Substitute Teachers

Responsibilities of the Substitute Teacher

To enable each child to pursue his/her education as smoothly and completely as possible in the absence of the regular teacher, the substitute’s responsibilities are to:

•    Arrive at least 20 minutes before school begins. School starting and ending times vary by building. A list of      these times is included in this handbook.
•    Report to the office upon entering each building.
•    Pick up the Substitute and Teacher Evaluation Checklist from the office.
•    Consult the secretary, team leader, or department chair for supplies not available in the room.
•    Become familiar with the media materials and computer.
•    Record and report absences and tardies.
•    Follow lesson plans as much as possible.
•    Establish high expectation for student learning and behavior.
•    Treat all students with respect.
•    Be in the halls at passing time.
•    Notify the office immediately if discipline assistance is needed.

At the end of each day, the substitute should:

•    Leave the classroom and the teacher’s desk in order.
•    Return equipment to the proper location.
•    Turn off lights, close windows, and doors.
•    Leave keys and any additional materials in the office.
•    Complete the Substitute and Teacher Evaluation Checklist and turn it in to the building secretary.
•    Leave comments and a record of the day’s progress, assignments completed, student discipline issues,
     notes and calls from parents, etc. on the teacher’s desk.
•    Serve the supervision duties of the regular teacher.
•    Make sure the Substitute Teacher Form has been signed.

As a professional, the substitute teacher must:

•    Consider all records confidential.
•    Be professional in action and dress.

The substitute teacher should recognize that he/she will benefit by:

•    Avoiding discussions and comparison of situations in one school while serving in another.
•    Avoiding comment on the progress of pupils or the work of the teacher.
•    Making all observations, suggestions, or criticisms to the principal of the school involved and not to anyone
     else.
•    Using discretion in expressing personal reactions and opinions about what is seen and heard in the
     classroom.

Classroom Teacher Responsibilities 

The substitute and the regular teacher are both responsible for student learning. Thus, they have a very real responsibility for working together to provide an effective learning environment and appropriate learning opportunities.  The regular teacher is responsible to an important degree for the attitude that his/her pupils display toward the substitute teacher. That attitude should be one of helpfulness, courtesy, and respect such as would be accorded any educator in the school. 

The regular teacher is required to maintain all of the information a substitute would need in taking over his/her work.  This will include complete lesson plans containing an up-to-date outline of the lessons to be covered and the work to be assigned. This should also include the following:

1. Class lists

2. Daily schedule

3. Individual student schedules (e.g. library, speech, resource room)

4. Fire/tornado drill procedures and routes

5. Up-to-date seating charts with comments regarding students leaders and students with special situations (including learning needs, medical conditions, and behavioral challenges)

6. Any additional responsibilities of the individual teachers

7. Contingency lesson plans

8. Student behavior expectations 

Upon their return, teachers are to complete and complete the Feedback form in the FRONTLINE/AESOP system.  Other teachers, students, and/or the principal may also provide input to the Director of Instructional Services on sub performance.

Long-term Substitutes

A long-term substitute is very important to the district and is entitled to support from the teacher, principal, and Director of Instructional Services. This support includes the possibility of getting access to teacher’s materials before the actual subbing assignment and having time to observe in the classroom beforehand.

The substitute and teacher will meet prior to the planned leave and address important items. There is a suggested discussion guide at the end of this handbook. The principal should be present at this meeting. This meeting should be set up as soon as a long-term substitute is identified. In the case of an emergency, the principal and Director of Instructional Services will run the meeting and address the questions on this discussion guide.

Pay: For long term assignments the pay is $150.00 per day for the first 10 consecutive days in the same position. It is $160.00 per day for the next 20 consecutive days in the same position. Beginning with the 31st consecutive day in the same position, the rate is $180.00 per day.

Days: PCSD limits the number of days a substitute may work in our district to 120 days per year. This limit is based on ACA requirements. The state does not limit the number of days a substitute can teach if the person has a State Substitute Permit.

The state limits people with a Local Substitute Teaching Certificate to ninety days of substituting.

Substitutes may be given paid time to observe in the classroom prior to the placement. If substitutes are required to attend after school events (i.e. parent-teacher conferences, music programs) or Continuous Improvement Days, they will be paid for their time.  The substitute must ensure that he/she is asked to attend and not assume that attendance is required.

A survey will be sent out at the end of the subbing experience to assess the effectiveness of the PCSD support system.

Long-Term Substitute Checklist 

Nebraska Code of Ethics Teaching Profession

PCSD expects all substitutes to follow the state code of ethics. 

Nebraska Code of Ethics Document