Q & A

What are the responsibilities of a substitute teacher?

J.S. Buski

Question: I am a substitute teacher and was recently assigned to a school to replace a teacher absent due to illness. I was assigned a very full day, including supervision at noon and during morning and afternoon recess. In looking over the timetable of the teacher I was replacing, I noticed that she would not have been responsible for supervision at those times. My assignment to these seems somewhat unfair. What do you think?

Answer: I agree with you. Under normal circumstances a substitute teacher is placed in a school to replace a specific teacher. The substitute should be expected to perform only the teaching and supervision responsibilities of the teacher being replaced. Indeed, given that the substitute is often walking into a totally strange setting, some additional relief for the substitute would be welcome to provide him or her with time to undertake necessary preparation and other tasks.

When a substitute teacher is replacing a classroom teacher with specific teaching and supervisory responsibilities, the substitute should not be expected to undertake any more responsibilities than the regular teacher would have, and perhaps even less. Indeed, some jurisdictions have policy which states that substitute teachers are not to be assigned supervision responsibilities during their first half-day on a new assignment.

Questions for consideration in this column are welcome. Please address them to J.S. Buski at Barnett House