Long-term subs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of this issue comes down to pay.

My FIL - a retired teacher from another state - is a sub in FCPS. The pay is ridiculously low but he does it to stay busy during the day. Long term subs pay only a tiny bit more and come with more headaches. FIL refuses to take a long term job bc he doesn't want to have to deal with homework, and grading, and not being able to take a day off here and there. Not worth it to him.

What the school districts really need are floating teachers - paid the same as regular teachers - that can cover these long term absences. But that would cost money so back down to these hourly employees.

This is exactly right. FCPS pays very little to long term subs, even if they're retired teachers from another state (to get the FCPS retiree pay sub rate, which is still too low, you have to be retired FROM FCPS). This is why it's very hard to find a decent long term sub, especially if you have an unexpected medical or family emergency and couldn't make arrangements well in advance. I used to sub in FCPS and saw plenty of long term positions filled by people who were definitely not qualified, but they were warm bodies and that's pretty much all the sub office seems to care about.

If enough parents went to the School Board and complained, they'd probably move on it. I'm pretty good at following meeting minutes and don't think I've ever seen anyone besides teachers or FEA/AFT members go before the board to discuss the need for more qualified subs who are paid a decent wage.

[Anonymous]

Many, many schools aren't able to find qualified teachers, let alone subs. My school is getting about 10% of the applicants we used to get (certified teachers for full time positions). If you can find a sub who will keep the kids safe, that is really the best you can hope for unless we are going to pay them very, very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many, many schools aren't able to find qualified teachers, let alone subs. My school is getting about 10% of the applicants we used to get (certified teachers for full time positions). If you can find a sub who will keep the kids safe, that is really the best you can hope for unless we are going to pay them very, very well.

I used to be a sub, and long term subs only make $10 a day more than daily subs, and have to do everything a teacher does. I never took long term sub jobs. I would think the only people who would are recent graduates trying to find teaching jobs. But from the regular sub pool, very few are interested.

[Anonymous]

OP, it doesn’t sound great. But it also sounds like fewer than four months of elementary school where your kid is having a less-than-ideal situation and earning low grades on transcript that won’t count for anything.

[Anonymous]

You have a constant presence in the classroom. That is better than 90% of long term sub jobs get. When I went on maternity leave, it was 6 weeks and there were 3 subs in that time period--and this was a high school math class, so it REALLY mattered for these kids.

It's 4th grade, your son is safe and is learning that he may have to work outside of school sometimes. That's a pretty good lesson to learn in 4th grade--sometimes my high school advanced kids are learning it for the first time in 9th or 10th grade, and it is rough then.

Please advocate for higher sub pay. That's the only way things will improve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I'd be so lucky to have this sub job. I would find a book that has the curriculum and just follow it. I grew up not knowing that multiple choice and worksheets existed.
I applied at DCPS for an Aid position last year and didn't get picked.
I passed the Praxis this year and did quite well on math. (Passed English also though it's not my first language).
I don't see how schools hire anybody without a degree to teach while I'm about to enter graduate program just to be an aid.

You are doing something wrong. And DCPS is desperate for aids so there must be something more to the story there too.

[Anonymous]

LT subs are subs. It's rare these days to find a retired teacher willing to sub. Those days are long gone.

A colleague was recently on long-term leave, and two subs had to "compete" the job. lol

Neither sub had a teaching degree in our content area. One never showed up; the other received the job by default.

The kids aren't getting what they need obviously, but considering 1) teachers are leaving as soon as they enter the field and 2) systems can't recruit teachers fast enough, the kids are lucky there's a body in the room.

That's the big picture. Worksheets are the least of our worries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many, many schools aren't able to find qualified teachers, let alone subs. My school is getting about 10% of the applicants we used to get (certified teachers for full time positions). If you can find a sub who will keep the kids safe, that is really the best you can hope for unless we are going to pay them very, very well.

I used to be a sub, and long term subs only make $10 a day more than daily subs, and have to do everything a teacher does. I never took long term sub jobs. I would think the only people who would are recent graduates trying to find teaching jobs. But from the regular sub pool, very few are interested.

In FCPS it is $6 more/hour.

https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/pdf/FY20-substitute-and-homebound-rates.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I'd be so lucky to have this sub job. I would find a book that has the curriculum and just follow it. I grew up not knowing that multiple choice and worksheets existed.
I applied at DCPS for an Aid position last year and didn't get picked.
I passed the Praxis this year and did quite well on math. (Passed English also though it's not my first language).
I don't see how schools hire anybody without a degree to teach while I'm about to enter graduate program just to be an aid.

You are doing something wrong. And DCPS is desperate for aids so there must be something more to the story there too.

+1. You don’t need a bachelors to be an aide in DCPS, or any experience working with kids. Just a willingness to show up and work hour a** off for peanuts.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here.

You're lucky if you can find a week-long sub, let alone one that'll do an assignment for months. They get paid very little and put up with worse behavior because they're not "the real teacher." I wouldn't suggest speaking to anyone about it, because there isn't anything anyone can do. I sympathize. My fourth grader's teacher has been out for the last three months. She's struggling, but luckily I recognized it and started supplementing at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here.

You're lucky if you can find a week-long sub, let alone one that'll do an assignment for months. They get paid very little and put up with worse behavior because they're not "the real teacher." I wouldn't suggest speaking to anyone about it, because there isn't anything anyone can do. I sympathize. My fourth grader's teacher has been out for the last three months. She's struggling, but luckily I recognized it and started supplementing at home.

I respectfully disagree. OP should talk to the principal and ask whether they've approached the School Board about the need for more qualified subs who receive better pay. My kid's school sends out a monthly newsletter and is always asking people to sign up to sub; fair enough, but most qualified people want to get paid more than $14.50 per hour, or $20 per hour if it's long term. The PTA could also send in a letter to the School Board; I know at least one did that last year. Finally, OP should be going to the SB directly, or at least their local representative. This is one of those issues that has a decent chance of improving if enough people voice concerns...but so far that hasn't happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here.

You're lucky if you can find a week-long sub, let alone one that'll do an assignment for months. They get paid very little and put up with worse behavior because they're not "the real teacher." I wouldn't suggest speaking to anyone about it, because there isn't anything anyone can do. I sympathize. My fourth grader's teacher has been out for the last three months. She's struggling, but luckily I recognized it and started supplementing at home.

I respectfully disagree. OP should talk to the principal and ask whether they've approached the School Board about the need for more qualified subs who receive better pay. My kid's school sends out a monthly newsletter and is always asking people to sign up to sub; fair enough, but most qualified people want to get paid more than $14.50 per hour, or $20 per hour if it's long term. The PTA could also send in a letter to the School Board; I know at least one did that last year. Finally, OP should be going to the SB directly, or at least their local representative. This is one of those issues that has a decent chance of improving if enough people voice concerns...but so far that hasn't happened.

I don't think that's what the PP means. She wants something to change with her child's current sub. That's not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here.

You're lucky if you can find a week-long sub, let alone one that'll do an assignment for months. They get paid very little and put up with worse behavior because they're not "the real teacher." I wouldn't suggest speaking to anyone about it, because there isn't anything anyone can do. I sympathize. My fourth grader's teacher has been out for the last three months. She's struggling, but luckily I recognized it and started supplementing at home.

I respectfully disagree. OP should talk to the principal and ask whether they've approached the School Board about the need for more qualified subs who receive better pay. My kid's school sends out a monthly newsletter and is always asking people to sign up to sub; fair enough, but most qualified people want to get paid more than $14.50 per hour, or $20 per hour if it's long term. The PTA could also send in a letter to the School Board; I know at least one did that last year. Finally, OP should be going to the SB directly, or at least their local representative. This is one of those issues that has a decent chance of improving if enough people voice concerns...but so far that hasn't happened.

Teachers' groups (FEA and FCFT) have been addressing this issue with the school board. It would be helpful if parents lobbied too. Beyond that, lobby your state delegates and senators to better fund Virginia schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here.

You're lucky if you can find a week-long sub, let alone one that'll do an assignment for months. They get paid very little and put up with worse behavior because they're not "the real teacher." I wouldn't suggest speaking to anyone about it, because there isn't anything anyone can do. I sympathize. My fourth grader's teacher has been out for the last three months. She's struggling, but luckily I recognized it and started supplementing at home.

I respectfully disagree. OP should talk to the principal and ask whether they've approached the School Board about the need for more qualified subs who receive better pay. My kid's school sends out a monthly newsletter and is always asking people to sign up to sub; fair enough, but most qualified people want to get paid more than $14.50 per hour, or $20 per hour if it's long term. The PTA could also send in a letter to the School Board; I know at least one did that last year. Finally, OP should be going to the SB directly, or at least their local representative. This is one of those issues that has a decent chance of improving if enough people voice concerns...but so far that hasn't happened.

I'm a full time teacher. I make nearly $40 an hour as my hourly rate (even though I'm salaried, that's what it breaks down to). That doesn't include benefits, pension, paid time off, etc. I feel like long term subs, who are certified in the subject area they are subbing in, should make that same hourly rate. They still wouldn't get the benefits, but that's what it would take for me to sub after retirement. No way would I be willing to sub for $20 an hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here.

You're lucky if you can find a week-long sub, let alone one that'll do an assignment for months. They get paid very little and put up with worse behavior because they're not "the real teacher." I wouldn't suggest speaking to anyone about it, because there isn't anything anyone can do. I sympathize. My fourth grader's teacher has been out for the last three months. She's struggling, but luckily I recognized it and started supplementing at home.

I respectfully disagree. OP should talk to the principal and ask whether they've approached the School Board about the need for more qualified subs who receive better pay. My kid's school sends out a monthly newsletter and is always asking people to sign up to sub; fair enough, but most qualified people want to get paid more than $14.50 per hour, or $20 per hour if it's long term. The PTA could also send in a letter to the School Board; I know at least one did that last year. Finally, OP should be going to the SB directly, or at least their local representative. This is one of those issues that has a decent chance of improving if enough people voice concerns...but so far that hasn't happened.

I'm a full time teacher. I make nearly $40 an hour as my hourly rate (even though I'm salaried, that's what it breaks down to). That doesn't include benefits, pension, paid time off, etc. I feel like long term subs, who are certified in the subject area they are subbing in, should make that same hourly rate. They still wouldn't get the benefits, but that's what it would take for me to sub after retirement. No way would I be willing to sub for $20 an hour.

In FCPS that would be your short term rate as a retired teacher sub. The long term rate is $26. Still not great.