How to Become a Substitute Teacher in Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County, Florida, has 9,300 staff and 73,00 students, according to its website. This article takes you through the requirements, training and application process involved in becoming a substitute teacher in this system.
Brevard County, Florida, Substitute Teacher Career Overview
Brevard County hires substitute teachers both with and without teaching experience, but the process and salary vary depending on the experience. At minimum, a high school diploma is required. Once hired, substitute teachers find classroom placements through a calling and online system.
Education/Experience Required | At least a high school diploma or equivalent; must be age 21 or older |
Training Requirement | Online substitute teacher training course (for those without teaching experience) |
Other Requirements | Fingerprinting, drug test |
Salary (2019)* | $8.46/hour (high school diploma); $8.75/hour (associate's degree); $12.50/hour (bachelor's degree or above); $16.25/hour (retired teachers) |
Source: *Brevard Public Schools
Know the Job
Brevard County stresses that students are still supposed to learn even when substitute teachers are filling in. Substitute teachers are expected to dress professionally, follow the lesson plans left by regular teachers and keep order in the classroom. The principal may also assign substitute teachers extra duties during their free hours. The county recommends that substitute teachers plan how they will handle various situations that come up, like taking attendance and late students, ahead of time.
Understand the Salary
Substitute teachers in Brevard County are assigned to work full days (7.5 hours) or half days (4 hours), and get paid their hourly rate for those hours. However, if a substitute teacher does not work the full time assigned and leaves early, that individual will only be paid for the hours worked. The pay is as follows: $8.46/hour ($63.45/day) for high school graduates, $8.75/hour ($65.63/day) with an associate's degree, $12.50/hour ($93.75/day) with a bachelor's degree or more, and $16.25/hour ($121.88/day) for retired teachers.
Complete Application Requirements
To apply to be a substitute teacher in Brevard County, fill out the online application on the school system's website. For this application, you will need to provide employment and volunteer history, references and official transcripts. After you fill out the application, you must call the Human Resources office and make sure your application is completed as needed for substitute teaching jobs.
If you do not have an education degree, you must then take a 20-hour online training course and pass the associated tests (the fee is $20). If you have an education degree, you do not need to take the online training.
Schedule an Interview
After you have submitted your application and completed the online training (if needed), you are ready to reach out to a school of your choice and schedule an interview. If the interview goes well and they want to hire you, you're almost there! But you still need to complete a few more tasks.
Fulfill Additional Requirements
Fill out the required paperwork, like tax documents and other agreements, specified by the county. This includes an application and $25 fee for a substitute teaching certificate (which you will be able to get if you completed the online training or have an education degree), or a copy of a Florida teaching certificate. You must also provide your original Social Security card and a Florida photo ID.
Then, you must also get fingerprinted at the school system's security office (the cost is $41). A drug test is also required within 24 hours of receiving the relevant forms (the fee is $30). Note: All costs mentioned were as of 2019.
Get Substitute Teaching Assignments
Once all of your paperwork is complete, it could take 20 business days for your employment to be processed, but once it is, you will get an email notification.
You will receive substitute teaching assignments through a calling system, which calls in the morning and evenings during the week at specific times, and also Sunday evenings. You can update your availability and look for jobs through an online system as well.