FCPS can't find substitutes?? I call BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of turnover among subs. They are treated with so much disrespect by both teachers and students. They are given little or no training and expected to do exactly what the room teacher does. The kids know you are not coming back. They try to get away with as much as they can.

I have taught in both FCPS and LCPS. It seems to be difficult for school systems to find subs who can speak and understand English. I have no idea how many of them get through the sub process. Those of us who know the few excellent subs have them on speed dial/text to arrange for them directly. I absolutely do not trust the office to secure a decent sub for me.

I'm a sub in FCPS and can answer this for you: FCPS does not do face-to-face interviews as a condition of employment as a sub. There's an online questionnaire which requires English proficiency to complete, but FCPS has no way of knowing whether the person who completes it is the same one who is applying for the job. There's also a three question written "quiz" at the end of the (unpaid) orientation. Honestly, a Level I ESL speaker could probably answer these questions and they in no way assess whether someone could comprehend and execute a daily lesson plan. The people at the sub office aren't standing around monitoring the quiz taking, so you could very easily get someone else to complete it if you were so inclined.

Also, for what it's worth, the people who work at the sub office are really rude and not at all helpful to potential hires, including retired teachers. I know several who sub in Loudoun and at local privates because they got so fed up.

OH!!! I could start and fill a thread JUST ABOUT THIS!!! Absolutely the WORST! And I guarantee they do their best to make the people who show up feel as though they are doing YOU a favor rather than the other way around.

I have heard the same from substitutes.

I would like FCPS to institute some type of incentive for saving leave. Teachers used to be able to at least get some service credit for unused leave when they retired, but that stopped for new hires many years ago.

If you ask any of the young teachers why they use their leave each year it is because they know that saving their leave has no benefit.

When various school systems decimate/end defined retirement benefits, those recent hires will likely not put in 25 - 30 years either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some of the people complaining here should sign up to be subs.

[phone]

NP, so not one of the complainers. I'm seriously thinking about it but... One, the pay isn't great. And two, I've been self-employed for so long that I just find it weird to have to get transcripts from my school for a job. And I need a recommendation from my employer (which is currently me and my last employer was 10+ years ago). And I also need a character reference recommendation, but I usually work by myself and it just seems awkward to ask a client or a friend for a reference. However, as a native English speaker I've got that skill down pretty well, can arrive on-time and sober, and have no problems exactly following a teacher's lesson plan.

This was me, exactly. I hadn't worked except for myself for 10+ years. I taught many years ago and subbed at private schools for awhile afterwards. I asked about the references and after several back-and-forth conversations with the sub office, they accepted a reference from a place where I volunteer and a character reference. They acted like no one had ever asked this question before, which I find hard to believe. I downloaded my transcript from the National Student Clearinghouse website for $4, which allowed prospective employers to view it online for two weeks. The sub office is so inefficient that no one bothered to review it for several weeks and by that time, the link had expired and I had to pay for it again and call daily to make sure they saw it. Honestly, dealing with them is the worst part of the job, besides the pay. I've subbed in some "difficult" classrooms and the kids were more plesant than the people who work at that office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some of the people complaining here should sign up to be subs.

[phone]

NP, so not one of the complainers. I'm seriously thinking about it but... One, the pay isn't great. And two, I've been self-employed for so long that I just find it weird to have to get transcripts from my school for a job. And I need a recommendation from my employer (which is currently me and my last employer was 10+ years ago). And I also need a character reference recommendation, but I usually work by myself and it just seems awkward to ask a client or a friend for a reference. However, as a native English speaker I've got that skill down pretty well, can arrive on-time and sober, and have no problems exactly following a teacher's lesson plan.

So, this is me, almost to a tee. I have been subbing this year and I don't know if I will continue. Many teachers I've met have been great, especially when I've been left "emergency plans". There are some schools where I will certainly return and others that treat substitutes like stupid, 2nd class citizens. No thank you. I'm getting paid very little to come in and try to keep 25 students on task all day when a third were never taught how be respectful in school. I don't think the pay is adequate, at all. Like I said, there are some places I enjoy going back b/c the other teachers are really great and the classes are manageable. Others would require a lot more money than the measly hourly pay and 25 minute lunch break.

[Anonymous]

OP's entitlement attitude is exactly why subs are hard to find. Op, probably complains that subs get paid too much for such an easy job. This attitude carries into the classroom with snow flakes who have parents like the Op. Thank goodness I'm leaving the classroom this year. This is why it will only get worse and soon robots will replace teachers. It will be because humans couldn't have enough respect for each other or teach their spawns respect. Op, don't complain that your child needs human contact in a few years.

If you feel so strongly about your child having a proper sub, reach out to other parents to fundraise additional money for the sub.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, FCPS has trouble recruiting teachers for long-term and substitute positions because their salary is lower than surrounding counties.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, FCPS has trouble recruiting teachers for long-term and substitute positions because their salary is lower than surrounding counties.

This isn't why.
In a good economy, no one wants to be a sub. There are other jobs that pay better. ALL the local counties are having trouble finding subs, not just FFX.

[Anonymous]

Prince William pays a “whopping” $96/day for someone who is certified.

https://www.pwcs.edu/cms/one.aspx?pageId=4559650

[Anonymous]

I'm substituting for two years until my sons finish elementary schools. The only reason I take it is for the hours. The pay is pathetic and I'm horrified by the way some people talk about subs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Prince William pays a “whopping” $96/day for someone who is certified.

https://www.pwcs.edu/cms/one.aspx?pageId=4559650

That's about what Fairfax pays ($99.61/day), whether or not you have a BA/BS, and the cost of living in Prince William is lower. I bet if Fairfax bumped up the pay for people with a Bachelor's or above, they'd get better candidates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP's entitlement attitude is exactly why subs are hard to find. Op, probably complains that subs get paid too much for such an easy job. This attitude carries into the classroom with snow flakes who have parents like the Op. Thank goodness I'm leaving the classroom this year. This is why it will only get worse and soon robots will replace teachers. It will be because humans couldn't have enough respect for each other or teach their spawns respect. Op, don't complain that your child needs human contact in a few years.

If you feel so strongly about your child having a proper sub, reach out to other parents to fundraise additional money for the sub.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prince William pays a “whopping” $96/day for someone who is certified.

https://www.pwcs.edu/cms/one.aspx?pageId=4559650

That's about what Fairfax pays ($99.61/day), whether or not you have a BA/BS, and the cost of living in Prince William is lower. I bet if Fairfax bumped up the pay for people with a Bachelor's or above, they'd get better candidates.

15 bucks an hour no thanks uber drives can make double easily

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prince William pays a “whopping” $96/day for someone who is certified.

https://www.pwcs.edu/cms/one.aspx?pageId=4559650

That's about what Fairfax pays ($99.61/day), whether or not you have a BA/BS, and the cost of living in Prince William is lower. I bet if Fairfax bumped up the pay for people with a Bachelor's or above, they'd get better candidates.

15 bucks an hour no thanks uber drives can make double easily

And you’re rounding up the gross pay.

[Anonymous]

I have friends who sub in Arlington. None of them do it for the money. They like the schedule flexibility, but all agree the pay makes it easy to turn down jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like to understand why FCPS needs so many subs. Can they please stop having training in the middle of the year? Not to mention all the planning that needs other teachers to cover. Garza completely screwed up this county with all the training and planning during the school day. My child's teacher is never there. Every single week some other training. It's ridiculous.

I teach in LCPS. I hate the trainings we have to go to because they are pointless. They just exist for the county to feel good about itself and check a box. I hate having to write subs plans so often and be away from my kids.

But, that being said, when would you like us to do these things if not during our work hours? On weekends? During the summer? I don’t get paid for those times. While I do bring home work at certain times during the year, I do have a family and a life. How much work do you do on your time off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like to understand why FCPS needs so many subs. Can they please stop having training in the middle of the year? Not to mention all the planning that needs other teachers to cover. Garza completely screwed up this county with all the training and planning during the school day. My child's teacher is never there. Every single week some other training. It's ridiculous.

I teach in LCPS. I hate the trainings we have to go to because they are pointless. They just exist for the county to feel good about itself and check a box. I hate having to write subs plans so often and be away from my kids.

But, that being said, when would you like us to do these things if not during our work hours? On weekends? During the summer? I don’t get paid for those times. While I do bring home work at certain times during the year, I do have a family and a life. How much work do you do on your time off?

If they are pointless why have them at all?