Danville District 118 students return to class this Friday, and loads of other schools around Vermilion County are getting ready to start as well. So where are we when it comes to “supply of adequate teachers and substitutes?” Vermilion County Regional Superintendent of Schools Aaron Hird recently joined Laura Williams on 1490 WDAN’s Community Connection. He said schools needing teachers continue to fight the “shortage of workers” that everyone else is fighting these days. That goes for teachers, and everything else.
AUDIO: When your substitute teachers are filling full time roles; now your pool of substitutes is much, much smaller. And so, yes, we absolutely are looking for people who want to be substitute teaching in our schools; whether it’s teaching, working as a para-professional, secretary. There’s all kinds of positions that need filled still.
As Hird mentioned, many former substitutes are now full time teachers, and therefore more substitutes are needed. And for that reason, you can now become a short-term substitute without a full, normally required 120 credit hour college degree.
AUDIO: About three years ago they changed that, to where that’s still one of the requirements; but they now offer a different license which is called a “short term sub-license.” And that license will allow you to be a substitute teacher with 60 hours of college course work.
In addition, Hird says it’s now easier for retired teachers to come back as substitutes; without worrying about going over the amount of hours or pay allowed by their retirement pensions.
AUDIO: The legislature, recognizing that there’s been such a need for this, has allowed retirees to work additional days or hours in the last couple of years.
Hird says if you are interested in any education related position, from substitute teachers to school bus driving, call the Vermilion County Regional Office of Education at 217-431-2668. You can also stop by at 200-B College Street in Danville; the same building as the Vermilion County Health Department.
