Pros and Cons of Substitute Teaching in Overlapping Districts

Getting work as a substitute teacher is like going fishing. If you can't catch any fish in one pond, at least you can travel to another pond and try your luck.

Choosing to sub in multiple districts can be advantageous. However, if you choose to do so, you should consider 4 principles beforehand that will make your experience a pleasant one.

1.) Keep an Organized Calendar

The biggest hazard of accepting jobs all over the map is that you will spread yourself thin. Therefore, you must only choose to overlap districts if you are willing to take on the responsibility of carefully preparing for each assignment ahead of time.

For this reason, it is imperative that you make notes on a calendar or planner every time you accept a job, which will include: (A.) the day and time of the job, (B.) the class or grade level you will be subbing for, (C.) the teacher's name, and (D.) the job number unique to your assignment. ( Note: Be certain that you pay close attention to the date of the job and record it into the proper week of your calendar; for example, a Wednesday job for next week can easily be mistaken for a Wednesday job for this week.)

On a similar note, make sure that you have maps ready for your drive, and be familiar with them. Getting to a job can sometimes be quite challenging, especially if unfriendly traffic patterns conspire against you.

2.) Remain Aware of Differences in District Policies

The first few minutes of your day are always very important. During this time, of course, you will be expected to absorb the day's lesson plans, as well as to gain a general understanding of district policies adhered to on the campus where you are working. For teachers who call this campus home, these policies are tacitly-observed "givens." However, for an itinerant worker such as yourself, these policies are as fresh as the morning news, and they must be examined.

For this reason, when subbing in different districts, make sure that you become familiar with differences in district policies. For example, while one district encourages relaxed standards of classroom management (permitting cell phones or food in classrooms), another district's policies may be much more firm and conservative. Generally, teachers and students in each campus conform to the policies, and feel unsettled when these policies are deviated from.

If you attentively review these policies whenever you arrive to a new campus, you will save yourself and others from a day filled with headaches.

3.) Focus On Making Connections

Substitute teaching is a people-oriented profession. The more you get to know others, and (more importantly) the more you let them get to know you, the more successful you will probably be.

The reason for this is obvious: our children need to be taught only by trustworthy people. I'm sure you'll agree with me that there is no reason to put our children in the hands of someone who is not trustworthy.

So, how do you best exhibit your trustworthiness? You let people come to know you over time, and when appropriate you invite them to monitor your performance.

If you choose a strategy of overlapping districts as a sub, you will definitely want to bear these principles in mind. For example, if you divide your time between 2 districts, others may only have half as much of a chance to get to know you. If you work in 3 districts, these chances may be lowered to a third.

On the other hand, by overlapping districts you may also gain a valuable sense of perspective that is not easy to acquire by working in one district exclusively. You may find, by comparing them, that you prefer working in one of these districts more than the others. If so, I recommend concentrating your efforts in the one you most prefer, rather than simply the one that provides the most work or that is closest to your home.

Nevertheless, always remember that people are the bread and butter of your job.

4.) The Advantage of Multiple Paychecks

Up until now, we have considered principles related to job performance -- being punctual, knowing policies, and making contacts. However, a very special perk of substituting in multiple districts is that you will receive multiple paychecks.

This may not seem like much of a perk. However, if you arrange to have your checks deposited directly to the bank, this could be beneficial. Since each district will issue different checks, each check can be deposited to a different bank, and you can take advantage of incentive programs that banks offer to attract your business. These incentive can vary according to your credit profile, changing economic conditions, or quotas that the banks themselves are trying to satisfy.

Make sure to be aware of the rules of such incentive programs. They will probably require that a monthly deposit be made by your job. This means that you will be required to work at least one or two days a month at any district that you set up such a program for.

Just as with substituting in multiple districts, you will find similar advantages to depositing your checks to more than one bank. By developing a number of banking relationships, you may be more easily able to secure loans with favorable interest rates should you need to.

Clearly, subbing in multiple districts exposes you both to increased responsibility as well as to increased opportunity. Planning to make the best of what is given to you is perhaps your most essential chore if you decide to overlap districts.

Be ready for the worst, and be ready for the best.