Teachers hold the tremendous responsibility of instructing children in their learning. But there are times when they are not able to come into the classroom and mold young minds. That’s when a substitute teacher is called.
Education advocates argue although a substitute teacher is temporary, students deserve the best but are not receiving the best.
“There isn’t enough thought given to substitute teachers. They’re probably looked at mostly as a fill-in for the day and not part of the teaching staff or moving the curriculum forward,” said Sandi Jacobs, senior vice president for state and district policy for the National Council on Teacher Quality.
State education departments set guidelines, yet local school corporations can add requirements for substitute teachers. Indiana’s requirements are basic.
“Indiana requires substitute teachers have a high school diploma and be 18 years of age or older. At the time of employment with a local school, a substitute must also have completed (and passed) an expanded criminal background check,” said Samantha Hart, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Education.
For Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), spokesperson Kristin Cutler said an applicant interested in serving as a substitute teacher must have a minimum of 60 hours of college credit and must be eligible to obtain the Indiana Substitute Teacher permit. Preference for the position is given to applicants who possess a valid Indiana teacher’s license, are retired teachers or are bilingual.
Jacobs said, there are school districts that exist that are thoughtful when selecting substitute teachers. Some measures include administering substitute evaluations and including them in professional development. These instances, however, are rare. IPS can be considered as a district that gives careful consideration when choosing subs.
A significant reason behind putting subs on the back burner is budgets. Jacobs said if districts require more from substitute teachers, they are obligated to pay more. Many districts are already strapped for cash, and therefore a highly credentialed substitute may not be a priority.
“And keep in mind, they still have to pay the regular teacher for the day too,” added Jacobs.
A way to ensure students’ learning is unwavering during a teacher’s absence, Jacobs said school districts should make sure teachers leave an adequate lesson plan for the days they will be absent.
Jacobs said there is a growing culture where teachers are taking every vacation day available to them. Districts should evaluate trends within their area and become better prepared.
Districts should also set higher expectations for substitutes. Jacobs said they can also work to improve negative perceptions within their district, which may also boost the pool of candidates.
“Thinking you’re going to get this great supply of people you can tap into every day is overly optimistic. But it’s not unreasonable to expect that learning is going to occur that day,” said Jacobs.
