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  • Cullman County Board of Education elementary curriculum coordinator Denise Schuman presents the orientation seminar for county schools substitute teachers Tuesday morning. Sam Rolley

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September 1, 2010

County substitute teachers go back to school

By Sam Rolley The Cullman Times

School is in session, but students are not the only ones taking to the classrooms. The Cullman County Board of Education (CCBOE) held an orientation session for substitute teaching applicants on Tuesday. A group of about 75 candidates were present to learn more about becoming certified as a substitute teacher, adding to a hiring pool that has amassed 835 certified substitutes.

The role of substitute teachers is taken very seriously by the CCBOE; each candidate is required to complete a careful screening process including a background check, medical screening, and attendance of the substitute teacher orientation seminar. The orientation seminar was created for the county school system in 1998 and has been used as a model to prepare substitutes in several other school systems since. Upon meeting board requirements, candidates who have no prior teaching certification are granted a substitute teaching license through the state.

Most of those applying for substitute teaching positions are currently enrolled in teacher certification programs at area colleges or, upon completion of those programs, are seeking permanent employment. County schools elementary curriculum coordinator Denise Schuman, who has presented the orientation seminar since its beginning, advised candidates in search of permanent employment to substitute in as many schools as possible to increase exposure with local school administrators.

“Not only are teachers held accountable for their students, but they also consider each child their own,” Schuman explained. “We appreciate a substitute who is well prepared and who carries on instruction in the teacher’s absence.”

Substitutes such as Toby Sellers, who was in attendance at Tuesday’s orientation, are taking this advice to heart. Sellers is a recent graduate of UAB with an education degree focused on the Social Sciences, he has been a longtime substitute with the city school systems and has decided to become involved in the county. His main goal is to build relationships with local educators in hopes that a permanent position will become available in one of the schools he frequents. Sellers is one of many recent college graduates who have found themselves in the same position.

Meaghen Howard has been a substitute since 2005, though she had aspirations to become an educator long before. She began substitute teaching to supplement her course work and student teaching at Athens State as she worked toward a degree in elementary education, which she finished last December.

“I began my job search about four months before I finished my degree,” said Howard. “I had been subbing for awhile and doing student teaching — but the job market is extremely competitive.”

Howard recently took a part-time job as an extended day teacher at a local elementary school and continues to substitute at schools throughout the community. When asked if the pay — $60 per day of subbing — is sufficient, Howard noted that educators choose their profession out of passion.

“When I started substitute teaching, the pay was only $50 per day,” Howard laughed. “But I didn’t get into teaching for the money — I decided to teach because I love it and feel that it has been my calling since childhood. I’m happy to continue subbing and searching for a full time teaching job because I won’t be happy doing anything else.”

Tuesday’s meeting wrapped up with a message from county school superintendent Hank Allen as he mentioned that the candidates would surely have some interesting times during their tenure as substitutes, but also a great deal of fun. Allen also thanked each of the substitute teaching candidates for their interest and participation in the county’s substitute teaching program.

“The partnership between schools and non-faculty members is very important,” Allen said. “We’re well pleased with the policies that have been put into place to make sure that each substitute is an asset to the schools, and more importantly the students.”

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