If you’re looking for a rewarding, flexible career, a substitute teaching job may be the answer. When you’re first starting out, finding open jobs to fill your schedule can feel daunting. From looking for long-term substitute teacher jobs to turning on your Frontline notifications, there are a few concrete steps you can take to maximize your earnings during the school year.

How to Get More Substitute Teaching Jobs

Many districts give teachers 10 sick days and 2 to 3 personal days per year. When a teacher can’t come to work, substitute teachers must fill the gap. If you are looking for ways to fill your sub calendar this year, use the following tips to learn how to get more substitute teaching jobs and enjoy the many benefits of working as a sub.

Ask Teachers at Your Current Substitute Teaching Jobs 

During times when there are limited sub jobs available in Frontline, it pays to be proactive. Teachers often know that they will be taking a day off in advance. In many cases, they’ll ask their favorite subs to teach on those days, and these jobs will never be posted in the general sub pool.

To target these shifts, send follow-up messages after your existing sub jobs. Tell the teacher you enjoyed the class, let them know about any issues, and let them know that you’d love to be scheduled for future classes.

Become a School’s Preferred Sub

Many schools have preferred subs or building subs. As a building sub, you would typically show up at a specific campus each day and be assigned a sub job by the substitute coordinator. 

To increase the likelihood of being the school’s go-to substitute teacher, remember the following best practices. 

• Show up 10 to 20 minutes early.

• Stick to the lesson plan. If the teacher returns to work the next day and sees that everything was completed properly, you’re more likely to get a call back.

• Remember that teachers can monitor the students’ computers virtually. If you aren’t keeping students on task, the teacher can find out in real time.

• Leave the teacher a note or email with information about how the day went and any problems.

• Ask each school you work at if they need a building sub.

Chat Up the Substitute Teaching Coordinator

In most schools, the substitute teaching coordinator or a secretary is responsible for managing preferred subs. Whenever you get a chance, spend a couple of minutes talking to these individuals so that they remember your name when the next sub position opens up. Don’t be shy about asking them to call you for available positions.

Apply to Multiple Districts or Agencies

Many districts require subs to work a set number of days each month to keep subbing. For example, you may be required to work five days in the district every month. However, this requirement doesn’t prevent you from working with multiple districts or agencies. 

While there are downsides to subbing agencies, the main upside is that they have jobs in multiple districts at once. Agencies are contracted by the district to find subs, and they have contracts in multiple districts. For subs, this translates to a steady supply of jobs on the app.

Consider Long-Term Sub Roles

One of the best ways to stay booked is by looking for long-term substitute teacher jobs. With a long-term position, you don’t have to worry about where you’re working each morning. Depending on the district and which position you’re subbing for, these jobs can also pay more. However, these positions are limited, so networking with teachers and administrators is essential for hearing about them before they are listed on your district’s sub app.

Look Into Special Education and Bilingual Positions

School districts struggle to find substitute teachers for special education and bilingual positions. If you are able to sub for these roles, there are better odds that you’ll become the school or teacher’s preferred sub.

Turn on Notifications in Your Sub App

If your district or agency uses Frontline, you can go into the app and turn on the notifications for new sub jobs. By far, this is one of the easiest and most effective techniques for getting sub jobs. The notifications immediately arrive on your smartphone, so you can instantly swoop in and nab the job before anyone else.

Important Tips to Keep in Mind as a Substitute Teacher

Whether you’re an experienced sub or just beginning, the following tips will help you maximize the number of work days you receive during the school year.

Be Patient

As you begin the school year, don’t panic if there aren’t any substitute teaching jobs coming in. Teachers are often unable to take specific days off, such as the last day before holidays and the first day back. Additionally, many school districts discourage teachers from taking days off until after the second semester unless the teacher is too sick to work. Because of this, it can take a little while for teaching jobs to start appearing on your sub app. 

At the start of the year, you also have to contend with all of the other subs who haven’t been paid all summer. Everyone is eager to work, and there are limited shifts available. Be patient, and more opportunities will start to appear.

Check for App-Related Problems

Frontline and other apps need to be set up properly to show you jobs. If you aren’t seeing jobs in Frontline at all, reach out to the substitute teacher manager and ask them to change your account’s settings.

Keep Your Phone Nearby 

During the first few weeks of school, there are limited sub shifts available. To snag these in-demand shifts, keep your phone on and nearby so that you can immediately see your notifications.

Frequently Asked Questions About Substitute Teaching Jobs

There are a few questions that people commonly have about sub jobs.

Where should I apply for substitute teaching jobs?

If you’re looking for where to apply for substitute teaching jobs, start by checking the district in your city. You should consider a sub agency if there are any nearby. To have more job opportunities, it’s a good idea to apply at multiple agencies or districts. Zen Educate can also match up available subs to open positions. 

Is there a high demand for subs? 

In one survey, 93% of school district leaders reported some level of substitute teaching shortage. This high demand level isn’t new. Back in 2018, one estimate found that just 80% of open sub positions were filled. However, demand fluctuates throughout the year, which is why it is sometimes difficult to find open jobs.

How many hours do substitute teachers work a week? 

If shifts are available, you can work up to five days a week. Substitute teachers typically work six to seven teaching hours per day. The actual time at the school is longer than this because of lunches and planning periods.

Discover Your Next Role

If you’re looking for substitute teaching jobs, Zen Educate can help. We can match your profile to hundreds of different roles in a fast, stress-free process. 

Learn more by visiting our website today.