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