tute teachers is on the minds of human resources staff members in districts statewide .
The shortage and replacement of substitutes is costly for school districts , with a toll on school personnel who scramble to cover classes and reorganize assignments so students are properly supervised . Often , teachers have to absorb students from classes where no substitute is present , making a less than ideal learning environment for students and teachers .
As the need continues to grow , school leaders are more interested in what attracts and detracts substitute teachers , so they can build stronger relationships and retain those on the substitute rolls .
Working with students
Adults enter the ranks of substitute teachers for many reasons , a primary one being the opportunity to work with students . Responses on surveys range from feeling good about helping students to making learning fun in classrooms ( Gonzales ). Studies going all the way back to 1967 ( Herzberg et al ., 1967 ) note that working with students is a primary motivator for teachers to remain in teaching .
What can be done to help substitute teachers stay in classrooms and return to our schools ? The research notes opportunities to work directly with students in a helpful and supportive capacity . Thus , leaving piles of work to correct , assigning additional yard duty or supervision , and supervising detention would not help to retain substitute teachers .
Fewer job responsibilities
There is something to be said for not taking work home , and substitutes overwhelmingly report their interest in substitute teaching is due to the delimited job responsibilities . Some of the perks include not needing to write lesson plans , no responsibility for grading , flexible hours and no parent interactions .
One report even goes so far as to suggest that a primary reason to become a substitute is fewer and more pleasurable responsibilities than those required of a regular classroom teacher ( St . Michel , 1995 ).
A stronger commitment to teaching and remaining in the workplace exists when the job responsibilities include a reasonable and
A stronger commitment to teaching and remaining in the workplace exists when the job responsibilities include a reasonable and manageable workload .
manageable workload . Site administrators should work with their teaching staff to ensure work assigned in their absence is practical , achievable and not overly difficult for students .
Salary and benefits
The issue of salary and benefits is one of the most controversial extrinsic variables in the teaching profession ( Herzberg et al .). The research on substitute teachers shows a direct correlation between low pay and a lack of benefits to a higher likelihood that one will not stay long-term as a substitute teacher ( Cardon , 2001 ). What is not known is the influence of a change in recent legislation leading to a provision for sick days .
While districts may not be able to significantly change salary or benefits for substitute teachers , it is important to note that maintaining competitive salaries with neighboring districts should be a consideration .
Student behavior
It ’ s common knowledge that students may not necessarily be on their best behavior when their regular teacher is absent . Challenging behavior certainly makes the role of substitute more difficult , and eight of ten substitutes interviewed in a study reported inappropriate student behavior makes them want to leave teaching ( Gonzales ). Dealing with challenging students , no accountability for their behavior and unruliness , coupled with a frequent refusal to complete work , are the pressing concerns noted by substitutes .
Added to the classroom management challenge is that few substitutes are provided orientations , trainings , or even suggestions on how to overcome behavioral issues ( Mattero , 2015 ). Having a partner teacher who checks in on the substitute during the day is one suggestion provided by substitutes to help mitigate challenges .
Likewise , administrators who check in and intervene with management issues not only add support , but also reinforce the expectations that students be on their best behavior with a guest teacher .
Working conditions
Working conditions at a school go beyond classroom management . A good day starts with the presence of well thought out substitute plans that engage students . A challenging day often commences with a lack of plans , seating charts and classroom rules . But even more so , an inviting and welcoming
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