How to become a substitute teacher in New York

Substitute teaching is a meaningful and impactful career for individuals who enjoy teaching and working with children.

One of the key reasons to consider a career as a substitute teacher is the flexibility it offers. As a substitute teacher, you have the opportunity to choose your assignments and work schedule, allowing you to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Substitute teaching also provides an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in the field of education. It allows you to work with diverse student populations, gain exposure to different teaching methods, and develop your classroom management skills.

Finally, by becoming a substitute teacher, you have the chance to make a positive impact on students' lives. You can inspire and motivate young minds, contribute to their academic growth, and create a supportive learning environment.

Becoming a substitute teacher has never been easier and there has never been a greater need for the role than there is today.

Whether you want to work with students on a regular basis or a few times a month, becoming a substitute teacher in New York comes with several benefits.

Here are just a few of the ways being a substitute teacher can positively impact your life:

• Flexibility: Substitute teaching provides you with the freedom to choose your working hours and work at your own pace.
• Variety: As a substitute teacher, you will work with different students, teachers, and administrators across various schools and districts.
• Experience: Substitute teaching offers valuable teaching experience that can be used to build transferable skills for a role in education or beyond.
• Community Impact: You’re helping solve a nation-wide teacher staffing shortage.
• Self Discovery: You are discovering your interests and passions as you teach in a variety of grade levels and subject areas.
• Supplementary Income: The average substitute salary in New York is about $135/day, but can be as high as $200/day in some districts.

Substitute teaching is a flexible and rewarding career. Whether you are looking for full-time or part-time work and have career goals beyond the classroom, substitute teaching can be a valuable milestone in your career trajectory.

To become a substitute teacher in New York, you must meet the following requirements:

• An online nomination by a school Principal or organization
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• A fingerprint-based FBI/DOJ background check
• Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking the English language

If you choose to become a substitute teacher with Swing, we make it easy for substitute teacher candidates to move efficiently through the application process and access multiple schools. In fact, it takes just a couple of minutes to complete our background questionnaire, and one of our team members will then guide you through the next steps.

If you meet the requirements for becoming a substitute teacher and you are ready to apply for jobs, here are a few things to keep in mind so you stand out as a strong candidate.

Research school districts

Begin by researching the school districts in New York where you would like to work as a substitute teacher. Visit their websites, review their hiring procedures, and familiarize yourself with their specific requirements.

Prepare application materials

Gather all necessary documents, including your resume, official transcripts, teaching certificate, and references. Tailor your resume to highlight relevant educational and professional experiences.

Follow the instructions provided by each school district and complete the application accurately and thoroughly. Pay attention to any additional requirements or documents that need to be submitted.

Network and build relationships

Attend job fairs, education conferences, and networking events to meet administrators, teachers, and other education professionals. Building connections can significantly increase your chances of being considered for substitute teaching opportunities.

Be prepared from the start

Once you receive your first sub assignment, here's what you can expect on your first day as a substitute teacher. It’s likely that you will get lesson plans from the teacher who is out, but if you need a backup plan, here are some activities to keep students on task and engaged.

If you want even more information, you can request to speak with current substitute or full-time teachers or even join an online community for substitute teachers.

Whether you’re preparing for your first day as a substitute teacher or you’re a seasoned sub looking for more flexibility and control over your career as a sub, Swing Education makes the process of becoming a substitute teacher easier, from onboarding to finding substitute assignments.

Instead of looking for jobs at individual schools or districts, filling out duplicate copies of applications and juggling different schools schedules and assignments, Swing brings it all together on one intuitive platform.

Streamline applications with Swing

When you’re ready to substitute teach with Swing, here’s how to get started: complete the onboarding questionnaire, which will make its way to a Swing onboarding advisor. They will then guide you through the requirements and application process.

During the onboarding process, our advisors will ensure you have all the information needed to select the teaching roles you want in as little as two weeks, including public, private, and charter schools.

Get the sub jobs you want

Say goodbye to waiting until the night before to find out where and what you’ll be teaching. With Swing, we give you the tools you need to have more control over your subbing experience, all in one platform.

Once you’re on board, we:

• Take your preferences and skills into account to align you to the best-fit positions.
• Let you sort openings based on criteria such as:
• Location
• Commute time
• Grade level
• School location
• School subject
• Allow you to create saved searches and a “School Favorites” list.
• Provide access to training, resources and more throughout the year.

In other words, you can choose your assignments easier and faster, without all the paperwork, last-minute surprises or juggling of temp agencies or job boards.

Ready to become a Swing sub?

We’re excited to get to know you and learn more about who you are and where you would like to teach.