Strategies to Help Substitute Teachers Enjoy Their Day at Work

Substitute Teachers
Image: source4teachers.com

Since 2000, ESS | Source4Teachers has evaluated, trained, vetted, and hired thousands of substitute teachers for school districts across America. Today, ESS | Source4Teachers provides nearly 10,000 daily and long-term substitutes for more than 250 schools, serving one million students.

Substitute teaching is a demanding career, which can be stressful at times. Substitute teachers have found that the following five strategies help them enjoy their workday.

1. Arrive at work early to familiarize yourself with the room, the lesson plans the teacher may have left for you, and available teaching aids, such as a laptop or a smartboard.

2. Show confidence to the students by taking control in the classroom as you explain the lesson plan for the day. Students will notice if you assume an assertive attitude or if you lack confidence.

3. Regardless of the students’ grade level, share some information about yourself with them to ease the tension of not knowing one another, while you learn their names.

4. If there is no lesson plan to follow, improvise. This might include allowing younger students to play games or get involved in activities, and older students to visit the library or complete a journal or art assignment.

5. Leave a message for the regular teacher, stating what transpired during the day, especially information about the amount of the lesson plan that was covered and how students responded. Providing detailed notes for the regular teacher may increase your chances of being invited back for future substitute work.

Forbes Releases First-Ever List Of Best Global Employers

 

Source4Teachers
Image: source4teachers.com/

ESS | Source4Teachers recruits and places thousands of qualified substitute teachers in school districts across the country each day. Named to Forbes’ Best Large Employers of 2017 list, ESS | Source4Teachers was the only educational staffing company that earned a place on the 2017 Forbes list.

Forbes also recently released its first-ever Global 2000 list of the World’s Best Employers, which considers employee feedback when calculating rankings. Google’s parent company Alphabet took the number one slot, with employees naming the company’s working conditions, diversity, and image as some of the positive aspects of working there. Microsoft earned the number two slot on the list and Japan Exchange Group, an investment firm, ranked at number three.

As a whole, US employers performed well on the Forbes list of best global employers, with 157 US organizations earning a ranking in the top 500. In fact, six US-based employers placed in the top 10. In addition to Google and Microsoft, the other top 10 US companies on the list were Apple, Noble Energy, Williams, and IBM.

Mt. Misery Program Fosters Collaboration and Personal Growth

Mt. Misery program
Image: cherryhilleducationfoundation.com

A leading academic staffing company based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Source4Teachers fills short- and long-term substitute positions for clients nationwide. Source4Teachers president Kevin Bush also holds a position on the boards of directors of several community organizations, including the Cherry Hill Education Foundation. The Cherry Hill Education Foundation administers the Cherry Hill Environmental Education Resident program at Mt. Misery, otherwise known as the Mt. Misery program.

The four-day residency program allows public school students to receive a beyond-the-classroom learning experience in South Jersey’s Pinelands. Students receive instruction in scientific learning and social studies through a hands-on process that reinforces concepts of collaboration and personal growth. Program staff and facilitators work to ensure that all participants receive the opportunity to take part and have their voices heard.

Annual costs for the Mt. Misery program amount to approximately $300,000, which the Cherry Hill Foundation acquires through family contributions and community support. The annual cost covers expenses for operations, transportation, site residency, and salaries for all personnel. Family contributions cover the cost per student, although the foundation engages in fundraising efforts to provide tuition scholarships for students from low-income families.

Source4Teachers Celebrates Contributions of Substitutes

Impact Award
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Widely recognized for its innovative business model, Source4Teachers trains and places substitute educators in vacant and long-term positions in K-12 schools on behalf of its hundreds of clients. In 2014, Source4Teachers created its Impact Award to acknowledge the commitment and contributions of its dedicated substitute teachers.

In 2016, Source4Teachers presented the Impact Award to Stacy-Ann Johnson, one of its substitutes who serves in the Bridgeport, Connecticut, school system. Ms. Johnson has worked in more than half of the Bridgeport system’s schools, where her focus involves teaching English language learners. Upon giving her the honor, administrators cited her devotion to her students and her consistent professionalism.

The first recipient of the Impact Award, retired Philadelphia teacher Meyer Weintraub, displayed similar dedication to his profession. He most frequently substituted in Bucks County, Pennsylvania’s Neshaminy district, often working with older autistic students. School officials praised not only Mr. Weintraub’s ability to teach and his exemplary record of service but also his commitment to mentoring students on vital life skills.

The Source4Teachers Impact Award

Impact Award
Image: source4teachers.com/

From its headquarters in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Source4Teachers serves the education staffing needs of more than 220 school districts throughout the United States. In 2014, Source4Teachers created the Impact Award, which was implemented to honor the contributions of its substitute teachers. Meyer Weintraub was the inaugural recipient.

The 2016 award was given to Bridgeport, Connecticut-based educator Stacy-Ann Johnson, who has served as a substitute for Bridgeport Public Schools on a number of occasions since 2014.

Awarded on Substitute Educators Day, which was created by the National Education Association to recognize the contributions of substitute teachers across the United States, the Impact Award praised Johnson as an educator who serves as a good example to other substitute teachers.

During her tenure with Source4Teachers, she has worked in a substitute role in 22 of the 38 schools overseen by Bridgeport Public Schools, reaching a total of 93 worked days during the award period.

In addition to considering the number of days the substitute has worked, the Impact Award is granted based on feedback from school districts and in recognition for going beyond the existing standards for substitute teaching.