Lighthouse Community Public Schools (LCPS) is a tuition-free public charter school system in East Oakland, California. Serving K-12 students across two campuses, LCPS has partnered with Swing Education for nearly ten years to streamline substitute management as their schools have grown.

Managing absences across two busy campuses

Before partnering with Swing, LCPS relied on a traditional call-based system to source substitutes. As Anna Martin, Chief Operating Officer at LCPS, describes, “We were using the old-fashioned kind of sub service where you called on the phone in the morning when there was an absence and at 5:00 a.m. desperately [called] three different services trying to get a sub to come in.”

When the pandemic hit, the situation became even more difficult. LCPS faced a shortage of available subs and had to supplement with in-house staff, often at significant cost and logistical strain. The inconsistent availability of substitutes left administrators and staff scrambling to ensure classrooms were covered.

Choosing a modern, flexible solution

LCPS sought a solution that could provide a more efficient and centralized approach to substitute management. Swing’s platform provided the tools they needed to bring the process online and centralize it across their schools. What truly set Swing apart from other providers, however, was its dynamic pricing feature. This allowed LCPS to adjust substitute rates in real-time based on demand, helping them balance budgets while ensuring they could attract substitutes when needed most.

Swing’s dynamic pricing flexibility enabled LCPS to fine-tune their approach to sub management. Amua Camargo, Associate Director of Talent, notes, “We’ve raised the rates when necessary to fill gaps, but last year we were even able to lower them because our fill rates were so good.” This ability to adjust pricing not only helped secure subs but also allowed LCPS to manage their substitute budget more effectively.

Streamlined operations and higher fill rates

Since adopting Swing as their primary substitute management platform, LCPS has seen multiple benefits. One of the most significant improvements has been in their fill rates. With the ability to adjust sub rates as needed, LCPS no longer faces the uncertainty that once strained their system and staff, allowing them to focus on maintaining the quality of education even when regular teachers are absent.

“Our fill rates in the past few years have been so good,” says Martin, highlighting how the platform’s flexibility has contributed to a smoother operational flow. The centralized system has also simplified the process of requesting substitutes across their schools. Administrators are now able to handle both day-to-day and long-term sub requests within a single, easy-to-use platform.

The simplicity of the platform has also reduced administrative burden. “The process is very easy. If we ever have a new administrator or person who needs training, it’s literally go into the system, and once you get your login, you’ll know what to do,” says Martin. 

Swing’s strategic partner approach and proactive support have also been game-changers. Whether it’s ensuring that budgets align with sub usage or helping LCPS predict substitute demand during high-absence periods, Swing’s proactive support has been essential. “Our account manager has been very responsive, helping us balance our needs and manage our budgets strategically,” notes Camargo.

In addition to daily substitute coverage, Swing has also helped LCPS with long-term substitute placements, floating substitute requests, coverage during teacher test periods and professional development. “We’ve had some successful hiring of Swing subs who have become teachers for us, and Swing has worked with us on that, not made it a barrier of competitiveness,” says Martin.

Conclusion

By partnering with Swing, LCPS has effectively transformed its approach to managing teacher absences. What was once a stressful, time-consuming process has now become seamless and predictable. Swing’s platform has not only improved fill rates but also provided the flexibility, strategic support, and long-term benefits that LCPS needed to navigate a post-pandemic landscape.

LCPS now has a reliable, responsive substitute system that allows them to focus on what matters most: ensuring a consistent, high-quality education for their students. As Martin sums up, “Subs have really not been a headache in recent years, and we attribute that to how successful the partnership with Swing has been.”
Swing supports schools’ substitute management needs in California, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C.