Brookline Schools Need Substitute Teachers: Superintendent

BROOKLINE, MA — Schools have undergone a major shift in the past eight months as teachers and staff adjust to life amid pandemic. While they pivot to attempt to address a diverse array of student, family and other stakeholder needs and concerns, there is one thing that is starting to become increasingly clear.

"We really need substitutes. It’s a definite need," Interim Superintendent Jim Marini said in a phone interview.

And school districts across the state are in the same situation. The coronavirus pandemic has placed a premium on flexible and talented substitute teachers willing or able to fill the role. So districts have taken to trying new ways to attract the best teachers — from placing signs up around town to posting in the local newspapers to taking to social media. Brookline officials are now starting to look into what might work here.

"Being able to take over a teachers class at this time is very challenging with some online and some not," said Marini.

The district's practice of hiring substitute teachers has also changed this year in response to the pandemic, he said. Gone are the 5 a.m. phone calls going down a list of reserve teachers to ask if they are available. Subs are trained and asked to essentially be on call for a given set of hours in the event they are needed.

"It helps for the continuity of instruction, that’s the real thing, provided we can get enough subs," he said.

Currently he estimates that there are about one or two substitutes per building. And winter is coming, which is generally a time when more teachers need to call out.

"It’s an area of concern because we are definitely going to need substitutes and we don’t have enough," he said.

His pitch? It's a more consistent job this year. Substitute teachers will have defined days that they are assigned to a specific building, meaning they can schedule ahead for the job.

On the district website there are more than 60 job openings, from music teacher at the Florida Ruffin Ridley school to a posting calling for substitute teachers.

The post reads in part:

Substitutes will be scheduled to up to 3 days per week in one school. Assignments will vary as the needs of the school are assessed and may include in- person staff coverage, remote learning facilitation, lunch and recess duties and other work as needed.

By being in the school already, substitute teachers are acclimated to the school and the rest of the staff, essentially becoming part of the staff, he said.

It also helps keep the number of people coming into the buildings consistent to help slow the spread of the virus, he said.

"We’re looking at different ways to get the word out that we definitely need subs," he said. "It’s going to become an issue."

The executive director of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees said he is hearing similar needs across the state, but it's not for a lack of people willing to fill positions.

"We're finding that finding certified and experienced teachers to fill the additional positions necessary to run smaller classrooms, or two chair programs is an issue," Glenn Koocher said. "We don't see a shortage of people, there are plenty of college grads happy to take jobs as teacher aides or substitute teachers. And that's fine because they're wonderful human beings, but the most successful teachers will tell you the managing of a classroom is the product of experience, not a four year degree."

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.