Substitute Teaching in Rural/Suburban Oregon (Portland: unemployment rate, school districts, income)

[lycanthrope]

I am strongly considering moving to Oregon, preferably in a rural area perhaps close enough to a suburb to work there. I think I would like to try to support myself via substitute teaching. I have a valid teaching certificate from an east coast state. I've looked into it, and in order to obtain substitute certification I'll just have to fill out some paperwork and pay some fees.

To those who have either subbed in recent times, or who currently sub more or less full-time (that is, 9 months out of the year), is it competitive? How steady can I expect this work be in Oregon, be it an urban, suburban, or rural area? I would like to work at least 4 days per week when school is in session.

[Feybie]

I'm not a substitute teacher, but I am thinking moving to Oregon and I'm after full time teaching work. The responses I've received from people on this forum about possible teaching work in Oregon is not good at all.

If what everyone on here has said to me is true, I reckon you're going to have quite a hard time finding teaching work at all. Of any kind. Any time soon.

[Silverfall]

Oregon has a 12% unemployment rate and our school budget is having a lot of cuts. Many positions were cut. Unless you are a special ed teacher, bilingual or have some type of edge in gaining a position, it would be tough going, I think.

[Minervah]

I think the best way to find out is to Google the various school districts and see if they are hiring. I looked at the PPS website and the only openings they had were for very highly specialized teachers. But if teaching is like other jobs here in Oregon there are probably 100 applicants for each position everyone with very advanced degrees.

From what I have read, people who are bilingual have the best chances. That's how my niece got a substitute teaching job in Toronto. The schools were not hiring full time but since she speaks fluent French, she was able to get a substitute teaching job. Even so, it's pretty sporadic.

[delta07]

First off, many school districts in Oregon require you to be a licensed teacher, not just a certified substitute. I found the requirements for licensure in Oregon to be a bit more stringent than in Colorado, where my original teaching license is. I was able to get the Initial I Teaching License, but this is only good for just under 2 years. I must work towards the next licensure level. So, before just going for your substitute certification, I would look into the districts you are thinking about working for. Even here in Central Oregon, a teaching license in required. Oh, and one thing I've found true, at least for C.O., is that substituting is contracted out through a services district. I don't know whether it's that way throughout the state or not, but I would look into it. Here is a link to ours: Substitute Services - Substitute Services

In terms of subbing as full-time employment, I think you will find this tough, unless, like others said, you have some special qualification(s). There were months last year where I only received a handful of assignments. I think right now the substitute pool is pretty full, especially since many districts in Oregon have laid off quite a few teachers in the past few years. I imagine those teachers have more connections than those of us who are new to the state/district, so they are probably being requested. Honestly, I would not recommend banking on a steady income from substitute teaching.

[Gandalara]

In CA, we have EdJoin where you can look for education jobs ("over 1,800 school districts, county offices of education and other education agencies post on the network"). Does Oregon have something like this? It posts open positions for Admin, certificated, classified, and subs ...

Welcome to EDJOIN!

[Steve97415]

Originally Posted by lycanthrope

I would like to work at least 4 days per week when school is in session.

That would be realistic only in Portland and only if you're willing to travel to distant schools. I sub in rural Oregon and rural northern California; I'm licensed in both states. Last year I typically had about 6 or 7 assignments per month.

Most districts have drastically cut back on sick days and taken other measures to reduce the need for subs. Substitute teachers are a major expense for the district budget.