Any Substitute Teachers Aids or School Secretaries?

[1stluvispooh]

How well does it work out for you? Here's is my story I am now feeling like I should go back to work at least part time to help out with some bills and the fact that I am in need of a new car the extra income will come in handy. I have a 6th grader starting middle school and a 4th grade this year. My 4th grader is special needs. DH and I have discussed at length about me going back to work and feel that a couple of days a week having DD (our 4th grader) go to an after school program would be good for her. She is high functioning autistic and the social aspects of it would do her good. I know that it would be nice to be off when the kids are and the whole snow day thing I wouldn't have to worry about work etc. I just want to hear from people who have done it. Right now our school system doesn't have any permanent positions for either of those but we know that can change. So as of now substituting would be my only option.

 

[smb6]

I work as a substitute teacher. They call me when they need me. (occasionally I get a notice, but it's usually the morning of). If I have plans or an appointment that day- I decline. But you have to be careful- if you decline to often, they will stop calling you. I try to go to bed most nights ready as if I may be called the next morning. I enjoy it. My kids do not attend after school because there is no need, I get off work as they get off school. Even when I sub at a school that is not theirs, I am able to beat the bus home.

 

[barkley]

just keep in mind those school days that the kids have off or are minimum for them, that the staff still has to work, and also-if the district runs the same calendar for the middle schoolers as they do the elementary (ours has some significant differences). the other issue, at least with school secretaries is that for some, their work day starts long before the school day (at dd's public school the office opens at 6:30 a.m.-god alone knows how much earlier than that the secretary gets there).

i mention this b/c a good friend went to work for the same district her husband works for, and her 2 kids attended, and she envisioned being able to be home with the kids afterschool, all of them having the same days off, and having some extra income. as it turned out they were almost never off the same days (save legal holidays), and she ended up having to put out money for childcare for the staff in service days, and the time in between when she left for work and her kids left for school.


if you're still interested, even if your districts are not currently hiring you might call them and find out if you could submit an application in the event that they have someone who wants to job share or go part time, or possibly a temp position (seems like someone is always going out on maternity leave)-it could give you a taste of what it would be like.

 

[Darcy03231]

I once looked into being a school secretary and decided against it. Keep in mind that some school secretaries work full time year round. Not all of them have the same school schedule as the children.

 

[golfgal]

Check licensing requirements for substitute teaching. In our state you have to be a licensed teacher to sub in a classroom. You do not need a license if you are a sub for aides, etc. I know in our district they are always in need of aides for special ed and since you have experience there you could probably get something there, at least to sub to start. The worst part of being a sub is the 5 am phone calls to come in because someone is sick.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I have worked before as a substitute teacher assistant/secretary. The substitute pool for both positions was the same in the district I worked, but it is a different sub pool than the teachers.

I occasionally knew ahead of time what jobs I would be doing, but most of the time it was an early morning phone call. Sometimes, the jobs came in fairly late in the morning and I would just be "late" to the job. The school would need to cover the position until I arrived, but that was not my fault that the person called in sick to the sub office late. For example, if the regular person was supposed to be there for 7am and they didn't call the sub office until 6:30, and the sub office calls me at 6:45 for a school across town, I won't get there until 7:15...late for the job, but the best I can do. It was not something I would get in trouble for being "late". If I knew about the job the night before and was late, I probably would have gotten fussed at, but that is a different situation and one I didn't find myself in.

As for substitute jobs on staff in-service days, I don't recall ever covering one of those positions. I think many times they do not cover the positions if the regular person is out on a day when school is not in session.

The vast majority of TA positions are usually in special education. The second largest category of TA positions are in preK, since their ratio demands a 2nd adult. The rest are usually things like lunch/recess duty, clerical, or detention or study hall supervision. Budget cuts across the nation have removed many general classroom TAs in grades K and higher.

 

[AristocatFan]

I work as an Exceptional Education Paraprofessional aka Special Ed Teachers Aide. I took this job six years ago after being a SAHM(family manager) and active volunteer at my kids elementary school. The pay sucks but the hours are great! The money does help out with bills but I do it because of the hours and I love working with the kids. I do everything a teacher does except talk to parents and make lesson plans. My hours are school hours and for any afterschool or day off in-service training the kids(when they were younger) were able to go and hang out in the gym or library. It is nice to not have to worry about childcare when there is a snow day. Plus it's nice to be in the same building as my kids. This past spring DD fell off the swing(swinging way too high) and landed straight on her head on the gravel. They paged me right away and I took her to the ER. Man, head wounds are so bloody! It scared everybody but DD remained calmer knowing I was there. Anyway, teacher aide jobs are usually the same hours as the school day.

 

[jd_mouse]

I work as a Teacher Aide in a High School in PA...doing mostly clerical type work. I work in-service days when the students have off, but have off all of the same holidays and the summer. The special education aides work student days only. So if there is a half day for students, the aides only work a half day. They have off the entire summer. The secretaries work year-round.

I love it! The pay is not great, but the environment (at least at my school) is so appealing to me. My children are all in their teens and in high school/college, so I really like the schedule and being home in the summer.

Good luck to you!

 

[Cindy B]

I was an aide for a district in NJ. Due to union contracts, we did not leave when the students we cared for left. If there was a 1/2 day and the teachers had in service, we had to stay that other 1/2 day when students were not there.

If there was a snow day or a two hour delay, we had to find the time to make up the hours but the teachers didn't due to their union requirements.

In the same issue, most districts are now requiring aides, substitute aides and in some cases office work have a teachers degree/certification. I actually interviewed for a clerical position for a Vice Principal (a secretary position) and this district required a teaching cert for this secretarial positon.

Also to note, some states --especially NJ-- have severe teaching cutbacks and many degreed professional teachers are looking for any work possible in a district- including aides, secretaries, substitutes..even playground helpers or lunch staff. They need to stay in a district for all their benefits, health coverage, etc...

That being said I loved subbing. I have a teaching degree/cert and I can't find a teaching position at this present time (see above.. live in NJ). I'm fortunately in another industry but many many veteran certified teachers are scrambling.

 

[Sailorwife]

I work in our school district as a secretary in the Counseling Center of a Junior High. I love it! All the secretaries or paraprofessionals (including aides), except the principal's secretary, work 183 days a school year. We start the day before school starts and end the day after it ends. We do work on staff workdays (only 2 a year) but we do not work on staff development days. Most employees bring their kids on the work days and they play in the gym or their classrooms. Staff starts about 30 minutes before school starts and they are off about 30 minutes after it ends. Of course, most teachers stay long after that!

I bring my daughter with me in the mornings and usually take a car load of girls home in the afternoon. I love knowing who her friends are and usually have met their parents at some point in the year. She doesn't mind me working there since she gets some perks from it. (ie. heating up her lunch in the lounge and doing her schedule the way she wanted it!) Of course, there is a downside like direct access to her teachers. If they have an issue with her, all they have to do is go downstairs to the Counseling Center and we get it taken care of!

The hiring on campuses is done by the principal. All resumes are sent to him for the open positions and he does the interviewing and lets district know who he wants to hire. We have had several subs who became permanent after working on campus for a while.

Good luck and I hope it works out for you!! The pay is not great but the holidays and summers off make up for it!!

 

[luvthatdisney]

I am Financial Secretary at a middle school here in NC. I am a 12 month employee, this is actually one of my busiest times. I do all of the purchasing for the school, payroll, handle all money (except cafeteria) and many many other things. We also have a data manager, who is also a secretary, that handles all enrolling, printing report cards, and basically manages the student database. She is also 12 months. Our receptionist is 10 months. This is how it is at most schools in my district.

I did go to college to be a teacher, I have almost completed my AA degree, but got sidetracked with life Now that I work in a school, I know for sure I do not want to be a teacher. I can interact with the kids and still go in my office and shut the door!!

OP - working at a school is not for everyone. It can be stressful and if you do not have a good Principal it can be a nightmare! Budget cuts have really caused big problems with clerical positions in schools. Our receptionist used to be a 12 month employee, but she was cut back to 10 months last year and we are facing more cuts when the Stimulus money runs out next school year. Each school district is different and your best bet to get an idea of how it could work for you is to talk to someone that has the job you are looking at.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

In Missouri, you can be a sub for a teacher as long as you have 60 hours of college credit. The district I worked for took care of my certification requirements as a sub and my finger printing.

In the district I worked for, teacher and para subs were pulled from the same pool. There was a part of the application that asked you if you were willing to be a para sub. Since it is less pay and often working with more difficult kids, a lot of people weren't, so if you were, you were going to get more para jobs. I loved it. I would put down which days I was available (I was working on my master's, so it was three days a week). Once you get into it, you will have teachers who request you.

 

[Christine]

In our school system, it is very hard to get secretarial/administrative jobs. If so, you often work when the kids are off. Many of the admin positions are filled first by volunteers are by lunch room staff. It seems the "way in" in our district is lunch room worker. They always seem to have openings. It's hard work but you don't work on the kids' days off and your day is about the same length as the kids' day.

I know it probably doesn't sound like a fun job, but it is a way to get your foot in the door.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I am a Substitute School Teacher / Teacher Assistant / Secretary / Media Assistant, actually I'll do anything that they ask of me and I absolutely LOVE my job!!!!! I have a BA in Finance and Accounting and I've worked in a Bank and for Stock Brokerage Firms, and when I got pregnant with DD I decided to be a SAHM. But when she and other DD went to school, I was bored, so I was approached by a friend who worked at the school that I should sub; she said that they made pretty good $$ too. So, I though why not. That was 7 years ago. My youngest DD has epilepsy and I have always tried to make myself available for her if she has a seizure at school, but they know all about her condition. I love the kids that I work with, I love the teachers that I work with and for! My schedule is wonderful, I'm off when they are off, I work when I want, most of my jobs are pre-planned, but I do take jobs from Sub-Finder, which is a computer generated call center in the mornings. Go for it, what have you got to lose. You might just find that you love it!!!!

 

[daughtersrus]

How well does it work out for you? Here's is my story I am now feeling like I should go back to work at least part time to help out with some bills and the fact that I am in need of a new car the extra income will come in handy. I have a 6th grader starting middle school and a 4th grade this year. My 4th grader is special needs. DH and I have discussed at length about me going back to work and feel that a couple of days a week having DD (our 4th grader) go to an after school program would be good for her. She is high functioning autistic and the social aspects of it would do her good. I know that it would be nice to be off when the kids are and the whole snow day thing I wouldn't have to worry about work etc. I just want to hear from people who have done it. Right now our school system doesn't have any permanent positions for either of those but we know that can change. So as of now substituting would be my only option.

In our district, the substitutes make pretty good money. The starting pay (first year in the district) for a secretary is between $15.50-$21.00/hour depending on the duties of the secretary. For Para Pros, the salary starts at (again first year in the district and 0-29 credit hours) $19.00/hour. In our state, in order to be a para pro, you must have an AA or pass a test provided by the state.

Subbing here can be a bit difficult in the beginning unless you know someone. Most of the time, they call specific subs first (people that have worked in the building before). If they are not available, the opening goes into the system and the computer starts calling. If you're only looking to sub, you could always turn down the jobs that don't fit into your schedule.

 

[AristocatFan]

In our district, the substitutes make pretty good money. The starting pay (first year in the district) for a secretary is between $15.50-$21.00/hour depending on the duties of the secretary. For Para Pros, the salary starts at (again first year in the district and 0-29 credit hours) $19.00/hour. In our state, in order to be a para pro, you must have an AA or pass a test provided by the state.

Subbing here can be a bit difficult in the beginning unless you know someone. Most of the time, they call specific subs first (people that have worked in the building before). If they are not available, the opening goes into the system and the computer starts calling. If you're only looking to sub, you could always turn down the jobs that don't fit into your schedule.

Wow! I would love that pay! Here to be a para or sub you have to have 60 college credit hours or pass the PRAXIS. Which is a really easy test if you're good in English and Math. But subs, secretaries, any type of aide all make around $8.50 an hour with no benefits.

 

[daughtersrus]

Wow! I would love that pay! Here to be a para or sub you have to have 60 college credit hours or pass the PRAXIS. Which is a really easy test if you're good in English and Math. But subs, secretaries, any type of aide all make around $8.50 an hour with no benefits.

Our Para Pros are part of the teacher's union contract and are very well paid compared to other districts. They also have to take either take a test or have their AA. The secretaries in our district are also union and with the contract that was just negotiated last year, will get a 5% raise each year. Again, they are paid pretty well when compared to other districts in our area (western Chicago suburbs).

My DD graduated in Dec with a degree in education. She worked as a long-term sub (special ed teaching position) in another district from Jan-June. She made less money as a sub teacher in that district than she would have made as a para pro in our district.