Schools boost pay to lure substitute teachers
‘It was a struggle even before COVID,’ says Duneland official
When Angelo Guerra’s summer landscaping job ended in the fall, he had a few months of spare time before beginning classes in January at the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Hobart.
He found challenging work where there’s nearly always a vacancy — substitute teaching.
“I saw they were short and I thought I’d give it a try,” he said.
So the 2019 Lake Station Edison High graduate went back to his alma mater to substitute for absent classroom teachers, a job school districts are finding increasingly difficult to fill as a deadly pandemic still holds its grip on the country.
When schools re-opened this year after months of remote learning, many districts nationwide struggled to find substitutes, as well as bus drivers, food service workers and custodians.
“It was a struggle even before COVID,” said Regan Keating, human resources director for the Duneland School Corp. “We have found difficulties due to just general labor shortages.”
Duneland responded by increasing pay and incentives, as did other districts.
The tier increased from a daily rate of $70 to $95 for a state-licensed substitute; $80 to $100 for a licensed teachers and a new rate of $120 for retired Duneland teachers.
Like the School City of Hammond, Duneland is also offering first year teacher pay after 16 consecutive days or more of subbing.
When a substitute can’t be found, a teacher who volunteers to cover an absent teacher’s classroom during a planning period earns $20.
“We’re still having trouble and stretched thin on certain days,” Keating said. “I guess from the height of our staff shortages, we’re doing a little bit better.
“Even if COVID goes away tomorrow, I don’t believe there’s this whole army of subs waiting to come back.”
Hammond consolidated its pay tiers to just two. A substitute with a bachelor’s degree earns $125 a day, while a worker with less than a bachelor’s earns $100.
There’s also a tiered bonus schedule of $250, $500 and $1,000, based on days worked per semester.
The Merrillville Community School Corp. also took steps to address the shortage, said Reid Amones, executive director of personnel.
“It was difficult to find subs even before the pandemic,” he said. “The job is sporadic in nature and it’s not the same as a full-time position.”
Amones said the district has a faithful
core of substitutes and more came on board at the beginning of the school year.
He said the district started new full-year substitute positions and filled most of those slots since they guarantee steady work.
Back in Lake Station, Chief Financial Officer Eric Kurtz said the district was reduced to about a third of its normal number of substitutes.
The district also bumped up its daily pay tier; now it’s $80 and $90, based on qualifications.
“A lot of our subs were retired people and older. I think they’re just sitting it out right now,” said Kurtz.
Lake Station Principal Christine Pepa, a former math teacher, said she’s filled in as a classroom teacher if a substitute can’t be found.
She said teachers can receive a bonus for referring a substitute.
“We’re doing all we can to encourage good people to sub,” she said.
She praised Guerra’s work ethic and his commitment to give back to his school.
He’s also an assistant coach on the varsity basketball team.
Even though Guerra is just a few years older than some of his students, he has a positive approach to discipline. “I have them all sit down and I just let them know that I ‘respect you, you respect me.’ Most of the kids are OK with it. I try to be the cool sub.”
Indiana requires substitute teachers to obtain $15 state permits that can be applied for online.
Candidates must be high school graduates and at least 18.
They undergo background checks by districts. For information, visit: https://www.in.gov/doe/ educators/educator-licensing/substitute-permits/.