The screening process a school district uses in hiring substitute teachers is critical to striking a balance between required qualifications and immediate need. Typically, screening involves at least one of the following: pre-screening, paper and pencil screening, interviews, and background checks, each of which is used to different degrees…

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…

Strategies to help special education substitute teachers succeed include: welcome students and extend courtesies to everyone encountered; educate oneself for the present assignment; learn more about teaching and learning for future assignments; communicate with students, colleagues, support staff, and administrators to understand the school…

Presents a tongue-in-cheek discussion of whether or not administrators should formally evaluate and provide feedback to substitute teachers, noting the potential legal problems that may occur if an administrator decides to terminate the employment of a substitute teacher on the basis of the evaluation process. (SM)

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.,…

Presents information about what should be communicated to substitute teachers and why it is important, focusing on the substitute teacher's role, classroom management tools, curriculum management, and preparing students for the substitute teacher by creating bridges that will help minimize the sense of separation students feel when they have a…

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…

Investigated the availability of qualified substitute teachers in Ohio and the impact of a shortage on school improvement efforts. Surveys of district superintendents indicated a shortage of qualified substitute teachers related to district policy and procedures and increasing professional development demands for regular teachers. This shortage…

Provides suggestions for equipping special education teacher substitutes with the information they need to function effectively in the special education setting using a comprehensive three-way approach that involves school district personnel, school administrators, other school leaders, and special education teachers. (SM)