The Special Benefits of Being a Substitute Teacher

Educators may come from different backgrounds, but they all share one thing in common: they want to change the world, one student at a time.

Many love substitute teaching because it gives them full control over their work lives. Substitute teaching means that you work where you want and when you want, and you never have to worry about working off the clock!

If this sounds appealing to you, then substitute teaching might be right for you! Keep reading to find out about all the special benefits of becoming a substitute teacher and why you should become an educator today.

1) Choose when and where you work

Arguably, one of the greatest benefits of substitute teaching is that you can choose when and where you want to work. This means you can make your work schedule fit your lifestyle, instead of the other way around.

When to work

Many substitute teachers choose to work part-time. As a part-time sub, you can turn down placements on days that you don’t want to work or have another job you need to be at.

On the other hand, some people choose to become long-term substitutes. These subs take over a class for a long period of time while the regular teacher is out. Some long-term substitute teachers can be in a classroom for the entire school year, depending on the regular teacher’s situation.

If you can’t decide on which option sounds best, start with part-time substitute teaching! Once you gain teaching experience and learn how to tackle common sub problems, you can then choose to continue part-time subbing or transition into a full-time position.

What other job has such flexibility?

Where to work

Substitute teachers are in high demand all around the country and it’s guaranteed that your local schools and school districts need substitutes now. Want to sub at a different school every day? You can do that!

If there’s a school you love, you could choose to sub only there. And if there’s a school you just didn’t enjoy being at, no need to ever go back.

Flexibility is best

Substitute teachers have flexible schedules that allow subs the freedom to balance other obligations they may have outside of teaching. If you’re a yoga instructor, actor/actress, writer or a stay-at-home parent looking for an engaging and purposeful way to make a secondary income, substitute teaching is a great avenue!

Scoot educators love the flexibility they have in their schedule, along with the adventure that comes with every new day of teaching.

And if you sub with Scoot Education, you’ll have access to our app Scoot 2 Work. This app allows you to customize your own schedule, down to the hour! If you mark yourself as unavailable, we’ll know to leave you alone until you change your status.

To make things even better, we have no availability minimum so you can work as much or as little as you’d like! Substitute teaching can be whatever you make of it!

2) Don’t worry about lesson planning or grading

Unless you’re a long-term sub, you won’t be asked to create lesson plans or grade papers. This means that once your day is over, it’s truly over.

Subbing part-time

While full-time teachers and long-term substitute teachers typically have to create exciting lesson plans weeks in advance and correct the work their students submit, you won’t have to if you work part-time.

There might be a rare occasion where a teacher will ask you to grade a few assignments but you’ll be given thorough instructions on how to do it.

Interested in lesson planning and grading?

If planning lessons for the days to come and helping students with their homework sounds exciting, then you should look into long term sub jobs! As a long-term substitute teacher, you’ll get to see more of the behind-the-scenes work that full-time teachers do.

And if getting your own classroom and teaching full-time sounds more appealing, consider joining TeachStart! TeachStart is a ground-breaking teacher academy that prepares you for success in the classroom while getting your teaching credential, all without high fees!

3) Regularly meet new people

As a substitute teacher, you’ll have the chance to meet new people with every assignment you get.

This is a great time to network with other teachers! Once you build relationships with all the teachers around you, you can learn from them and their teaching experience.

You can also reach out to them when you need guidance or support as an educator. Just like any career, teaching comes with difficulties. Having a great support system of people who understand what you’re going through is essential for succeeding in this field.The best part of being a Scoot sub is that you have your own education consultant who you can call for support!

4) Learn something new

Your students aren’t the only ones learning new things every day! As a substitute, you’ll learn about your teaching style and preferences.

Which subjects do you like subbing for best? What class activities do you think are the most fun to go over with the class? How do you respond to challenging student behavior? You’ll get an in-depth look into your unique teaching style the more you teach!

You’ll also learn how your caring and compassionate presence in the classroom can excite students. Nothing feels better than walking into a classroom you’ve subbed for in the past and hearing the students’ excitement!

Learn transferable skills

If you’re looking to gain teaching experience or just want a part-time job to earn extra money, subbing can help you learn vital professional skills that you can bring to any career.

Public speaking

While teaching a lesson, you’ll learn how to manage a large group while strengthening your public speaking skills. Watch as your comfort in front of a crowd increases the more you sub!

Strong public speaking skills are essential for any workplace – not just education.

Time management

Since you’ll often be given a lesson plan to follow as a substitute teacher, you’ll learn essential time management skills as you keep your students on track. You’ll have to keep an eye on the clock while getting your students where they need to be academically.

Thinking creatively

Unfortunately, there will be times when a teacher will not leave detailed instructions for the day. Or maybe your students finish all their work early. These are the days you’ll have to think on your feet and be creative with extra assignments and activities!

It is times like these that will teach you important problem-solving skills that will be essential for any job you enter in the future.

You’ll never have a boring day

Substitute teaching gives you valuable experience that can be transferred to any profession, not just education. Every day is an exciting adventure when you learn something new!

5) Change students’ lives

The most valued substitute teachers are the ones who help continue students’ learning, even when the teacher is not there. Even if you’re only in a class for one day, you can still make a difference and your support helps keep students on track in their academic goals.

Substitute teaching is also a way to impart your knowledge and experience to curious students. You bring a fresh and new perspective to the classroom that students greatly appreciate.

You can inspire your students to get their Bachelor’s degree or find a job that they love!

Become a substitute teacher and continue to inspire all the students you meet, regardless of their age and grade level.

6) Ready to become a substitute teacher?

Are you ready to become a sub and change lives? Then you’re in the right place!

Requirements to be a substitute teacher

The requirements of becoming a sub vary depending on the state and even the school district! They all have a minimum education requirement, whether it is a high school diploma or Bachelor’s degree. You may also be asked to pay for a background check.

Read about the different requirements for locations we operate in: California | Arizona | Texas | Colorado | New Jersey | Florida | Nevada

We understand that navigating these requirements can be confusing, which is why we make it easy to become a sub with Scoot Education!

Our only requirements are:

• A minimum education requirement that varies depending on your location
• 3 professional references, including at least one supervisor
• A completed Scoot application form
• You’ll also have to get a criminal history background check but keep your receipt – Scoot will reimburse this fee!

Teaching with an agency can make your life easier

At Scoot, we want to make sure that you’ll feel completely supported in your influential work as a substitute teacher. In addition to getting reimbursed for the background check fee, you’ll also:

• Have access to your own Scoot consultant, an experienced expert who can answer all your questions. Whether you need help becoming a substitute or need advice when teaching, your Scoot consultant has your back!
• Get exclusive access to Scoot Camp, our voluntary teacher preparation program that helps educators feel prepared for success in the classroom. This free professional development covers three important subjects:
  • Behavior management
  • Special education
  • Trauma-informed teaching
• Be in full control over your schedule with our app Scoot 2 Work. We have no availability minimum so you can work as much or as little as you want!
• Get paid weekly on Friday via direct deposit. Get money sent straight to your bank account!

Substitute teachers are in high demand around the country. If you want to start working immediately, then substitute teaching is the job for you!

Apply to substitute teach with Scoot Education and you can start subbing with flexible hours, great perks, and incredible people!

Apply Now