Ways to get recommendations!
Since 2020 teaching has gone through milestones never before experienced by those in the profession. Substitute teachers have gone on to look for other jobs outside teaching, and many teachers have as well or are retiring. Hiring for substitute positions is often carried out using automated applications; gone are the days of the School Secretary routinely making a personal call. These companies are hired by school districts to find substitutes that will meet the needs of their schools, and a substitute may never discuss their job assignment or performance with anyone. It is not an easy task to really get to know a school, its Principal, or office staff, and since COVID hit, and most classrooms continued with computer-based learning programs, it now seems almost impossible for substitutes to display their teaching abilities to anyone. Substitute teachers are often at different schools every day of the week. It is difficult to make an impression.
So what can a substitute teacher do to get a recommendation?
Fill your “Toolbox”
If you had a good experience in a classroom, let the teacher know with a note, business card, etc. Leave it in their box (hopefully, you checked it when you last subbed there, but they are often in the staff room)
If it has been some time, try to recall a particular classroom that was a highlight of your subbing experience. Try to get back to the teacher by email noting a particular instance and asking for his/her input suggesting you are going back into the profession and respect their opinion.
You can also create a quick response form for the teacher; what did you notice about my organization, filling in when asked, classroom management, were my notes helpful, etc. Remember to give them a way to return the information to you.
I always left a thank you note and either a chocolate truffle or healthy treat for each teacher I substituted for regardless of the outcome of the day.
If you are fortunate to sub in one school for a while, getting references will be much easier. You just have to ask.
The more prepared you are for almost any circumstance, the more you will be noticed, and that works to your advantage.
Professionalism is critically important, dress for success.
People can’t help but appreciate a ‘hello’ when signing in at the school office, a hello to neighboring teachers, goodbye at the end of the day, make yourself visible.
This cooperative game takes a small bit of effort to prepare, but it sounds like it’s worth it. You can use it in a pinch all year long.
Click here for a Cooperative Game from STEDI
Here's how you'll use it:
Print off the activity. Ask permission to use the laminator. Laminate and cut out each block.
Pass a card out to each student in the class—double them up for smaller classes.
Tell the students to keep the contents of their cards to themselves and not do their activity until the person before them completes theirs. (Next inevitable question: "How do we know who the person before us is?" Answer: "Pay attention and you'll know.")
This cooperative game takes a small bit of effort to prepare, but it sounds like it’s worth it. You can use it in a pinch all year long.
Click here for a Cooperative Game from STEDI
Here's how you'll use it:
Print off the activity. Ask permission to use the laminator. Laminate and cut out each block.
Pass a card out to each student in the class—double them up for smaller classes.
Tell the students to keep the contents of their cards to themselves and not do their activity until the person before them completes theirs. (Next inevitable question: "How do we know who the person before us is?" Answer: "Pay attention and you'll know.")
OSTA News for 2023
Val Luukinen wrote this as our first Member Tip, and we thank her very much! Join Oregon Substitute Teachers Association and you, too, can become a contributing member!
GREETINGS from our President
You are part of an effort to reach all substitute teachers; in doing so we are contacting everyone who holds an Oregon teaching license. If we have reached you as a regular teacher, please know that this organization exists to support the substitute teachers who work in your classroom when you must be absent. If you are a trained teacher who has chosen substitute teaching as a career, this is your association. If you are a restricted substitute teacher sponsored by a school district, you are also welcome to join and gain teaching help from professional teachers on OSTA’s weekly Zoom Office Hours.
It has been a busy year for OSTA with legislative gains by our hard-working GAC committee. At the same time the profession has been downgraded through outsourcing of substitute teachers in sixty school districts and counting, robbing long-term and career substitute teachers of continuing PERS benefits. We have more work to do, and your input is needed! -- Leslie Polson, OSTA President
OSTA ANNUAL CONFERENCE RETURNS IN-PERSON ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 13-- 8:30-3:00 Chemeketa Community College, Salem. For the first time in its 48-year history, OSTA’s conference will be on a FRIDAY, during statewide in-service week. The program will include award-winning principal Tom Noesen on “Nurturing Healthy School Environments” and labor attorney Mike Todesco, speaking on “Due Process in an At-Will Environment.” Oregon SubstituteTeacher of the Year Sandy Volle, Networking lunch, Six Professional Development Units, and much more. A hybrid (Zoom) opportunity will also be available. Follow information on OSTA’s website: ostasubs.org.
SB 283 EDUCATION WORKFORCE BILL INCLUDES SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
OSTA President Leslie Polson and GAC Chair Debbie Fery sat on the Taskforce chaired by Sen. Michael Dembrow to incentivize teachers to return to school following the pandemic. Through this bill we had hoped to abolish outsourcing of substitute teachers; a Substitute Teacher Task Force will continue through 2024 to study management of substitute teachers. We did gain the following changes in ORS 342.610 through SB 283: 1) an increase in salary: when one is called for one-half day, the salary is for a whole day. 2) A long-term assignment deemed to become sixty days or longer will be classified as a temporary teacher position.
3) school districts will pay substitute teachers for mandatory training which is required for them to be called to work.
OSTA Lobby Days were held in February and March to speak with the legislators concerning SB 283. Testifying at Education Committee hearings were OSTA members Debbie Fery, Leslie Polson, and Sally Sue Cellers. Others in attendance at lobby days were Yvonne Christensen, Bruce Beebe. Scott McLain, Sarah Kennedy, Michael Berman, Jon Deshler, Liz LaRocque, Kimberly Mandell, Nancy Baker-Krofft, Louise Winter, and Phyllis Kirkwood.
BOLI Opinion Letter on Payment for Training.
The Bureau of Labor and Industries has issued an opinion that Safe-Schools Training is not a part of licensure, but is required for work and is therefore reimbursable by employers, whether school districts or third parties. You may file a BOLI claim if your employer does not pay you for time taking any trainings you must complete before being called to work.
OSTA OFFICER NOMINEES 2023-2024
The following slate of officers will be considered and voted upon at the Annual Conference.
President—Leslie Polson – Salem
Vice President- Jon Deshler – Marquam
Secretary- Sarah Kennedy - Beaverton
Treasurer – Debbie Fery – Salem
Membership Chair – Open Position
Oregon Substitute Teacher of the Year Chair- Sally Sue Cellers - McMinnville
Five Board Members at Large may be nominated to provide representation and future leadership,
Facebook and Instagram hosts and OSTA Webmaster are needed.
Minimum Salary 2023-2024
The minimum pay rate for the first 10 consecutive days of substitute teaching is $206.35 per day. For school districts with class schedules based on a 4-day week, the minimum pay rate for the first 8 consecutive days is $232.14 per day.
In cases where a substitute teacher teaches for more than 10 consecutive days (more than 8 consecutive days for districts with a 4-day week) in the same assignment, the minimum rate for the days taught beyond 10 (8 for a 4-day week) is computed as follows: School districts with class schedules based on a 5-day week -- For districts with a salary scale, the minimum rate is the higher of: 1/190th of the district’s annual salary scale for beginning teachers with a bachelor’s degree. [ORS 342.610 (3)(a)(A)] ; or $206.35 per day [ORS 342.610 (3)(a)(B)]. School districts with class schedules based on a 4-day week -- the minimum rate is the higher of: 1/190th of the district’s annual salary scale for beginning teachers with a bachelor’s degree times 1.125. [ORS 342.610 (3)(a)(A)] ; or $232.14 per day [ORS 342.610 (3)(a)(B)].
These salary increases calculated by ODE are a result of legislative work by OSTA in 1977 and 1979.
Substitute Teacher Taskforce (SB 283) Studying substitute teacher procurement
Four legislators and eight educational stakeholders (including “an organization representing primarily substitute teachers”) make up this group tasked with studying the use of third parties in the management of substitute teachers. The task force shall:
a) review school district requests for proposal related to substitute teachers,
b) conduct a cost savings analysis of providing substitute teachers through third parties, (OSTA’s own analysis which was accepted by the legislative fiscal analysts proves outsourcing is more costly.)
c) examine policies in other states related to third parties, (Oregon has the only statewide salary scale for substitute teachers and licensure with PDUs for substitute teachers.)
d) explore a model that provides substitute teachers through Education Service Districts, (ESDs are the only third-party model that support PERS membership.)
e) explore processes that ensure substitute teachers are provided with electronic mail and internet necessary for the job, (Lesson plans and seating charts would also be nice.)
f) establish policy to ensure that substitute teachers are supervised by licensed administrators.
(Supervision by principals following ODE guidelines, ensures better education for our students.)
g) develop recommendations for legislation related to standards for contracts for substitute teachers through third party employment service providers and submit their recommendations no later than Sept. 15, 2024. (OSTA will be following this closely).
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
