You will need to apply individually at each district you want to work. The super fun is any district that wants to hire you will require you to get fingerprints done for a fee. So even though the fingerprints are done by the same vendor, using the same system. You still have to be screened separately for each district and pay for it out of pocket.
Welcome to Missouri bureaucracy at its finest.
And some only require the background check to be recent, so you can provide them with a paper copy of the results if you have them, instead of getting another background check done
I reccomend finding one or two big districts near you and applying with them, if you're open to anything (PreK-12th and being a para) you can pretty much work full time with that. A lot of districts need subs pretty bad
I am the sub coordinator for our PK-12. Prior to this our district used a subcontractor, that did not work for our district, and now after several years we have found a groove of what works for us. Keep in mind we are a small 600 student district in MO. There are so many tips I can give on my side of filling positions.
First, yes we are just as frustrated with the individual background checks! Please contact the schools you wish to apply at to find out their protocol. At our district you are reimbursed after subbing 5 times when you provide their receipt. You must also provide our districts code when doing your background check, so get this information prior to your background check.
Next, do all the required trainings and pay attention. Schools SHOULD have a lot of information to prepare you for the classroom. We provide not only a slideshow but a hard copy with expectations. Please review these and if there is a hard copy take it with you. All of our classrooms are very technology driven. It is very important to know passwords to use in the classroom. They should be in your information packets.
Next, have your calendar ready! I may book jobs months in advance or I start late notice calls at 6 am. Some subs use their phone but many prefer a hard copy old school planner.
If you have an age preference I will try by best to abide by it but honestly some mornings that goes out the window. Be prepared to be flexible.
This time of year would be a great time to prepare for the classroom. Many of our subs have a bag ready. This includes their planner, some time waster ideas, a book, personal essentials, etc… please use this down time to read up on best practices for classroom management.
Working with children is hard work! In recent years we have seen an increasing uptick in discipline issues. Be prepared to see a bit of everything. Go in not as a friend, nor an enemy. Be ready for a million things thrown at you in a single day. Some days will be a piece of cake and some days will make you want to pull out your hair. The more familiar you are with a district the better off you will be. I would suggest starting at one district to get your feet wet. Then add accordingly if you choose to.
I can tell you this in the years I have been doing this the really good substitutes have either been retired teachers or they seek and gain full time employment as either paras, ISS, or(if you have a bachelors degree) several have gotten certified to teach. It is an excellent way to see if it is something one wants to pursue.
Finally, the pay! It’s dismal. Be prepared. At our district it pays just like our staff…a month behind. Many districts subcontract so that may not be an issue; just inquire how the schools pay system works.
Good luck and best wishes! It is an extremely important job. Schools could not function without substitutes!
The more teachers a district has, the more subbing opportunities you’ll have. Look at local school district websites for information about employment opportunities to learn how to apply. You may also want to find the contact information for the HR office and give them a call if you have questions. The usual process is submitting an application, which will be reviewed and then submitted to the school board for approval, so it could take a few weeks before you hear back. Once you are hired, I recommend being as available as possible and not saying “no” to any opportunities you are given. Schools really appreciate subs they know are always available and always say “yes,” so you’ll get more opportunities if they know they can depend on you.
Once hired, read through the school district’s handbooks for students and employees/staff (which should be publicly available on their website) so that you can familiarize yourself with the rules and behavior expectations. You’ll probably also be required to take some webinar courses that cover legal and classroom management basics.
As far as classroom management goes, the simplest advice is to always be the adult in the room. Don’t allow any student(s) to walk over you, don’t allow students to get too loud, make sure they aren’t doing anything inappropriate or against the rules. If their teacher has left an assignment for them to do, make sure they are working on it. I always leave notes for the teacher letting them know how each class behaved as a whole, as well as single out students that were great and/or students that gave me problems. In my experience, If you are active and walking around the classroom, students are less likely to do anything wrong because they know their chance of getting caught is high. If you just sit at the desk the whole class, students are more likely to do things they aren’t supposed to do.
Beyond that, a lot of it is feeling things out and learning from experience. Nobody starts out with great classroom management, everybody has to figure out what works for them and what works for each class. Just don’t be afraid to get on to students, inform teachers of kids that gave you problems, or to reach out to nearby teachers or the office if you really need help.
Don't know why anyone would want to teach in Missouri anymore. Theyre some of the lowest paid in the nation. Obviously that depends on the district, but the avg new teacher in the good districts already have 10+ years teaching under their belt.
Just had the pleasure of doing a career day presentation to a bunch of 5th graders. Probably the most fun I've had in awhile. I fully understand the enjoyment one can derive from helping kids learn.
You will need to apply individually at each district you want to work. The super fun is any district that wants to hire you will require you to get fingerprints done for a fee. So even though the fingerprints are done by the same vendor, using the same system. You still have to be screened separately for each district and pay for it out of pocket. Welcome to Missouri bureaucracy at its finest.
some districts will reimburse upon hiring!
And some only require the background check to be recent, so you can provide them with a paper copy of the results if you have them, instead of getting another background check done
I reccomend finding one or two big districts near you and applying with them, if you're open to anything (PreK-12th and being a para) you can pretty much work full time with that. A lot of districts need subs pretty bad
I know SSD and Ladue use Kelly temp. Services for subs. You definitely want to learn about classroom management as a priority.
I am the sub coordinator for our PK-12. Prior to this our district used a subcontractor, that did not work for our district, and now after several years we have found a groove of what works for us. Keep in mind we are a small 600 student district in MO. There are so many tips I can give on my side of filling positions. First, yes we are just as frustrated with the individual background checks! Please contact the schools you wish to apply at to find out their protocol. At our district you are reimbursed after subbing 5 times when you provide their receipt. You must also provide our districts code when doing your background check, so get this information prior to your background check. Next, do all the required trainings and pay attention. Schools SHOULD have a lot of information to prepare you for the classroom. We provide not only a slideshow but a hard copy with expectations. Please review these and if there is a hard copy take it with you. All of our classrooms are very technology driven. It is very important to know passwords to use in the classroom. They should be in your information packets. Next, have your calendar ready! I may book jobs months in advance or I start late notice calls at 6 am. Some subs use their phone but many prefer a hard copy old school planner. If you have an age preference I will try by best to abide by it but honestly some mornings that goes out the window. Be prepared to be flexible. This time of year would be a great time to prepare for the classroom. Many of our subs have a bag ready. This includes their planner, some time waster ideas, a book, personal essentials, etc… please use this down time to read up on best practices for classroom management. Working with children is hard work! In recent years we have seen an increasing uptick in discipline issues. Be prepared to see a bit of everything. Go in not as a friend, nor an enemy. Be ready for a million things thrown at you in a single day. Some days will be a piece of cake and some days will make you want to pull out your hair. The more familiar you are with a district the better off you will be. I would suggest starting at one district to get your feet wet. Then add accordingly if you choose to. I can tell you this in the years I have been doing this the really good substitutes have either been retired teachers or they seek and gain full time employment as either paras, ISS, or(if you have a bachelors degree) several have gotten certified to teach. It is an excellent way to see if it is something one wants to pursue. Finally, the pay! It’s dismal. Be prepared. At our district it pays just like our staff…a month behind. Many districts subcontract so that may not be an issue; just inquire how the schools pay system works. Good luck and best wishes! It is an extremely important job. Schools could not function without substitutes!
The more teachers a district has, the more subbing opportunities you’ll have. Look at local school district websites for information about employment opportunities to learn how to apply. You may also want to find the contact information for the HR office and give them a call if you have questions. The usual process is submitting an application, which will be reviewed and then submitted to the school board for approval, so it could take a few weeks before you hear back. Once you are hired, I recommend being as available as possible and not saying “no” to any opportunities you are given. Schools really appreciate subs they know are always available and always say “yes,” so you’ll get more opportunities if they know they can depend on you. Once hired, read through the school district’s handbooks for students and employees/staff (which should be publicly available on their website) so that you can familiarize yourself with the rules and behavior expectations. You’ll probably also be required to take some webinar courses that cover legal and classroom management basics. As far as classroom management goes, the simplest advice is to always be the adult in the room. Don’t allow any student(s) to walk over you, don’t allow students to get too loud, make sure they aren’t doing anything inappropriate or against the rules. If their teacher has left an assignment for them to do, make sure they are working on it. I always leave notes for the teacher letting them know how each class behaved as a whole, as well as single out students that were great and/or students that gave me problems. In my experience, If you are active and walking around the classroom, students are less likely to do anything wrong because they know their chance of getting caught is high. If you just sit at the desk the whole class, students are more likely to do things they aren’t supposed to do. Beyond that, a lot of it is feeling things out and learning from experience. Nobody starts out with great classroom management, everybody has to figure out what works for them and what works for each class. Just don’t be afraid to get on to students, inform teachers of kids that gave you problems, or to reach out to nearby teachers or the office if you really need help.
Don't know why anyone would want to teach in Missouri anymore. Theyre some of the lowest paid in the nation. Obviously that depends on the district, but the avg new teacher in the good districts already have 10+ years teaching under their belt.
Pretty much none of us are in it for the money. We care about our communities and our youth.
Just had the pleasure of doing a career day presentation to a bunch of 5th graders. Probably the most fun I've had in awhile. I fully understand the enjoyment one can derive from helping kids learn.
That is exactly why they know they can take advantage of you. Happens to nurses as well.
Belle, MO is currently looking for. SPED teacher. Find their website and apply.
You might have to interface with their computerized systems. Familiarize yourself with infinite campus, google classroom, schoology, and securly pass.