All over the US, school districts are facing a scarcity of available substitute teachers, many of whom are afraid of the COVID-19 risks associated with returning. Unlike full-time teachers, substitutes don’t have health benefits and encounter a much larger group of students, often from different schools throughout a district, all of which have varying health protocols. Plus, many retirees get into substitute teaching to fill their time, putting them at more risk because they are 65+.
This short supply is stressing teachers, forcing them to sacrifice their planning periods. The grading they would usually accomplish over this hour has to shift, meaning that they have to come in early or stay late to try and conquer the ever-growing pile of assignments.
Thankfully, Mrs. Dockery-Wright says that, “as bad as it was, it’s getting better.” Existing substitute teachers are subbing for other teachers during the planning period of the teacher they were originally hired to cover. This has helped teachers greatly, and the administration at Page has worked hard to schedule teachers lightly, such that Mrs. Dockery-Wright says that she has “only had coverage one time this week.”
Still, Guilford County has been working to attract people to the position. About a year ago, Superintendent Contreras increased wages for substitute teachers to the highest in North Carolina, giving certified teachers $140 a day and non-certified teachers $115 a day. Requirements for the position are minimal: subs need a bachelor’s degree and a 2.0 GPA, although Wake County schools have even lower requirements. In Wake County, substitutes only need to pass a “Substitute Effective Teacher Training Course,”; they don’t need a college degree at all. While it can’t be easy keeping students under control as a substitute, the pay is decent and the requirements are minimal, making you think that substitute teaching would be a popular career. However, we have hit a difficult place and Guilford County Schools are desperately trying to recruit substitutes. In the meantime though, let us realize the stress coverage adds for our teachers and cut them some slack.
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