Shortage of Substitute Teachers

Re “No Teacher, No Sub,” editorial, Oct. 7: The best source for solutions can be found in discussions with the LAUSD’s current substitutes. I am a teacher in an LAUSD elementary school. The afternoon preceding your editorial, I had lunch with two of our preferred substitute teachers, and we discussed the district’s shortage of substitute teachers. They suggested that substitutes be put on a career ladder and be allowed to develop as professionals who fulfill a specific and vital role in our school district. Substitutes should be compensated for having a teaching credential, experience, postgraduate credits and for working in schools that are difficult to staff.

I would also suggest utilizing off-track teachers and paying them their regular hourly rate. Perhaps it will be necessary to hire full-time extra teachers at hard-to-staff schools to serve as resident substitutes. When we start to recognize the positive impact a well-qualified substitute teacher can make on our children’s education and compensate substitutes accordingly, we will make an important contribution to improving the quality of education in our city.

JANET LEE DAVIS

Los Angeles

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* I graduated from college with honors. I majored in sociology and had minors in math and chemistry. I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my youngest child is just turning 4. I recently started looking at job options which would allow me to continue to be with my children after school, allow me to use my creativity and possibly make a difference in someone’s life. Teaching immediately came to mind.

It seemed to me it would be practical to try the profession by substituting before I took major steps to go back to graduate school. I took the CBEST and scored 189; prospective teachers are only required to pass it with 123. I then tried to get through on the LAUSD phone line to set up an interview or fill out a substitute application. I was never able to get through. The recording says there are no more slots available for subs.

Perhaps qualified subs are not getting through. Perhaps the sub system is a little like the LAUSD, a bureaucracy unto itself, and needs to be revamped.

SUE LARSON PASCOE

Pacific Palisades