Temp Agency / substitute teaching

[WhoseHouse]

I'm getting beyond frustrated in my job search and really must find something to do in the meantime. I know a few people that have substitute taught in between jobs. Does anyone have any advice/experience with this in AISD? Also, I was considering a temp agency- any idea how those are affected by this economy? I figure they could either be hurting like everyone else, or maybe doing a little better as companies need employees but hesitate to hire anyone long-term/ on salary?
Anyway, I am just looking for some input, and I know there are several people on the board in my position so maybe this can be a helpful thread for people looking for temporary work.

 

[HornOnTheBayou]

Substitute teaching is a pretty good gig. You get to decide which days you work and you usually sit there while the kids do a worksheet or watch a movie.
If I were you, I would get on the list for two school districts so that you have enough work. I think if you do that, you should have plenty of offers every day if you want them.

 

[Smurfette]

Austin can be tricky b/c it's such a big district. In smaller districts, if you're nice and good sub you'll pretty much have work whenever you want it.

 

[wherzwaldo]

Before my wife got her teaching job (elementary) in Leander, she signed up as a sub in AISD. The phone rang pretty much every morning at about 5am. If you wanted the job, you called back within a certain amount of time. Of course, this was in 2006... not sure how things have changed since then.

The advice about signing up with multiple districts is a good idea. Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Leander, Eanes, Hays, Del Valle, and Hutto are all within reasonable driving distance.

 

[ScoPro]

My DIL is the director for the substitute teacher program in AISD. They have a surplus of 2,500 subs.

 

[brian_00]

What about substitutes in the summer time? Is there summer school or are subs just out of luck?

 

[bluto]

scopro,
same thing up int eh dallas area. was a big article about it the other day. most sub lists are two to three times the average size with a majority of them having at very least a BA/BS.

 

[ScoPro]

I can remember when there was a severe substitute shortage.

 

[lostman]

If you have a strong science or math background, you will be in demand as a sub in secondary schools. I cringe everytime I get a sub with no science background. Busywork day for the class, then, and they know it. If my sub has a science background, I can at least leave some work that will move the class forward a bit. Also, be very willing to sub on Fridays, especially Fridays before holidays. We are always short subs on those days. Bummer when you have to give up your planning time to cover a class and you know the teacher has left early for some R&R time.

Get to know teachers whose classes you liked subbing for and make sure they know you are interested in more work. In my district, I can request my own sub, and will check with him/her before hand to make sure they are available. I will also make sure other teachers (whom I know have decent class control) know that Mr/Ms Smith was a great sub. Soon enough you are regularly subbing at one or two schools. Lots of plusses there - you get to know the kids and the faculty better. Good references for the future.