More than a quarter of teachers miss 10 or more school days annually. These chronic absences negatively impact student learning, resulting in disengagement and a decrease in test scores. 

Teacher absences are an inevitable part of the school year. Despite the frequency, schools are often left dealing with these absences last minute. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be like this.

These absences will happen whether you plan for them or not. Here’s how to ensure that high-quality instruction continues even in the absence of a full-time teacher.

Benefits of long-term subs

Although some absences (like maternity leave) can be planned for proactively, certain scenarios leave administrators scrambling to cover classes. Schools can request long-term roving subs to address these last-minute vacancies. By allowing substitutes to plan their work schedule in advance, schools have the flexibility to place teachers wherever there’s a need, ensuring the learning never stops. 

Additionally, hiring a long-term substitute allows for relationship building. These subs become integrated into the school community in a way that single-day subs likely won’t. Cycling through numerous different subs disrupts learning, and even sets back student achievements. A long-term substitute will know more than just the students’ names — they’ll understand the individual learning styles and actually be able to help when they’re struggling.

What to look for in a long-term sub

Students typically spend about two-thirds of their K-12 career with a substitute. Therefore, when selecting someone to fill in for your regular teacher, look for a specific set of qualities that’ll guarantee they integrate smoothly with your school and students. 

In addition to pairing with someone who has a similar classroom management style as the full-time/ teacher, great candidates for long-term subbing share these qualities:

• Interpersonal skills: substitute teachers will likely be jumping right into the thick of things, so be sure to look for individuals who excel at interacting with a myriad of personalities and are able to translate those people skills in the classroom
• Relationship building: the ability to quickly form connections with students and faculty members will build trust and security, leading to more productive classrooms. Students can tell when their instructor cares about their success, so it’s important to hire with this in mind
• Grade-level experience: for a long-term situation, it’s important for subs to understand and exercise best practices when it comes to connecting with students of a given age

How to find (and keep) a long-term sub

Despite the teacher shortage, there are numerous steps schools can take to improve fill rate. In addition to partnering with universities or hosting in-person hiring events, schools can work with an organization like Swing to find high-quality substitute teachers.

In order for the classroom to run smoothly while your teachers are on leave, consider these recruiting tactics:

• Go digital. Take advantage of all the online resources like job boards and social media to attract high-quality talent. 58% of job seekers reported going online to find their next roles.
• Provide ample time to fill a request. The more lead time and classroom details you can provide, the better the chance that the request will be filled by the right person at the right time.

Although supplementing your sub pool is a lot of work, keeping the classrooms filled with a consistent and competent presence should remain a top priority. Substitute teachers are an essential part of education and should be looked at as more than an afterthought. Good preparation is key to making sure that the transition to a long-term substitute teacher is seamless — and that both teachers feel supported.

Ready to fill those classrooms? Get started with the Swing platform today!