Education plays an essential role in the development of our youth as well as- our society. As years’ past there has been a decrease in teachers and substitutes. According to the NBC in 2023, Washington State ranks 12 overall in teacher shortage. When teachers call out sick or take a personal day, schools rely on substitute teachers to cover for them in short notice. Substitute teachers are very important in keeping the flow of the school going. Without them, classes double up, and teachers lose their preparation periods.
Substitute teachers need to be given better pay, other work benefits and schools need to give better support in order to ensure pressure is taken off of the substitute teachers shoulders and the job positions can be refilled and sustained.
Substitute teachers are an overlooked position but are essential to the education system. It can be perfect for those not wanting to become a full-time teacher yet and need experience or those who find themselves retired and looking for extra income. To become a substitute teacher, one must first complete a bachelor degree, complete an approved preparation program and hold a teaching certificate. No exam is required like it is for becoming a teacher and some districts only require a high school diploma. So why are there no substitutes?
In most districts substitutes aren’t afforded health insurance. At Lake Stevens High School a substitute has to work for at least 540 hours in a school year before they are able to claim health insurance. Substitute teachers, pre-COVID, were seen to be declining in job popularity. Retired teachers are wanting less to become substitutes and many teachers in general leave before retirement age. This can be due to low salary, burnout and issues surrounding safety. The average salary for a substitute teacher nationwide is around $32,900. In Lake Stevens it is slightly better averaging around $38,100. According Business Insider, a liveable income in 2024 in the entire US is $67,690 and in Washington state it is $77,207. This makes it difficult to find people for the job and can oftentimes put unqualified people in positions to teach a class.
With a lack of substitutes comes overworked teachers. According to The Journalists Resource, teacher absenteeism has surged in the U.S. since the start of COVID. Teacher Absenteeism is defined as teachers missing 18 or more days within the school year. This can take away from student achievement and put pressure on substitutes and other teachers to come in more often.
“I can really work just about every day there is a job, and before I could not do that,” Jeffery Wetzel, a substitute teacher in the Lake Sevens district said.
Wetzel tries to limit his week to only three days, but it oftentimes “feels like a full time job,” Wetzel added.
When a substitute teacher is present, classes are often “off-task and goofing around,” senior Chase Ingram said.
When substitutes come in, the class is oftentimes assigned an assignment that feels pointless and like a waste of time. This can result in student boredom and bad behavior. Along with the bad behavior substitutes endure from students, some also must navigate different schools and teach different classes and subjects with different norms. It is not an easy job, and one needs to be able to handle different social situations.
One thing that LSHS has started doing is creating substitute binders, which are intended to include classroom norms or rules and locations for important documents. Each teacher was asked to answer questions about their classroom to help orient substitutes in the various classrooms around campus.
Schools have to make being a substitute teacher a worthwhile position. First off by increasing pay. Times are changing, and different jobs need different necessities especially with inflation problems. Teachers also need to include clear lesson plans, access to necessary materials, and a supportive staff who can provide the needed guidance and assistance when needed. Lastly, schools and teachers themselves need to create a school environment that is positive and inclusive. Teachers need to be strict with how students treat substitutes and maybe offer good and bad rewards for their behavior. This will all contribute to a better school environment and make people want to work in that building.
All in all, we are in a crisis. A substitute teacher crisis – and they need to be treated better. They are an essential part of teaching our youth and preparing them for our future. Schools need to strive to create an environment that is the best it can be for their teachers and staff. Without teachers and substitutes, a school is worthless, and they should be praised and honored in that way with worthwhile pay, benefits and a good environment that is easy to work in.
