| If you are seeking financial security, substitute | | | | your account over the phone or even online in |
| teaching is definitely not the way to go. If you | | | | such a way that you will be called only for jobs at |
| are looking for a job that offers flexibility and | | | | particular schools, or even certain teachers |
| variety, however, it is a field definitely worth | | | | (believe this: there are more than a few teachers |
| considering. | | | | out there for whom you will never want to sub!) |
| As a teacher under a contract, you have do | | | | Of course, this works both ways: a teacher or a |
| enjoy some measure of job security once you've | | | | school can "exclude" you for any reason, and are |
| earned tenure. You generally have excellent health | | | | under no obligation to tell you why. |
| insurance, paid vacations, sick days and personal | | | | If you are adaptable and have some mastery of |
| leave, and a union to protect you in case of | | | | a great number of different subjects, you will |
| conflicts with administrators or legal situations with | | | | never be bored. In this particular field of |
| students (both of which are far too common in | | | | education, substitute teaching can be a new |
| the adversarial system which is public education). | | | | adventure every day. |
| If you are unhappy with a job, however, you are | | | | Another advantage is the meeting and paperwork |
| legally obligated to serve out your contract until | | | | requirement. Substitute teaching has almost none |
| the end of the school year. | | | | of this. A teacher under contract is forced to |
| With substitute teaching, there is no contractual | | | | spend many hours before school, after school and |
| obligation. If you have a bad experience at a | | | | on weekends attending meetings, filling out forms |
| school one day, you never have to work there | | | | and reports, and of course grading student work. |
| again. On the other hand, there'll be other schools | | | | As a substitute teacher, your day ends at 3 PM |
| at which you will prefer to work. Eventually, if you | | | | (or whenever the last bell of the day rings). You |
| demonstrate a high level of skill and are able to | | | | may be asked to fill out a short report to the |
| relate to the students, many regular teachers at | | | | teacher and building administrator, but beyond |
| your favorite schools will call on you regularly. This | | | | that, you have no responsibilities beyond carrying |
| is no bad thing, and can often lead to a | | | | out the teacher's regular daily classroom duties. |
| permanent certificate substitute teaching position, | | | | Substitute teaching is not the easiest job in |
| if that is your wish. | | | | education - far from it - but it can provide a nice |
| In fact, today's automated sub-finder systems | | | | supplemental income for those who work in the |
| allow substitute teachers to pick which school | | | | evenings as entertainers or writers, and provides |
| buildings at which they will work. You can set up | | | | valuable real-world experience in education. |