Best practices and strategies for managing substitute teachers
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…
Like many districts across the country, El Rancho Unified School District (USD) faced significant challenges in staffing their Special Education (SPED) classrooms, particularly with a shrinking in-house substitute teacher pool following the pandemic. With a limited pool of in-house substitutes and an urgent need for paraprofessional support, El Rancho turned to Swing Education to fill…
When you think about substitute teachers,, it’s easy to focus on your most common uses for filling in for day-to-day teacher absences. But have you ever considered the many other ways substitutes could support your school? Subs are an invaluable resource, capable of providing continuity of student learning, covering various classroom needs, and supporting a…
Substitute teachers are the unsung heroes of the education system, stepping in to ensure that learning continues seamlessly when regular teachers are absent. However, their ability to be effective hinges largely on how well they are integrated into the school community. A school culture that is welcoming and respectful of subs not only enhances their…
Substitute teaching is an essential,yet challenging, role within our education system. Understanding the hurdles that substitute teachers face can help schools and districts better support them. Based on a Zippia study and Swing Education’s research, here are the top five challenges for substitute teachers and ways to address them to improve their experience and retention….
Last minute teacher absences can be a scramble, especially when knowing that every passing hour decreases your chances of filling the gap. Our research shows the optimal window to post substitute teacher job openings is five or more days before the start of assignment with the highest fill-rate of 95%. Last minute absences on the…
Now that a new school year is upon us, we want to make sure you can tackle the season with confidence and success. See below for our tips to ensure your account is ready for the back to school season: Make sure everything is up-to-date 1. Do you have new requesters or site admins this…
Managing teacher absences can be a challenge, especially when you’re faced with last-minute gaps in coverage. Fortunately, Swing Education offers a solution that helps schools navigate these unpredictable situations: the floating sub request. In this blog, we’ll explore what floating sub requests are, how to use them effectively, and how they can help boost your…
Students will typically spend a full school year with a substitute teacher by the time they graduate from high school. With an ongoing teacher shortage, substitutes play an essential role in maintaining educational continuity to ensure student learning isn’t disrupted. To understand the factors behind attracting and retaining substitute teachers, we surveyed and interviewed substitutes…
Communication is the cornerstone of any thriving educational environment, especially when it comes to integrating substitute teachers seamlessly into school communities. Substitute teachers play a pivotal role in maintaining continuity and fostering a nurturing learning environment for students. By prioritizing effective communication, schools can not only help enhance classroom management, but also improve the overall…
