Substitute Teaching Job Description
More than 3 million people serve as teachers in the nation's elementary, middle and high schools, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. When those professionals face an illness or emergency, schools call upon substitute teachers to step into the classroom.
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Duties
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Substitute teachers follow the lesson plans and use the instructional materials left by the permanent teacher. Schools expect them to effectively manage the classroom, maintaining safety and order while keeping students engaged by accommodating their different learning styles. Substitutes may be required to teach students with special needs. Substitutes may check the permanent teacher's mailbox to address any items requiring immediate attention. At the end of their assignment, substitutes leave notes for the permanent teacher about what transpired in the classroom, along with any papers that need to be graded.
Skills and Abilities
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Substitute instructors must be able to teach in a wide variety of subject areas. They need strong communication abilities and should be able to resolve student conflicts and behavior problems. Substitute teachers need the ability to be fair to all students and model non-discriminatory behavior. They should speak and read English well.
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Education
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In some school districts, substitute teachers need only a high school diploma or GED to be hired. Those individuals may also need a state teaching certificate or permit. For some substitute teaching positions, schools require applicants to have a bachelor's degree or to have completed some college coursework. Schools may require substitute teachers to attend a training course or orientation program.
Other Qualifications
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Substitute teachers must be able to pass a criminal background check, and some school districts also require a physical examination. Vocational teachers may need on-the-job experience in the business world. New employees may be required to show proof that they are American citizens or legal U.S. residents.
Compensation
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Schools may pay substitute teachers on a per-day or an hourly basis. The PayScale website showed a national average rate of $9.75 to $15.10 an hour in fall 2010. A school in Merced County, California, offered a pay rate of $19 per hour in fall 2010. The School District of Philadelphia offered daily pay ranging from $47 to $152 a day, depending on assignment length and teacher qualifications.
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