Indiana University faculty members launched a new eight-week course to address the nationwide substitute teacher and teacher shortages according to an IU student research story.
The course, “Guest (Substitute) Teaching Guidelines and Tips”, aims to help students navigate the substitute teaching process and trains students to serve a critical community need while gaining hands-on experience and also being paid.
Sharon Daley, an Associate Clinical Professor at IU’s School of Education said students enrolled in the teacher-ed program always ask for more time in classrooms.
“Why don't we make this a win-win?” Daley said. “Why don't we get our students more time in classrooms, and, you know, help to mitigate the shortage of substitute teachers in the district.”
To substitute in Indiana, Suzanne Thomson, an instructional coach at Rogers Elementary and an adjunct instructor at IU’s School of Education said, a person must have a substitute permit through the state.
“Another requirement is that students need to have a background check or substitute teachers have to have a pretty in depth background check in order to work in the schools.” Thomson said.
Students can then pick from one of three projects: completing the substitute hiring process at MCCSC, completing the hiring process in a school district they choose, or creating a plan for how they would go about this process.
Students also created a cheat sheet on the best practices for substituting in a classroom or a “sub tub”, a phrase Daley attributed to Liesl Loudermilk at University Elementary School. These practices include networking, professionalism, classroom management and lesson plan development, if needed.
The online course, which has already been completed by 17 students, walks them through a school district's employment process. While the Monroe County Community School Corporation, MCCSC, is highly recommended, it can be any district.
“It was all these different documents and ideas and things that they had collected over the semester that would set them up for success going forward.” Daley said.
Two eight-week courses are currently planned for the fall 2022 semester, and Daley said she would like the class to expand outside of education majors in order to provide students with the opportunity to gain teaching experience.
“We're not necessarily looking to, you know, to change anyone's career path,” Daley said. “But it's a great way for IU students to earn extra money and also to contribute to the local community or their communities at home.”
To learn more about the “Guest (Substitute) Teaching Guidelines and Tips” course click here.
