Some questions for DIS teachers/substitute teachers

[Debi]

I will be going back to school in the fall to get my teaching certification for Elementary Education (I currently hold a BS in Business). Between now and then, I would love to start substitute teaching just to get a start in teaching. However, I am totally clueless as to the process to become a substitute teacher. Do I need any type of certification? If so, what? How do I obtain this certification? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Kallison]

Debi in our school district in PA, you apply for the position. If you have the correct number of college credits (I believe our SD requires a 4 year degree) you have paperwork to fill out, send in for State Police background check, child abuse history check, get a tb vaccine and physical. You can specify what schools you wish to be put on the call list. I believe that the requirements in NJ are not as stringent. I know the school district where I grew up in NJ you only needed a 2 year college degree. BTW the degree does not have to be education. I think you are wise to substitute before getting your teaching degree, it will give you a good feel if you want to be in the classroom.

Contact the school district where you are interested in working, they will point you in the right direction. Some school systems have a position called building sub, where you work full time in a school and fill in whenever a teacher is absent.

 

[Debi]

Thanks, Kallison! I'll contact the school district on Monday. How long is the application process take to become a substitute teacher?

 

[bobcat]

Kallison gave you great advice. You might also want to check with your state department of education to see what they can tell you. In Ohio there is a program through the department of ED for people with a degree wjo would like to teach. They offer an alternative certification and in some instances you can teach while you finish you education requirements. I think you are smart to sub first. Good luck!

 

[Patricia]

The advice you have gotten is great so far. I know in NJ that the ALternate route program is quite popular. THe trick is to get a district to hire you first. Assuming with a BS in Business you might have more math skill, you shouldn't have a problem now. Then the courses you take are all geared to education in itself, not the subject area, for example, classroom management, child psychology, etc. Meantime you can be working in the classroom, gaining experience which is invaluable. The subbing situation is always a plus to be hired by a district but be careful not to let it send you away from teaching. There is a tremendous difference between subbing and teaching both positively and negatively. The sub gets very little respect and doesn't often have a chance to develop a rapport with the kids. That can result in a negative experience. At the same time, being a sub is so easy. No plans, no pressure, no parents, no administration. Just in the class and enjoy the kids, end of story. I have seen subs think they want to teach, and once they get their own class, freak. Be patient, give it a lot of thought and try out different districts. Each one has a different situation and may be more or less receptive to the Alternative Route. Best of luck!

 

[snuggles]

Check with your local systems then after you fill out the paperwork, have your background check and get trained (ours is a half day training session) go to the schools and meet the person who calls the subs. Its always good to let them see your smiling face. Wish you were here...our system is in bad need of good subs.

 

[Debi]

Thanks, everybody! Patricia, what is the alternate route program?

 

[phamton]

I was only familiar with "Alternative Certification" in Texas so I did a Google search for New Jersey. I got my degree in Education and am a teacher but my cousin is a chemical engineer and is going back through Alternative Certification to teach Chemistry in High School. I found it interesting that N.J. was the first state to implement Alternative Certification and Texas was the second state. Here are some sites that explain the program in New Jersey:
http://www.nctq.org/states/nj.html
http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/11-99/119alt.htm
http://www.ncei.com/Testimony051399.htm

Or for all the links I found on Google: http://www.google.com/search?q="Alt...ey&btnG=Google+Search&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1

That is defintely the way to go if you already have a college degree. It takes much less time.

Bev

 

[Patricia]

Looks like Bev did a great job of getting you an answer . We have had quite a few teachers in the district where I taught prior to my son's birth come in through alternative route. Now I am teaching in a private school, and there are three right now on staff. That is a route for you to consider. Private schools cannot pay what the public schools do most times. Consequently they are frequently looking for a teacher or two and are more open to an alternative route candidate.

 

[Debi]

Wow, that is a LOT of information, Bev! Thank you so much!!! I was reading though all those links, and it seems as though the alternative program is the way to go. The only thing I didn't see (unless I was looking past it) was, who do I contact about enrolling in the prgoram? I'm assuming the state, but which division of the DOE doI contact?

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by Debi
Thanks, everybody! Patricia, what is the alternate route program?

If I'm not mistaken, Bush's "no child left behind" has pretty much done away with the alternate route for all schools that recieve federal Title I funds.

 

[Debi]

Can anyone confirm/deny gepetto's post?

 

[JohnTBap]

I am a teacher in a Title I school and am, in fact, scheduled to have someone who is teaching in our school now - on ACP- come and observe me Friday.

Also, IMHO, IF you are able to manage, I think that there is no substitution for a good teacher education program. Have you looked into getting your MEd? Where I went to school people were getting their MEd and going through a kind of modified Student Teaching situation. It was very valuable for their development.

 

[Jeannie]

Hi, Debi.

I got my NJ teaching certificate through the ACT (Accelerated Certification for Teachers) program. This is not the same as alternate route. It consists of 18 credits - four graduate level classes and then one semester of practice (student) teaching.

I started out as a noontime aide in my DDs school so I had to be fingerprinted and have a Mantoux test for that. When I decided to sub, I filled out an application at the Bd of Ed. I was approved at the next board meeting since all of my information was already on file.

I was able to continue to sub while I took my ACT classes since they were all held in the evening.

Let me know if I can answer any questions for you.

Good luck!
Jeannie

 

[Tiggeroo]

And I plan on getting the full certificate.
To sub you first must find a district to sponser/hire you. Go to a couple of schools you are interested in. Most will do this. Then you fill out an application, they send you for a criminal background check/fingerprinting and a tb test. They also send your licensing info to the state. I believe that this will cost you like $65.00 for both. The license is good for 2 yrs. You then have to wait for the preliminary paperwork to come back, I believe this takes around 5 wks. Once they have received this they will put you on the agenda for their board meeting where you must get approval. Once you have the preliminary paperwork done (receipt for criminal check and license from state) you can apply at any school you want. Since your name has to go before their boards and it takes some time, you should do this right away. I recommend applying to several schools you are interested in. After you sub at all of them, you will get an idea how often they will be calling you and which ones you like teaching at best.
This sounds complicated but it isn't at all. It is just a matter of waiting for things to get done. Some schools who are desperate will even ok you working there pending some of these things.
Also, there are often wide differences in the pay rate between schools, so ask. Good luck, I enjoy my substituting. I generally only do high school now.

 

[Debi]

Thanks, everybody! Jeannie, what is the difference between the ACT program and the alternative program?

 

[Debi]

I am headed tomorrow to the Upper Twp. school district to pick up the substitute teaching paperwork. From there, I will contact the state about the alternative program. Thanks, everybody for all the help!