...nearby districts like... Montgomery County Public Schools offer lower pay to substitutes despite similar living costs.

 
Chart of the week: Ongoing substitute teacher shortages affect schools’ ability to function

https://www.dcpolicycenter.org/publications/substitute-teacher-shortages/

Montgomery County teachers union warning of a ‘great resignation’

Montgomery County Education Association President Jennifer Martin is warning the Maryland school system is facing a “great resignation” if staffing shortages aren’t addressed.

The school system currently has over 300 full-time teacher vacancies. Martin said that on any given day, half the requests for substitutes go unanswered, resulting in teachers being pulled from their lunch breaks or planning periods to cover classes. She said teachers are only being paid $15 an hour extra for class coverage.

“We are asking for $55 an hour for covering classes and other duties during our planning time. To match what Howard County public schools is doing for its educators and to demonstrate a respect for their professionalism,” Martin said at a news conference outside a Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education meeting in Rockville.

The union has a list of other demands to ease the burden on teachers, including a moratorium on new initiatives introduced into the school system, additional early release days for more planning time, and more attractive pay to recruit and keep substitute teachers...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2021/11/montgomery-county-teachers-union-warning-of-a-great-resignation/?fbclid=IwAR2AucxIaDCP5RI8_bJDovuuAMud6LfJ59bcE57vY6be1A_4WfzxRmddM48

MCPS’ ANSWER FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHER SHORTAGE MET WITH MIXED REVIEWS

Montgomery County Public Schools are considering loosening the requirements for substitute teachers. Until now, Montgomery County has required potential substitutes to have at least a Bachelor’s degree or received certification from an accredited program. If the qualifications are lowered, individuals will need an Associate’s degree or a minimum of 60 college credits beginning in the 2019-2020 school year.

According to Bethesda Magazine, there are currently around 120 unfilled substitute requests per day. Substitute teacher shortages are common around the nation, which often means full-time teachers spend their time filling in for other classes instead of dedicating time to grading papers or lesson planning for their own.

Qualifications for substitute teachers vary by districts within the state and neighboring jurisdiction. However, MCPS is the only is the only district that requires a bachelor’s degree...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/mcps-proposed-solution-for-substitute-teacher-shortage-met-with-mixed-reviews/

MCPS Expected To Loosen Requirements for Substitute Teachers

The Montgomery school board on Thursday will discuss loosening requirements for substitute teachers amid a “severe shortage” of fill-in instructors.

The school system’s current policy requires an applicant to have at least a bachelor’s degree or certification. People applying to substitute in vocational programs can be hired without a college degree but must have at least two years of experience in a related area.

The school system currently has 3,003 registered substitute teachers, including certified teachers, retired Montgomery County teachers and current part-time teachers, according to school board documents...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-expected-to-loosen-requirements-for-substitute-teachers/

Could any Nonschool Based MCPS administrators substitute in classrooms?

What if MCPS administrators each had to substitute a certain number of days a year in actual MCPS classrooms?  These same administrators often have time for out of state conferences and meetings.  Wouldn't it be beneficial for MCPS administrators to actually spend time in MCPS classrooms to see the programs they oversee in action on a daily basis?

MCPS Board of Education Looks to Lower Requirements for Substitute Teachers #Unlicensed #expungement #sexoffenders #backdoor

...The school system’s policy for hiring substitutes, policy GEF, requires an applicant to have at least a bachelor’s degree or certification, and people applying to substitute in vocational programs can be considered without a college degree, but must have at least two years of experience in a related area.

School board members said they hope applicants with associate’s degrees or students at Montgomery College who need student teaching experience to graduate will be allowed to substitute. The only statewide requirement for becoming a substitute teacher in Maryland is a high school diploma.

“The Montgomery Board of Education is committed to being agile and innovative in finding solutions to evolving needs,” according to a resolution introduced by the school board this week.

Superintendent Jack Smith called the proposal a “great idea” and will present recommendations in July...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/montgomery-schools-looks-to-lower-requirements-for-substitute-teachers/

Principal: Long-term sub taped second-grade student to chair

PASADENA — A Maryland substitute teacher who a principal says taped a second-grade student to a chair has been suspended.

News outlets cite a letter this week from Lake Shore Elementary School Principal Julie Little-McVearry that says the long-term substitute told the student she would tape him to his chair if he didn’t return to his seat. The principal says the student “found the remark funny” and the teacher proceeded with the taping.

Little-McVearry says she learned of the incident from a parent, and contacted human resources. The teacher won’t be placed in an Anne Arundel County school until the matter is resolved, and the school is looking for another long-term substitute for the class.

Police have been notified...

https://thedailyrecord.com/2018/11/30/maryland-substitute-teacher-chair/

Prosecutors Say Substitute Teacher Was ‘Mentor’ to Student He Allegedly Abused

Prosecutors Say Substitute Teacher Was ‘Mentor’ to Student He Allegedly Abused: Defense attorney argues sexual contact appears consensual

Long Term Substitute Problems

Almost all students have had a long-term sub at some point or another. They are an interruption to the pattern of learning that students have become accustomed to. Each sub and teacher have different teaching styles, policies and even expectations. It is unfair that students are expected to transition over to a stranger teaching them without hesitation.
“Going from your teacher to a long term sub is difficult,” sophomore Jasiel Portillo said. “I don’t feel like I’m learning to the full extent and when the teacher returns to our class, we have to play catch up.”
When a teacher plans to leave for a period of time, they are able to find a substitute to fit their preferences and teaching styles, making sure that their students are left in good hands. They are have the option to make lesson plans, leave assignments and assign projects so that students can get straight to work when the sub is implemented.
“It took a while. It’s harder to find long-term subs than you would think …. There really is no protocol. MCPS doesn’t have a ‘go here to find people’ thing,” social studies teacher Caitlin Ulmer said. “Some teachers have sub recommendations, but many of them are on their own when making the decision.”...

http://www.rockvillerampage.com/opinion/long-term-substitute-problems/