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Schools face a substitute teacher shortage, yet many aren’t offering sustainable wages
The Florida school district is facing a pressing shortage of substitute teachers, so when Barbara Clyatt, a first-grade teacher, takes time off, there isn’t always a replacement. Consequently, students sometimes get dispersed into different classes, hampering their learning progress.
“Consistency is key for many students. Disrupt that, and their focus shifts away from learning,” Clyatt observed.
This shortfall in substitutes is reflected nationwide and is intrinsically linked to the broader teacher shortage.
Lisa Thomas, a Connecticut substitute teacher and chair of the Coventry Town Council, expressed, “The substitute dilemma is reaching alarming levels due to the higher demand than available supply, rooted in the scarcity of permanent teachers.”
Raising taxes to enhance school budgets often meets resistance, leaving many districts with insufficient funds. In one instance Thomas noted, it took several attempts before a school board budget was approved, resulting in a reduction of over 20 staff positions.
“This is where the substitute challenge intensifies. Those roles still need filling,” Thomas pointed out.
Research from the Education Data Initiative indicates that public school budgets are increasing at a pace that lags behind the national GDP growth by 13.5%.
Districts have budget constraints, explained Heather Clark, School Board Chair for Epping, New Hampshire. Consequently, they cannot match the pay scales offered by larger districts, forcing them to seek replacements from the local community.
“We’re even approaching stay-at-home parents,” Clark shared. “It’s a tough proposition asking someone to manage 30 kids for a whole day at such a low rate.”
However, this stance on compensation is not exclusive. Aneeka Ferrell from the Renton School District in Washington voiced, “Choosing to be an educator is a personal decision. No one is compelled.”
The real issue arises when substitutes step in for full-time teachers on extended leaves, earning significantly less for similar work.
“It’s a cost-saving strategy at the expense of substitutes,” noted Doris Zughoul, a substitute from Chicago who feels that many guest teachers are undervalued despite possessing educational qualifications.
Despite these challenges, Ferrell believes substitute teaching can be a fulfilling profession if not the primary income source. Meanwhile, others like Karen Yooung from New Mexico plan to work well past retirement age, prioritizing family over finances.
Many substitutes face challenges like limited access to basic amenities at schools and the lack of health benefits. Zughoul added that they are sometimes uninformed if they are covering for teachers out due to the pandemic, putting their health at risk.
Jim Stewart Allen from Renton, Washington, proposes treating substitute teaching as a profession. Having recently become a “roving teacher,” he sees the benefits of committed substitutes receiving improved compensation and benefits.
Allen asserted, “Substitute teachers have unique skills, and they deserve recognition and fair pay.”
For now, as districts grapple with these challenges, Clyatt laments, “Finding a good substitute is rare. If there’s one out there, we desperately need them.”
