School substitute requirements and pay
Monroe County Community School Corp.
$75.58 a day with an Indiana teacher’s license
$65.22 a day with a substitute teacher’s permit
Main requirements: Twenty-four college credit hours
More information: www.mccsc.edu, 812-330-7700
Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corp.
$85 a day with a college degree
$55 without a college degree
Main requirements: Twenty-four college credit hours
More information: www.rbbcsc.k12.in.us, 812-876-7100
Eastern Greene Schools
$60 a day with a college degree
$55 a day without a college degree
Main requirements: High school diploma
More information: www.egreene.k12.in.us, 812-825-5722
All schools require an expanded criminal background check, a high school diploma and a teacher's license or a substitute teacher permit.
Stop by a classroom and you might be surprised. It’s not a teacher at the front of the room writing a math problem on the chalkboard, and it may not even be a substitute.
“At times, we just have to make sure we have an adult in there who is willing to supervise kids and keep them safe,” said Ted Baechtold, superintendent of Eastern Greene Schools. “It may not be teachers per se, but adults that can keep them under control in the classroom.”
Most of the time at area schools, if a sub isn’t handy, an administrator will be called in to watch over the class while the teacher’s away. If the principal’s busy, sometimes it’s a teacher who is willing to give up a prep period, or a couple of teachers might be able to step in and divide up a class. A teacher’s assistant or a student teacher can do in a pinch. On rare occasions, it’s an adult school official who happens to be free to keep an eye on the kids.
Schools are struggling with a substitute teacher shortage, and some administrators are worried it’s going to get worse.
“I think it’s everywhere across the board right now. Everybody’s looking for good substitutes,” said Mike Wilcox, superintendent of Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corp.
“We have always struggled to fill every position every day with qualified substitutes, but this year has been especially challenging,” Peggy Chambers, assistant superintendent for Monroe County Community School Corp., said in an email.
The shortage has many potential causes.
Chambers said most subs are looking for full-time positions and take them when they’re available.
“Substitute teachers are on-call employees, but many are looking for permanent employment,” she said. “Many of our former substitutes are now classroom aides, teachers or school age care employees. Forty-five preventionists (reading coaches) were hired to assist in elementary classrooms, and many of those hires came from the sub pool.”
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