Curious Iowa: How can you become a substitute teacher in Iowa?

Shari Funck, president of the Marion Independent School District’s board, has served on the school board for 12 years. She originally set out to become a high school math teacher, but changed course her freshman year of college, going on to have an “amazing” career in computer science before retiring in 2017.

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Despite that career path change, a few years ago, she fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a teacher when she entered the classroom as a substitute teacher.

“I obtained my substitute teaching certification during the pandemic because we were having so much trouble getting substitutes and we had a lot of teachers out sick every day,” Funck said.

A Cedar Rapids resident wrote to The Gazette to ask whether people who don’t have a teaching background can become substitute teachers in Iowa. They also wondered whether substitute teachers can choose their own schedule and the grade levels they teach.

Yes, people without teaching backgrounds can become a substitute teacher in Iowa. In this installment of Curious Iowa -- a series from The Gazette that answers readers’ questions about our state and how it works -- we look into the process of becoming an Iowa substitute teacher and why two current substitutes chose to enter the classroom.

Do Iowa schools need substitute teachers?

The need for substitutes is constant, and it extends beyond teachers and paraprofessionals, who assist a specific student or group of students throughout the school day as opposed to teaching a full class.

Janelle Brouwer, superintendent at Marion Independent, said substitute bus drivers, custodians and food service workers also are needed.

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Funck obtained her substitute teaching authorization in 2022. The authorization is valid for five years, but she is required to take several online training courses annually. She completed the required courses through Grant Wood Area Education Agency, in a process she said was “quite simple and easy to do.”

Funck also completed mandatory reporter training and has been trained on topics like suicide prevention, bloodborne pathogens and seclusion and restraint.

Katie Eldridge works in the Iowa City Community School District as a building substitute at Liberty High School. Eldridge went to school to become a special-education teacher, but while she was student teaching, she received an exciting job offer that diverted her career path.

Eldridge said her position is fairly new and was born out of need after the COVID-19 pandemic when there were more vacancies than there were substitute teachers.

“So, they created these building sub positions ... It’s a contract where we report for the full day from 8:15 to 4:15 and you never know what you’re going to get,” she said. “We’re the fillers to guarantee that all coverage is met.”

She said building subs are “always utilized” and she likes the challenge and variety that comes with teaching every subject.

“Everybody’s like, well, do you ever not have a job? No, there’s always a teacher going to a meeting. Like this week, all of our special education teachers have training so ... I will be in like seven different classrooms,” Eldridge said.

Eldridge said her position gives teachers flexibility.

“I just like being on my toes and being challenged, and then the connections that I’m able to make by being in different classes ... like a student will say, ‘oh we’ve had you in three classes today’,” she said. “It’s just kind of cool to be there and interact with them.”

What happens if a substitute teacher can’t fill a position in time?

Pre-planned absences allow schools more time to find a substitute teacher. The districts The Gazette spoke to use online tools to connect with substitutes. Substitutes can choose the days they work, the school district they work in, and the grade levels they will teach.

Fourteen districts within Linn, Benton, Johnson and Jones counties, including Marion Independent, use Grant Wood AEA to find substitute teachers, said John Zimmerman, director of teaching and learning at the area education agency.

GWAEA uses the service SubCentral to collect general employment information and paperwork online from substitute teacher candidates. Candidates choose the school districts they apply to.

“District offices will then either approve or disapprove of the individual in accordance to their specific district requirements,” Zimmerman said.

GWAEA has 806 current substitute teachers that have completed registration, fulfilled state requirements and have been approved to work in at least one participating school district. About 50 individuals have started the registration process but not completed it.

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Iowa City schools uses a platform similar to SubCentral called Red Rover with its substitute teachers. When teachers are absent, substitute teachers are alerted to the opening and can pick up the job through the platform.

Sometimes, absences are planned ahead of time so it’s easier to coordinate a substitute. Other times, life happens, but classes still need to be covered.

“I used to be a building principal in the district and there were times where the teacher came to school and then they got the dreaded call from their child’s school saying your child just threw up and we need somebody to come get them ... so it may be 30 minutes (notice) and next thing you know, (the substitute is) in a classroom, which is amazing that our substitutes are willing to do that,” said Nick Proud, chief human resource officer at the Iowa City Community School District.

There are cases when a substitute can’t be secured before class starts.

Brouwer said absences due to staff illness more regularly lead to unfilled substitute positions and last-minute adjustments to cover classes. Unfilled absences mean schools look for coverage in a few avenues -- like teachers covering additional classes during their prep times; paraprofessionals or associates in the building who have substitute licenses covering the class; or courses being canceled to reallocate teachers.

“Our staff do an exceptional job of being flexible, and jumping in to help cover for one another,” she said. “However, this does lead to lost prep time, and increased workload when covering for absent colleagues.”

How much are substitute teachers paid?

In the Marion school district, teachers are paid $27.50 per hour when they fill in for another teacher during their prep time. Substitute teachers are paid $18.50 per hour according to the district’s website.

Proud said that ICCSD does not currently pay teachers extra when they cover another class during their prep time.

“We did some of that when we were having more trouble with getting our substitutes filled, but we have had such great success,” Proud said. “It doesn’t happen all that often.”

Iowa City schools employs 365 substitute teachers. Substitutes are paid $150 per day and $75 for half days. After teaching 20 times, the rates increase to $170 per day and $85 per half day.

Do you need a teaching license to substitute teach in Iowa?

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In Iowa, to substitute teach, a person needs an Iowa teaching license, substitute teaching authorization or license, or paraeducator certification.

Substitute licenses and authorizations are different. Substitute authorizations are for people who are interested in substitute teaching, but do not have a teaching background. A substitute authorization limits the holder to substitute in grades PK-12 for 10 consecutive days in a 30-day period in one assignment. The individual must hold an associate degree or higher or has completed 60 semester hours through a regionally accredited institution.

All of Iowa’s area education agencies offer substitute authorization courses. Authorizations are held for 5 years.

“For the most part, people are able to do that with simple ease and some fees,” Proud said.

A substitute license is for individuals who have held or are eligible to hold a full teaching license in Iowa. The license allows the holder to long-term sub in grades PK-12. This means someone could serve in a single position for up to 90 days. Licenses also are held for 5 years.

Proud said ICCSD benefits from its proximity to the University of Iowa.

“If you’re in an education prep program, you can get a substitute authorization then, and you can actually do some substituting while you’re training to be a teacher, which is great job experience for an aspiring teacher with an opportunity to make some money,” he said.

Why substitute teach?

Substitute teachers come from a variety of backgrounds, from retired teachers to recent college graduates to people who want to supplement their income by subbing a few days a month.

“There’s a big misconception, and it goes back to when we were in school, where you had a sub, they turned on a video,” Eldridge said.

That’s not the role substitute teachers play today.

“We are taught you teach from bell to bell,” she said. “I think the most important thing is if you are going to take a sub position, just be prepared to be able to follow a lesson plan for the day ... if you’re looking for something that you just show up and don’t have to do anything, it’s probably not a good place.”

“It can be challenging. There are some students that are willing to challenge their teachers. They’re going to challenge their subs, too,” Funck said.

Despite the challenges, Funck finds substitute teaching fulfilling. She especially enjoys teaching grades K-4 math and working with students one-on-one. In some cases, a teacher has had a planned absence and personally reached out to ask her to substitute in the class.

“They know you’re going to have that passion for their students to come in and help them have a productive day even though (the teacher) can’t be there themselves,” Funck said.

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Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com