Information technology has automated the process of substitute teacher dispatching. This article describes such automated systems, examining the advantages of using the Internet for automated staffing. It concludes that for districts that take advantage of this new technology, using the Internet can make automating absence reporting and substitute…

Describes one school district's experiences using an automated substitute teacher calling system, noting that this automated system cannot help with problem of substitute teacher shortage and describing how the district worked to attract and retain high quality substitutes by examining teachers' opinions of ideal substitute teachers…

Describes how one school district proactively addressed problems related to finding special education substitute teachers. Substitutes were offered a one day training that addressed such issues as important factors substitutes must know to work with students with disabilities; addressing the needs of students with various disabilities (e.g.,…

Describes the development of a substitute teacher training program. The process began with surveys of substitute teachers, classroom teachers, and administrators about what such a program would require, following which a committee was formed to make recommendations on program design, materials, and delivery; conduct a literature review on…

Presents results from the First Annual SubConference: A National Conference on Substitute Teaching. The theme was "Best Practices in Managing Substitute Teaching." The conference examined what works and what does not work concerning practices and policies related to substitute teaching. Topics included recruiting, screening, training,…

Though substitute teachers spend significant amounts of time with students, they receive little training. The Substitute Teaching Institute at Utah State University has developed training materials that include six content components: being prepared and professional, classroom management skills, legal and first aid issues, teaching and…

Describes one school district's mandatory 2-hour workshop designed to certify substitute teachers. The workshop explains the district's expectations of substitute teachers, provides information and instructional techniques to facilitate learning and proper classroom control, and allows questions and concerns to be raised and clarified by…

Describes the development of a substitute teacher graduate internship program in Fairfield, Connecticut's public schools. The program educates and trains graduate pre-service teachers at the local university, subsequently employing them as substitutes within the school district. At the conclusion of the internship year, graduate students, who have…