Subbing as a teacher in school?

[SL6827]

Anyone ever sub as a teacher in their public school system? How did it go? How was the pay? Was it worth it? Flexible hours by chance?

 

[tvguy]

A former co-worker was a sub for about 6 years. He hours at our place were 3 pm to 1130 pm, and he subbed at the elementary level so the hours there were 9 am to 2:30 pm. $125 a day, he got 3 days a week pretty consistently, he said an extra $375 a week wasn't bad. He had to give it up when he got a day job (that paid more than his old job and his subbing paid).

 

[crisi]

Pay is going to depend a lot on the state you are in along with requirements.

 

[yoopermom]

It is very dependent on your state and area.

A decade ago I did it between full time teaching jobs, in our little local district that DS was attending. I knew ALL the teachers and a majority of the students, could pick what subjects/grades and days I wanted, and felt that administration had my back. At that time there were still unions, so I not only made my daily salary, but it paid into the state retirement system as well. I was also covered by the union in case anything happened while I was on the job (think about subbing for a trades class, or even p.e. where a student could get hurt).

I would never do it now because subs are considered independent contractors, with low pay, no benefits, no protections, and the minimum of respect. You are responsible for at least providing for the safety of a classroom full of students, and hopefully teaching them a little, as well. Women who I knew who subbed for decades have quit in the past few years because of all of this.

Every state is different, just know that if it looks like "easy money", it often isn't.

Terri

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

My sister subbed before finding a permanent teaching job.
She liked it.
My friend currently subs while looking for full time teaching jobs.
She likes it.
The schools she does it for just went up to $90 per day and she can choose to take a sub position or decline it so very flexible unless she accepts a long term one like she is doing for November/December this year.

 

[tarheel618]

Our district subs are paid 75 a day. If you are long term you get 100 day but you have the same exact responsibility of a permanent teacher ( creating lesson plans etc). Here you can pick the school's you want to sub at and we also have that will only sub for certain teachers (i.e. good classroom management, students who are well behaved- advance classes etc). Our subs must complete a sub training course or have some many college credits (I think it is 60 but still have to complete some training).

 

[kymom99]

I'm a retired teacher and I sub now. Pay depends on if you are certified or not. Day to day I get something like $129. If I do a long term I get a lot more. Classified subs make less. You have to have at least 60 hours of college to sub for a certified teacher in my state.

 

[crisi]

I'm a retired teacher and I sub now. Pay depends on if you are certified or not. Day to day I get something like $129. If I do a long term I get a lot more. Classified subs make less. You have to have at least 60 hours of college to sub for a certified teacher in my state.

Here you need a bachelors degree, and a short call license. You'll make $130 a day. For a long term, you need a different license. And it is tough - 35 kids in a classroom can be difficult to manage.

 

[Steph01002]

I've been subbing part time for nearly 5 years now (in addition to a full time office job that has flexible hours to allow for working in the evening and weekends). It was also a way for me to try out a career before committing to going back to school myself. In Pennsylvania, I just needed a bachelors degree in anything and district approval to get an emergency certificate to teach as a day-to-day sub, and of course all the background checks. I am employed through a "temp" style agency that works with many school districts in the southeastern PA area. My school district pays $110 a day, but on the list I have seen some districts at $90 and some at $135. I accept jobs through an app, so there is no feeling guilty about saying no to a real live person calling.
I have had some really awesome days in the classroom, but I have also had a few days that I only considered successful because nobody got hurt and I didn't lose any children. Yes, it was rough when I started because there is no real training here and you have to figure out a lot on your own. I began to just stick with the elementary school that my own children attended because I don't have the time to go in everyday anyway. I much prefer staying in the same school because I know the teachers, I know the routines and procedures and by the time the students get to 2nd grade, most of them have seen me before and they know I will put up with a little chatting, but they can't get away with misbehaving.

 

[MKCP5]

It is very dependent on your state and area.

A decade ago I did it between full time teaching jobs, in our little local district that DS was attending. I knew ALL the teachers and a majority of the students, could pick what subjects/grades and days I wanted, and felt that administration had my back. At that time there were still unions, so I not only made my daily salary, but it paid into the state retirement system as well. I was also covered by the union in case anything happened while I was on the job (think about subbing for a trades class, or even p.e. where a student could get hurt).

I would never do it now because subs are considered independent contractors, with low pay, no benefits, no protections, and the minimum of respect. You are responsible for at least providing for the safety of a classroom full of students, and hopefully teaching them a little, as well. Women who I knew who subbed for decades have quit in the past few years because of all of this.

Every state is different, just know that if it looks like "easy money", it often isn't.

Terri

Agreed. Even within our state (MA) the pay varies pretty substantially. It can be a good flexible gig though if it works for you. You always have the option of saying no if that day doesn't work for you. Not sure about the union issues here. Interesting though, never thought about that part of it.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I substituted several years ago when we moved from Massachusetts, where I'd taught, to Texas. Unfortunately, my experience wasn't so great-pay varied from town to town, but wasn't that great, only about $60/day here. The only place I enjoyed substituting was at a school where there was an aide for each class. Even if the teacher was out sick, I had the aide there to help me identify students and decifer what to do (usually there wasn't a lesson plan).

 

[kirstenb1]

I've subbed on and off for 14 yrs. Basic pay is 75 a day, more for long term. I like elementary school, because you get to actually teach sometimes. MS and HS tends to be more classroom management, and little to no teaching. We have an app that I can block days off, when I can't or don't feel like working. It also allows teachers to request certain subs, so I tend to get requests from the same teachers. I know their teaching style and the kids, so it's pretty easy.

 

[clm10308]

subbing is flexible in that you get to decide if you want to take the job or not, but you do have to work the specific times set by the school and/or district. Some places do have half day sub.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Apparently here you can get paid $90/day to substitute if you have enough college hours but haven't graduated. $100/day if you are a college graduate. $115/day if you have a teacher's license in this state.

 

[MermaidMommy]

My school district requires subs to have their teaching certification (so either a bachelor's in education or a bachelor's in a different degree plus a separate teaching certificate).

 

[bigeyedfish]

I work in a school district (not a teacher and don't work in a classroom). In my state Subs are required to have a teaching license and make $25/hr in my district. Although teacher licensing requirements have just changed with new laws so sub requirements may have, too.