Looking for ideas about how to help DC school attract subs

[Anonymous]

OP, see if you can find the list of educational aids that have applied for DCPS. Their resumes should be on file and they might still be waiting for a call. I was on the list for 3 years and I'd still be waiting for a call if I hadn't contacted the schools.
I have BA degree, 32 MA credits in ECE, passed Praxis Content and Praxis Plt, and still didn't get a call from schools. Somebody suggested I'd e-mail a school and I did. I got hired by the first school I contacted. I cannot be the only person who applied through DCPS website and never got the call. I simply thought help wasn't needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hire a subs to work full time at one school. They know they will have a steady paycheck. And they get to know the kids which will make classroom management easier. And pay them at least what an instructional assistant makes.

And in the off chance that a sub isn’t needed that day, I’m sure there are other projects they can help with.

💯 THIS!! Every school needs a permanent sub. - a teacher

The chancellor announced a few weeks ago that every school would. Meanwhile we have four staff out on FMLA plus any number out on a daily basis.

Maybe the Chancellor can help get his kid's high school staffed? They do not even have the permanent positions filled!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better pay.

A lot better. Like a premium.

[Anonymous]

Remove 6-12 months of posts yelling at teachers and encouraging them to quit because they were lazy and anyone could do their job.

Maybe 18 months of putting down teachers and the profession has made it harder for your schools to attract subs?

[Anonymous]

OP here. I will admit that I was hoping that my question -- "where would you post...?" -- would elicit concrete suggestions for spreading the word about the openings. e.g., suggestions to post to particular list servs or websites (and then name the list servs or sites) or suggest contacting particular programs.

In retrospect, the title of the post was misleading in that it was broader, but my thanks to all those who engaged and responded. Extra thanks to those above who tried to answer the question and offered some useful suggestions, such as reaching out to specified local schools and programs. Hopefully perhaps others still add thoughts in that vein.

Fwiw, the school seeking subs is one that has great teacher retention. The principal and PTO seem to make every effort to show teachers and staff a lot of appreciation. For some SAHM who is looking to transition back to work, nannies between jobs, graduate students, and others with the need for schedule flexibility, it could be a great fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better pay.

A lot better. Like a premium.

I'm an aide in DCPS and my paycheck is $1060 every two weeks. I work 7 hours a day, 35 hours a week. I did not sign up for any benefits, because I don't need any they are offering. My rate is actually pretty high for an aide - $18.2 an hour per my contract.
I have a 2nd job where I make about $35 an hours. I need this 2nd job just to have the first one. I find myself too tired to go to my 2nd job after a week at school.
It's really hard to believe that DCPS cannot find extra money to pay the aides. It's not an easy job to keep 20-24 kids safe and learning 6-7 hours a day.
I knew the rate is low, but I didn't know how physically and mentally draining the job was. It can only be done if you have the energy and don't need money. Even then you are wondering why you are doing it to yourself.
The school is lovely and the kids are lovely, but the work is still hard. I've always had somewhat physical jobs with long hours (12-hour shifts), but this is job is much harder. It has this mental component of keeping the kids safe every second of every minute.
I will not be returning to school next year unless the rate goes up significantly. My 2nd job asks me every day to pick up more work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, see if you can find the list of educational aids that have applied for DCPS. Their resumes should be on file and they might still be waiting for a call. I was on the list for 3 years and I'd still be waiting for a call if I hadn't contacted the schools.
I have BA degree, 32 MA credits in ECE, passed Praxis Content and Praxis Plt, and still didn't get a call from schools. Somebody suggested I'd e-mail a school and I did. I got hired by the first school I contacted. I cannot be the only person who applied through DCPS website and never got the call. I simply thought help wasn't needed.

No, educational aides do not qualify unless they have a BA. You only need to pass the exam or have an associate’s/48 credits to be a para.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better pay.

A lot better. Like a premium.

I'm an aide in DCPS and my paycheck is $1060 every two weeks. I work 7 hours a day, 35 hours a week. I did not sign up for any benefits, because I don't need any they are offering. My rate is actually pretty high for an aide - $18.2 an hour per my contract.
I have a 2nd job where I make about $35 an hours. I need this 2nd job just to have the first one. I find myself too tired to go to my 2nd job after a week at school.
It's really hard to believe that DCPS cannot find extra money to pay the aides. It's not an easy job to keep 20-24 kids safe and learning 6-7 hours a day.
I knew the rate is low, but I didn't know how physically and mentally draining the job was. It can only be done if you have the energy and don't need money. Even then you are wondering why you are doing it to yourself.
The school is lovely and the kids are lovely, but the work is still hard. I've always had somewhat physical jobs with long hours (12-hour shifts), but this is job is much harder. It has this mental component of keeping the kids safe every second of every minute.
I will not be returning to school next year unless the rate goes up significantly. My 2nd job asks me every day to pick up more work.

Hello other aide out there who sounds remarkably like me. Sending empathy.

[Anonymous]

As a former teacher, I think it's not so much an issue of where to post. It's how you frame the posting. Most people are going to scroll right by "subs needed" or something along those lines.

You really need to sell the school and the kids. I worked in a DCPS that could get brand new subs easily. Once they'd been there for a day or two, they never came back because of all the behavior problems. I worked in a charter school out in MD that literally had two fights in the four years I was there. The kids were angels, but a lot of subs saw the area we were in and assumed the worst. Our school was a best kept secret in the sub pool, because the ones who did accept the posting knew that it was a really easy assignment and kept their mouths shut.

So you have to sell the type of environment they're walking into, the support they'll receive, and something unique about the school. I don't know how (or even if) you can do that in a job posting, but I think that would go a long way to attracting subs in this climate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a former teacher, I think it's not so much an issue of where to post. It's how you frame the posting. Most people are going to scroll right by "subs needed" or something along those lines.

You really need to sell the school and the kids. I worked in a DCPS that could get brand new subs easily. Once they'd been there for a day or two, they never came back because of all the behavior problems. I worked in a charter school out in MD that literally had two fights in the four years I was there. The kids were angels, but a lot of subs saw the area we were in and assumed the worst. Our school was a best kept secret in the sub pool, because the ones who did accept the posting knew that it was a really easy assignment and kept their mouths shut.

So you have to sell the type of environment they're walking into, the support they'll receive, and something unique about the school. I don't know how (or even if) you can do that in a job posting, but I think that would go a long way to attracting subs in this climate.

Yeah, that is not this school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I will admit that I was hoping that my question -- "where would you post...?" -- would elicit concrete suggestions for spreading the word about the openings. e.g., suggestions to post to particular list servs or websites (and then name the list servs or sites) or suggest contacting particular programs.

In retrospect, the title of the post was misleading in that it was broader, but my thanks to all those who engaged and responded. Extra thanks to those above who tried to answer the question and offered some useful suggestions, such as reaching out to specified local schools and programs. Hopefully perhaps others still add thoughts in that vein.

Fwiw, the school seeking subs is one that has great teacher retention. The principal and PTO seem to make every effort to show teachers and staff a lot of appreciation. For some SAHM who is looking to transition back to work, nannies between jobs, graduate students, and others with the need for schedule flexibility, it could be a great fit.

Hello, I am interested in subbing. I did a while back. Is there a direct email or person to connect with?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

They may need to lower their requirements. Charles County only requires a high school diploma.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements in order to be considered for Substitute Teaching in Charles County Public Schools:

At least 18 years of age; (candidates must be out of High School for at least 2 years in order to substitute at Middle and High Schools).
Must have High School Diploma or GED Equivalent.
Documentation of highest degree obtained. Official transcripts are required for college degrees.
Candidates for long term substitute assignments must have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree.

[Anonymous]

Some companies have a limited number of paid hours available per employee for “community service.” A program that makes it possible for those folks to get certified to sub could soften the low pay issue. I’d happily use my paid CS hours to work in my kid’s classroom for the day but I don’t have a ton of time to devote to jumping through bureaucratic hoops.

[Anonymous]

Are there list-servs in the neighborhood where the school is located? Or a FB page? Include requirements and help getting through an application process. I'm guessing people expect a 20-step process to sign up before you even get a day of work - help dispel that myth - or offer ways to make it less of a burden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some companies have a limited number of paid hours available per employee for “community service.” A program that makes it possible for those folks to get certified to sub could soften the low pay issue. I’d happily use my paid CS hours to work in my kid’s classroom for the day but I don’t have a ton of time to devote to jumping through bureaucratic hoops.

This is an interesting idea. Like if a biotech company could screen and TB test employee volunteers to serve as middle and high school science subs. An engineering company could do math, etc.