I know that the call in process for substitutes can vary by school, but I am wondering if it is possible for a school to have a list of "favorites" who get called more than the other (or newer) subs. Do any of you have any insight or experience with this at all? Thanks
There's a couple secretaries that have about 5-10 of us, who are dependable, regularly in the building, and know the kids, saved in their phones for emergencies. I've only been contacted three times out of the entire year. Other than that its a computer that calls us. The school I'm at teachers can request specific subs, and thats how I end up getting most of my days.
We can request specific subs. I like when a sub approaches me, tells me a bit about herself and gives me a card or her contact info. I keep it on my desk so it's easy to contact them to find out if they're available, then I can request them through the secretary.
Thanks for replying. I am a little irritated right now but trying not to be because it was just brought to my attention that a sub in one of the school districts I also sub in has worked all week so far and will for the rest of this week also, and already has booked next Monday, Tuesday,and Wednesday. I am glad for her to be working so much but I am honestly thinking that they could "share the wealth" a little bit if you know what I mean. They use subfinder but also have a secretary who will call in subs too. I do know that teachers can enter a certain subs employee ID # and they will automatically get the call. This sub has been there for three years or so, so I am betting that since I have not been getting many calls via subfinder that she is being requested and I am getting the short end of the stick. I check the system often with the hopes that I will see a job available but none are there. I am just grateful that there are other districts that I sub for that seem to be willing to let me have a chance. Oh well, I guess I will just be grateful for anything I get and wish her well. I suppose there is no reason to let it get to me when I don't have much control over it.
Both of the districts I sub for actually discourage requests from the teachers and want the placements to be as easy as possible for the sub caller to make. I think it depends where you are.....?
I think every school district is different. Sooner or later you will get an automated call, and then it's up to you to do a great job and network. When I first signed up for this district last April, I was told that I would be getting the automated calls and would also see the jobs online. That was not the case, and I was not happy! This school district has all alternative schools, about 60 sites all over the area, so I figured that would be enough. It turns out most of them have their regional secretaries put the subs in, and although I was in the system, so were another 200 subs. Some of the jobs would show up in the system, but very few. I took what I could, and I drove 45-60 minutes one way sometimes. Then when I got a job in this region, only because they didn't have a sub, so they put it online, I was able to go to work, and because they liked me, I was working just about every day after that. In the other district I worked at, most of the requests would be placed online and we'd get an automated call. Once they got to know me, I was requested all the time, and it took a few months to build it up to that point. The reason the other sub is requested so much is due to the fact that she's worked there for 3 years, most likely have been doing a great job and they like her. She has put in the time and the effort. That can be you in just a few months, just don't get discouraged!
At my last school, I put in my requests. We had some campus favorites, but they were usually booked months out or a few of them I did not care for in my classroom and I used the system. For my current school, the AP does the sub requests. They have a small list they go to first and then they will put one in the system if everyone on their list is booked. The main reason, is they had an issue of subs not showing if they got a phone call to a school they liked better and our school was short handed. Also, our admin prefers subs who know how our school works.
We are able to have a list of 5 (I think) "preferred" subs; they get called first for any of our open positions. If they aren't available, the posting is open to anyone on the sub list. Our preferred subs are in our building a lot, but they are also on the preferred list at other schools, so they aren't always available.
I think aesop sort sorts us. I notice if I take a job in one school it offers me more jobs in the school or for that area. One week I had SLD all five days and three of them for the same teacher even though they were not connected. This is a huge system with 1,400 subs so for that to happen it has got to have some sort of sorting system.
