dissuade you from your path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people are insane. You would give this person a job with students because her post makes her seem “high quality”? It’s clear none of you have ever actually worked in a school.

If you lower the criteria, you WILL let in a lot of undesireables. FCPS is responsible for the safety of students. Teaching (and subbing) require transcripts. Teachers supply them all the time. It’s not an abnormal request. The process weeds out those that don’t really want it. I know plenty of college kids and SAHMs that are subs, somehow it worked for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the principal write you a recommendation and explain your circumstances in the cover letter.

It's an automated system. The last thing the principal needs to be doing is writing recommendations right now. Plus recommendations don't tell you anything - "It seems to me that this person I see at drop off and pick up is a nice person?" What is the point of that?

Actually- if it got another sub, I bet the principal would love to write that letter. A lot of parents volunteer in the school regularly, I know I do, so the recommendation would be more than seeing person for drop offs and pickups.