Friday, January 08, 1999
Mason schools seek substitute teachers
BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — School officials want to educate people about how easy it is to be a substitute teacher.
So easy, in fact, all you need is a bachelor's degree or a teaching certificate. You also must pass a background check and have a negative TB test, said Craig Ullery, human resource director.
In an effort to recruit more substitutes, the district is sponsoring a free two-day seminar next month.
Those who complete the two-day seminar will be paid for both days upon completion of 10 days of substitute teaching in the Mason City School District. Mason substitutes make $70 a day.
The seminar will cover classroom management, lesson plans, student/teacher rapport and many other skills.
Those with teaching certificates also are invited to the training.
“We really have a good pool of substitutes here in Ma son,” Mr. Ullery said. “We just don't have enough of them. We're not unlike any other school district.”
A strong economy and a need for teachers has helped create a demand for substitute teachers in Greater Cincinnati and across the country, experts have said.
Nationally, substitute teacher pay averages $58 to $64 a day. Because of low unemployment, fast food restaurants offer close to the same salary — plus benefits.
By the time they graduate, students spend an average of eight months in classrooms taught by substitutes, according to Geoff Smith, executive director of the Substitute Teacher Training Institute at Utah State University.
And about 42 percent of superintendents nationwide say there is a “serious shortage” of substitutes.
“What we're doing is we're reaching out to people who have college degrees but may not be aware that they are eligible for (a) substitute teaching certificate in the state of Ohio that may be interested in working part time,” Mr. Ullery said.
“We think this two-day seminar ... will allow them to be successful in the classroom and also allow us to recruit and screen qualified substitute teachers.”
The district is hoping to appeal to stay-at-home parents or those who may be in the middle of a career change, Mr. Ullery said.
“We have a large pool of volunteers who come into our schools,” he said. “They may welcome the opportunity to work in an additional capacity and get paid for it. One advantage of subbing is they can choose how much or little they can work.”
Mason's two-day seminar will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 9-10 at the Mason Central Board room, 211 N. East St. Lunch will be provided both days. Participants should bring their college transcripts. You must register by Feb. 5, by calling Sheila Burnett, secretary to Mr. Ullery, at 398-0474.
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