Subbing vs. classroom aide

[mrs_hower726]

I'm a trained and certified music teacher and I am looking to get back into the teaching realm (last time I worked in a school was 5 years ago, I finished my masters in may and had to take the first half of this year off for family medical reasons). There is nothing in my area for a long-term music teacher to cover a sabbatical or pregnancy for the spring.

That being said, I am debating either subbing or being a classroom aide for the remainder of the year. I'm leaning towards a classroom aide with special needs or elementary age since I have no experience with children from grades K-3 or with special needs. Another big plus is that I would have consistency and wouldn't have to worry about if I will have work the next school day.

Another option would be to wait until March or April and get an early start on finding a teaching position for the next school year, I know that being out of the classroom for so long might hurt me. The negative on that end would be the financial part of it, DH is willing to move wherever to get my career re-started and selling the condo could be a real problem if I can't find a job in my area, plus we would take a pay cut since he would be quitting his job as an investment accountant and it might take time for him to find work.

Any thoughts/advice?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well....a few thoughts.

Why would you sell your condo and why would he quit his job? That sounds odd, esp. for this economy?

Perhaps you can elaborate further.

 

[mrs_hower726]

Well....a few thoughts.

Why would you sell your condo and why would he quit his job? That sounds odd, esp. for this economy?

Perhaps you can elaborate further.

Selling the condo and DH finding a new job would only be in the case that I couldn't find a job in the area we live in but found a job elsewhere. With the economy moving for a job is definetely a last resort but also needs to be considered in the long run.

Hope this clears things up.

 

[Cindy B]

Classroom aides have very low pay around here. However in some districts, you (the employee) get full health coverage, sometime FREE sometimes with a low cost.

Subbing, in general pays more (at least in my area) but you have a lack of consistency.

 

[disykat]

He would quit his job and sell their condo to move with her if she found a job elsewhere. He sounds like a keeper!

Do you have connections that can keep you informed of music positions coming open?

If I were you, I think I'd sub music and get your reputation as a music teacher established in your area. While the aide position might be more "steady," it won't really get you connected to your subject matter.

We're always hurting for people who are willing to sub in music!

 

[mrs_hower726]

Classroom aides have very low pay around here. However in some districts, you (the employee) get full health coverage, sometime FREE sometimes with a low cost.

Subbing, in general pays more (at least in my area) but you have a lack of consistency.

I've been doing research and aides look to get paid between $10 and $13 an hour and subbing is from $75 to $100 a day, which for a 7-hour day it would be close.

I'm thinking consistency in a school would look better than a short-term sub, but I could completely wrong too.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I was out of teaching for twelve years, and jumped right back in as soon as I was ready-I teach strings.

 

[teacups]

personally I'd sub before I'd be an aide.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Selling the condo and DH finding a new job would only be in the case that I couldn't find a job in the area we live in but found a job elsewhere. With the economy moving for a job is definetely a last resort but also needs to be considered in the long run.

Hope this clears things up.

Try the subbing first and then see how it goes. I certainly would not go jumping the gun quite yet.

Good Luck!!!

 

[Cindy B]

I've been doing research and aides look to get paid between $10 and $13 an hour and subbing is from $75 to $100 a day, which for a 7-hour day it would be close.

I'm thinking consistency in a school would look better than a short-term sub, but I could completely wrong too.

$10-13 for an aide is generous. Around here it's about $8 an hour but with full free benefits.

Subbing is anywhere from $75 to $125 per day.

 

[SpecialK]

I'd sub. You'll become known in more buildings, by more teachers and administrators. If a job opens up, you will not be an unknown.

 

[mrs_hower726]

I was out of teaching for twelve years, and jumped right back in as soon as I was ready-I teach strings.

How many years of experience did you have before taking that time off and how hard was it to find a job? Were you able to find something where you were living or did you have to move.

Not being able to find a job for next year is my biggest fear right now. DH said if we would cross that bridge if we came to it and figure out a game plan. As someone mentioned earlier, he definetely is a keeper!

 

[Cindy B]

It's not that easy- depending on your area. I just graduated with two degrees and two teaching certs. I was a paraprofessional for two years and have subbed for five.

There are 400-500 applicants for one position around here. Music and art positions rarely open up and the music teachers in my district are not at one school. It is very common to have a music teacher working at 4-5 of the 19 schools in one school year.

 

[mrs_hower726]

It's not that easy- depending on your area. I just graduated with two degrees and two teaching certs. I was a paraprofessional for two years and have subbed for five.

There are 400-500 applicants for one position around here. Music and art positions rarely open up and the music teachers in my district are not at one school. It is very common to have a music teacher working at 4-5 of the 19 schools in one school year.

In my area there are a lot of different openings within a given year but especially in my area they are looking for teachers with lots of experience, which I do not have and a lot of time don't even get a call for an interview (this was 3 years ago when I was looking for a job, which inspired me to go back to school). I also have seen lots of positions get eliminated due to funding as well.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

$10-13 for an aide is generous. Around here it's about $8 an hour but with full free benefits.

Subbing is anywhere from $75 to $125 per day.

Yikes! $8 an hour is very low. I'm a special ed aide and my district starts paying at $17.40 an hour. You get step increases every year and the top of the scale is just under $22 an hour. Subs in our district make $125 a day. I am qualified to work as a substitute teacher but I can make almost the same amount working as a part time aide.

 

[golfgal]

$10-13 for an aide is generous. Around here it's about $8 an hour but with full free benefits.

Subbing is anywhere from $75 to $125 per day.

You really can't compare wages across the country. The kids at McDonald's get paid 8/hour here, aids get about $15 to start but $15/hour won't even get you a crappy studio apartment around here. You would qualify for welfare and food stamps on that salary around here.

 

[Cindy B]

Yikes! $8 an hour is very low. I'm a special ed aide and my district starts paying at $17.40 an hour. You get step increases every year and the top of the scale is just under $22 an hour. Subs in our district make $125 a day. I am qualified to work as a substitute teacher but I can make almost the same amount working as a part time aide.

When I was an aide (2005) the high pay was $6.25 an hour. Since 2005, the aides have gotten an increase to $8 an hour.

 

[MushyMushy]

If you're goal is to get the full-time job, then I'd definitely sub in as many different schools as you're able. But if you need the stability, go with being an aide.

We're in the same position here. I have a snowball's chance of getting a teaching job in my area, so I'm just biding my time until my daughter finishes school, then we're moving to where I can work. My husband can definitely make more money in a different area anyway, so it's a goal for us.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I taught for three years, one in the area I'm in now, and two in Illinois. The year I started applying, there were five available string jobs (unheard of) right in my area, so for me, it made sense to apply because once those jobs get locked up, they stay locked up.

My thought is that I'd rather people in the district knew me as a teacher (sub) rather than an aide. Wondering if you would be pigeon-holed as an aide and not viewed as an actual teacher.

As a string teacher, I teach in five buildings. Four elementary and the high school, a different building each day of the week. As a general music teacher you would have a better chance of being in one or two buildings.

How many years of experience did you have before taking that time off and how hard was it to find a job? Were you able to find something where you were living or did you have to move.

Not being able to find a job for next year is my biggest fear right now. DH said if we would cross that bridge if we came to it and figure out a game plan. As someone mentioned earlier, he definetely is a keeper!

 

[mrs_hower726]

Thanks for all of your responses.

Right now I'm leaning towards the subbing route but I have a couple of weeks to sit on it since my clearances are expired! 1 is expired by 6 days and the other is 2 weeks.

I also found out that since I last subbed, a lot of the school districts have went to a subbing service and you sign up for assignments over the computer, no more phone calls at 4am (YAY!!!!!!!) and a lot more opportunity for subbing music.

The next couple weeks will be getting my resume, clearances, and TB test up to date and get my teaching portfolio updated so it'll be all ready for job hunting season. I'm also going to investigate job fairs with the universities and try to make one of those to get my foot in the door.