WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WAWV/WTWO) – With the new school year right around the corner, many local school districts look to fill substitute teacher positions before the fall.
Kelly Educational Staffing has worked with many local school districts like Vigo County to hire substitute teachers, teacher aids, as well as other service needs.
The staffing agencies hiring event at the VCSC Administration Building Tuesday looked to hire quality substitutes.
On-Boarding Manager Laura Clingler said hiring events statewide aim to expand the teaching pool that was lost during the pandemic.
“The biggest issue in our state right now is really just the teacher shortage,” Clingler said. “It’s gotten worse since Covid-19 so we lost subs during that.”
The daily rate for Vigo substitute teachers is 70 dollars however, Clingler said the pay is subject to increase.
“We see a lot of teacher roles that just aren’t able to be filled and are filled with a substitute teacher until they hire that full-time teacher,” Clingler said. “In that case in Indiana and in Vigo, if you are a licensed teacher on that 16th day, it will then go up to $125 that long-term rate.”
Southwest school corporation superintendent Chris Stitzle said the district seeks to increase its substitute teaching pool as well.
“We are always looking for subs, our pool of subs has shrunk over the years,” Stitzle said.
Stitzle said Carlisle Elementary and Middle School as well as Sullivan Middle School, need to see more educational staff before the start of the school year.
“I think it’s good if we could have a pool around 20 to 25,” Stitzle said. “To provide the programming that we need to provide for the students we just need to be fully staffed, which is becoming more challenging for all schools.”
Indiana State Elementary Education Major Kami Titus said she looks to help fulfill the need in the Wabash Valley this upcoming school year.
“When I had the opportunity in my class schedule to student teach I decided to take that opportunity and get more experience in the classroom,” Titus said.
Titus said she hopes that the opportunity to substitute teach, will help her find what grade level she wants to teach.
“I just hope that it solidifies even more that this is what I want to do,” Titus said.”
Several school corporations in the Wabash Valley have applications to become a substitute teacher on the districts website.
