Make it easier to become a substitute teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

She’s a parent and a member of the FCPS community! How is that undesirable?

Back when we had subs, the parents of current students were the worst. Sadly, they were there so they could gossip about certain students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree that lowering the requirements should be easier.

In my case, I was not comfortable with a reference from a current employer, for obvious reasons.

However, I had glowing recs from a volunteer organization (elementary kids focused) and that should be sufficient. It's actually more relevant than my paid current job. But I was initially rejected for not providing the right kinds of recs.

It was totally stupid. HR just doesn't want to do the legwork to actually hire good subs who are a little outside the paradigm.

No, they don't want to risk hiring people who could be dangerous, neglectful, or both. I can't believe so many of you are so desperate to have your kids in school with any warm body (and not actually learning anything) that you would lower the standards and requirements for who should be around your children. Mind boggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that lowering the requirements should be easier.

In my case, I was not comfortable with a reference from a current employer, for obvious reasons.

However, I had glowing recs from a volunteer organization (elementary kids focused) and that should be sufficient. It's actually more relevant than my paid current job. But I was initially rejected for not providing the right kinds of recs.

It was totally stupid. HR just doesn't want to do the legwork to actually hire good subs who are a little outside the paradigm.

No, they don't want to risk hiring people who could be dangerous, neglectful, or both. I can't believe so many of you are so desperate to have your kids in school with any warm body (and not actually learning anything) that you would lower the standards and requirements for who should be around your children. Mind boggling.

Again, it’s not about lowering standards. It’s about making them more appropriate for the population schools could be recruiting from. You don’t need a transcript for a sub, confirmation that they graduated college should be enough. You don’t need current employer references. Community references should be enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

She’s a parent and a member of the FCPS community! How is that undesirable?

Back when we had subs, the parents of current students were the worst. Sadly, they were there so they could gossip about certain students.

Right, the gossipy ones were the ones who pushed through the bureaucracy. People with not-so-great motivations are the ones who figured it out. The nice parents who’d be willing to help but don’t want to jump through piles of hoops aren’t going to bother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

She’s a parent and a member of the FCPS community! How is that undesirable?

Back when we had subs, the parents of current students were the worst. Sadly, they were there so they could gossip about certain students.

I was just going to post this. I will take a stranger over a parent any day. They just gossip about the kids, especially the ESOL and SPED kids. Or constantly comparing others to their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that lowering the requirements should be easier.

In my case, I was not comfortable with a reference from a current employer, for obvious reasons.

However, I had glowing recs from a volunteer organization (elementary kids focused) and that should be sufficient. It's actually more relevant than my paid current job. But I was initially rejected for not providing the right kinds of recs.

It was totally stupid. HR just doesn't want to do the legwork to actually hire good subs who are a little outside the paradigm.

No, they don't want to risk hiring people who could be dangerous, neglectful, or both. I can't believe so many of you are so desperate to have your kids in school with any warm body (and not actually learning anything) that you would lower the standards and requirements for who should be around your children. Mind boggling.

Again, it’s not about lowering standards. It’s about making them more appropriate for the population schools could be recruiting from. You don’t need a transcript for a sub, confirmation that they graduated college should be enough. You don’t need current employer references. Community references should be enough.

It’s the number of credits that are required, thus the transcript. Pay the $15 and move on. Community? You mean like their next door neighbor? no thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that lowering the requirements should be easier.

In my case, I was not comfortable with a reference from a current employer, for obvious reasons.

However, I had glowing recs from a volunteer organization (elementary kids focused) and that should be sufficient. It's actually more relevant than my paid current job. But I was initially rejected for not providing the right kinds of recs.

It was totally stupid. HR just doesn't want to do the legwork to actually hire good subs who are a little outside the paradigm.

No, they don't want to risk hiring people who could be dangerous, neglectful, or both. I can't believe so many of you are so desperate to have your kids in school with any warm body (and not actually learning anything) that you would lower the standards and requirements for who should be around your children. Mind boggling.

Again, it’s not about lowering standards. It’s about making them more appropriate for the population schools could be recruiting from. You don’t need a transcript for a sub, confirmation that they graduated college should be enough. You don’t need current employer references. Community references should be enough.

How do you prove you have a degree? Take pictures of your diploma? Further, ther requirements sy you only need 30 hours so for most people without a diploma, you are going to need a transcript.
Recommendations requirements: Recommendation Letters – must be dated within the last 12 months and hand-signed.

The first letter must be from a current employer, if applicable; otherwise one from a previous employer is acceptable.

The second letter can be a character reference. References from family members are not accepted.

So they do accept "community references" for character. But sorry no, if you have no employment history or boss who sill write a recommendation, how does the school know your general work ethic? Are you punctual, reliable, trustworthy?

It's almost too easy to become a sub right now with these requirements. If you are too unmotivated or unable to meet these basic requirements, you probably have no business subbing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that lowering the requirements should be easier.

In my case, I was not comfortable with a reference from a current employer, for obvious reasons.

However, I had glowing recs from a volunteer organization (elementary kids focused) and that should be sufficient. It's actually more relevant than my paid current job. But I was initially rejected for not providing the right kinds of recs.

It was totally stupid. HR just doesn't want to do the legwork to actually hire good subs who are a little outside the paradigm.

No, they don't want to risk hiring people who could be dangerous, neglectful, or both. I can't believe so many of you are so desperate to have your kids in school with any warm body (and not actually learning anything) that you would lower the standards and requirements for who should be around your children. Mind boggling.

Again, it’s not about lowering standards. It’s about making them more appropriate for the population schools could be recruiting from. You don’t need a transcript for a sub, confirmation that they graduated college should be enough. You don’t need current employer references. Community references should be enough.

How do you prove you have a degree? Take pictures of your diploma? Further, ther requirements sy you only need 30 hours so for most people without a diploma, you are going to need a transcript.
Recommendations requirements: Recommendation Letters – must be dated within the last 12 months and hand-signed.

The first letter must be from a current employer, if applicable; otherwise one from a previous employer is acceptable.

The second letter can be a character reference. References from family members are not accepted.

So they do accept "community references" for character. But sorry no, if you have no employment history or boss who sill write a recommendation, how does the school know your general work ethic? Are you punctual, reliable, trustworthy?

It's almost too easy to become a sub right now with these requirements. If you are too unmotivated or unable to meet these basic requirements, you probably have no business subbing.

How does a recommendation letter prove that you have a good work ethic? Most company HR is only allowed to say "yes this person worked here."

[Anonymous]

HR isn't writing the letter of recommendation. Your boss is. There is a difference between verifying employment and a reference letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HR isn't writing the letter of recommendation. Your boss is. There is a difference between verifying employment and a reference letter.

I worked for a number of different people during my time at X company 8 years ago none of whom stayed very long. Who will write the reference? Many people don't keep in close contact with bosses they had before they had children. The reference letter should come from the company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR isn't writing the letter of recommendation. Your boss is. There is a difference between verifying employment and a reference letter.

I worked for a number of different people during my time at X company 8 years ago none of whom stayed very long. Who will write the reference? Many people don't keep in close contact with bosses they had before they had children. The reference letter should come from the company.

If you can't find someone who can write a letter and speak about you as an employee, then you don't get to be a sub. You know your history, but FCPS doesn't know it and can't trust you (general) based on your word or an employment verification. Why is this so hard to get your (general) head around?

The fact that the schools need subs shouldn't mean we get lax about the requirements for who enters our schools.

[Anonymous]

I think everyone here is over estimating the caliber of current subs. My child had a long term sub last semester that spoke little English. At first I thought my second grader was just complaining since she adored her teacher who went on a health related leave. However, after speaking with the teacher several times and receiving class emails from her that are difficult to read (looks like it was done through google translate) it appears to be a significant issue. Even if she checked all the boxes and is good at controlling a class, teaching 7 and 8 year olds to read in a language she struggles with herself is less than ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR isn't writing the letter of recommendation. Your boss is. There is a difference between verifying employment and a reference letter.

I worked for a number of different people during my time at X company 8 years ago none of whom stayed very long. Who will write the reference? Many people don't keep in close contact with bosses they had before they had children. The reference letter should come from the company.

If you can't find someone who can write a letter and speak about you as an employee, then you don't get to be a sub. You know your history, but FCPS doesn't know it and can't trust you (general) based on your word or an employment verification. Why is this so hard to get your (general) head around?

The fact that the schools need subs shouldn't mean we get lax about the requirements for who enters our schools.

FCPS has tweeted that they want stay at home parents to become subs because of the overwhelming need for them. Stay at home parents - by definition - don't have employers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

She’s a parent and a member of the FCPS community! How is that undesirable?

Back when we had subs, the parents of current students were the worst. Sadly, they were there so they could gossip about certain students.

I was just going to post this. I will take a stranger over a parent any day. They just gossip about the kids, especially the ESOL and SPED kids. Or constantly comparing others to their own.

The best subs I’ve had in my self-contained classes are college students who finish their semesters earlier than we do. I hope some who are starting virtual might be available for a day or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR isn't writing the letter of recommendation. Your boss is. There is a difference between verifying employment and a reference letter.

I worked for a number of different people during my time at X company 8 years ago none of whom stayed very long. Who will write the reference? Many people don't keep in close contact with bosses they had before they had children. The reference letter should come from the company.

If you can't find someone who can write a letter and speak about you as an employee, then you don't get to be a sub. You know your history, but FCPS doesn't know it and can't trust you (general) based on your word or an employment verification. Why is this so hard to get your (general) head around?

The fact that the schools need subs shouldn't mean we get lax about the requirements for who enters our schools.

FCPS has tweeted that they want stay at home parents to become subs because of the overwhelming need for them. Stay at home parents - by definition - don't have employers.

Their website clearly says they will take a letter from a previous employer. If FCPS has tweeted this, they are not treating all SAHPs as equal. Some with experience and references will meet the criteria. Those who have never had a job and can't scrounge up a reference...sorry. FCPS may be recruiting from that pool, but it is still a pool, not an ocean.