BEST PRACTICE FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Schools and substitute teachers will work in concert to provide the highest level of educational services to students. A climate of respect, congeniality, safety, professionalism, and appreciation is expected in each school. It is the responsibility of the principal to promote and ensure that students, schools, and substitute teacher have a successful educational experience. The Seattle Public Schools is committed to providing substitute teachers with reasonable written instructions and a positive school climate in which to work. To this end, the principal will periodically check substitute teacher plans to assure they are current.
The school/principal will assign staff to officially greet and welcome substitute teachers and to ensure that the following needs are met:
Assist during check in/check out
Provide necessary keys
Give directions to classroom assignment or provide escort
Provide class list (s)
Maintain a file of emergency lesson plans for each grade/class
Give copies of any special schedules for the day
Provide copies of all emergency drills, security and safety procedures, master schedules and supervisory duty rosters, maps of the building & the like
Provide a staff identity badge
Provide procedures for visitors in the building
Give directions for picking up necessary materials such as attendance sheets, daily bulletins, etc.
Give the location of the staff lounge/telephone
Notify regular school staff of absences and names of substitute teachers through daily bulletins, postings in teachers’ mailbox area, or announcements, etc.
Complete and submit to the Coordinator of Substitutive Teaching an evaluation of substitute teachers when requested by the substitute teacher per the Guidelines for Evaluation of Substitute Teachers - see Appendix Blank.
Establish systematic support for helping substitute teachers with lesson plans
Note: It is highly recommended that the principal/designee meet each substitute teacher during the school day and offer her/his help as needed.
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The regularly assigned teachers will provide for substitute teachers:
A welcoming note
Copies of student rosters, seating charts, and attendance procedures
Specific lesson plans for each day’s absence and all necessary texts, supplies, materials and equipment for executing the plans – please make provisions for substitutes not certified in your area
Daily schedule
Procedures used in the classroom/school
List of students with special needs and how those needs are met
List of students in each class who may be helpful
Discipline procedures used in the classroom and throughout the school
Supervisory duties (when, where, how)
Leave the name and location of the person(s) to contact if help is needed
Leave the name and location of the grade level chairs, department chairs, and other key people in the school
Ask a building colleague to check with the substitute teacher periodically throughout the day and provide assistance for students who have significant behavioral issues or special needs.
The substitute teacher will:
Arrive on time and remain 30 minutes past student dismissal time
Follow any special directions given by the principal
Implement the specific lesson plan provided by the regularly assigned teacher
Ask for help whenever needed
Ensure a positive classroom climate and follow the classroom/school discipline procedures
Leave note for the regularly assigned teacher as to the progress made on the lesson for each class, behavioral issues, and problems encountered
Return Substitute Folder and classroom keys to the Main Office
Inform the principal when inadequate plans are left, there are behavioral issues, or problems are encountered
Substitute teachers will fill the vacancy for which they are assigned. In those cases where enough substitute teachers are not provided to the school by the district, skills of the substitute teacher and circumstances of the classroom should be considered before changing the substitute teacher’s assignment. The principal should talk with the substitute before changing the assignment. Whenever possible, the principal will assign substitute teachers to the vacancies of greatest need.