Hired as a substitute teacher but still unemployed (home, unemployment) - San Francisco - Oakland - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

uhnodude · 10-30-2009, 12:33 PM

I am having a difficult time getting actual work as a substitute. I was hired by a private company to sub at private schools but received one placement in two months. I've finally been hired by the SFUSD but in my first week I have received no placements and seen (nearly) nothing show up on their system.

I'm sort of at a loss- I am new to the Bay Area, and back home I was able to substitute full time right out of the gate. Why do I need to pay my dues (scrape and struggle for that super-rare assignment and then beg the school to request me again sometime) if I have a Masters in a job that is essentially nothing but paying dues to begin with? Why do people over-hire for their sub-pools?

I noticed a few posts here regarding education so I'm hoping some local teachers can help me out. Should I expect more of the same in this situation? Are there any districts that are especially good or bad to sub in?

skyway31 · 10-30-2009, 03:50 PM

With the budget cuts in education, a lot of school districts had to fire credentialed teachers. They then re-hired them as subs. So, many times the credentialed teachers previously employed as full-time teachers with the district are getting priority.

That, and, with all schools, getting sub work is all about knowing the office managers at the schools. They call who they know first. A suggestion would be to visit some schools and meet the office managers in charge of subs and give them a card and let them know your willingness to work and your experience etc. Otherwise it's going to be tough to get work.

nmguy · 10-30-2009, 03:54 PM

You might also want to put a note in teachers' mailboxes, letting them know that you are available and why they should request you.

uhnodude · 10-30-2009, 05:31 PM

I'll try both. Thanks for the advice.

Tallysmom · 10-31-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uhnodude

I am having a difficult time getting actual work as a substitute. I was hired by a private company to sub at private schools but received one placement in two months. I've finally been hired by the SFUSD but in my first week I have received no placements and seen (nearly) nothing show up on their system.

I'm sort of at a loss- I am new to the Bay Area, and back home I was able to substitute full time right out of the gate. Why do I need to pay my dues (scrape and struggle for that super-rare assignment and then beg the school to request me again sometime) if I have a Masters in a job that is essentially nothing but paying dues to begin with? Why do people over-hire for their sub-pools?

I noticed a few posts here regarding education so I'm hoping some local teachers can help me out. Should I expect more of the same in this situation? Are there any districts that are especially good or bad to sub in?

We are in bad shape out here right now. The sub-pool is very big I would assume because they are giving the ex-full time teachers who had been let go the work, because they are known to the districts.

And we're a ways out from being a healthy economy out here.... I hate to sound negative -- any chance you could get out of your contract and go home? I seem to remember back when I was employed by a company that long stretches of unemployment was really looked down on... and if you're just starting out, it might not be ther best time to be unemployed, especially since you were employed back home.

uhnodude · 10-31-2009, 07:42 PM

I actually turned down job offers to move here. I made the move for personal reasons. I assumed it would at least be a lateral career move and I could keep subbing at the very least.

Not much chance of going back to NY.

enlightenme · 10-31-2009, 07:54 PM

My husband was laid off a few years ago in his district because of declining enrollment. He also has a master's degree, but was the newest hire at his school. He was put in a priority status as a sub and he also put letters in the teacher's mailboxes as someone suggested. He was laid off in October and he subbed every single day that school year. He was also offered a couple long term jobs. This was in 2005 before the major economy crisis, but we were living in one of those insanely over priced areas that were losing young families, so we were still losing a lot of teachers. I think as other people stated laid off teachers in the district are given priority. I know for certain it was that way for my husband; he was told he was at the top of the list. If you are able to sub and make a living, don't worry too much about your resume. We ended up moving out of CA because we couldn't live on a sub's salary, but his new school district actually considered his year of subbing as a year of teaching experience for his pay grade. Not all districts do that, but some will. Plus, he said during interviews they never acted like his experience as sub was any less and if anything it shows a flexible person who can jump in get the job done. Hang in there!