Maine Substitute Teacher Requirements

<p>As with most states, Maine allows school districts to set their own requirements for substitute teachers. The chart below shows the education requirements, job duties, and salary of substitute teachers in Maine. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> High school diploma or GED, two years of college education preferred; teaching certification not required, but some schools do prefer a current teaching credential</td></tr> <tr><td> Background Check Requirements </td><td> Fingerprinting mandatory every five years</td></tr> <tr><td> Median Salary (2018)</td><td> $26,580*</td></tr> <tr><td>Estimated Job Growth (2016-20126) </td><td> 10% (for teachers and instructors, all other)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheJobDutiesOfASubstituteTeacher">What Are the Job Duties of a Substitute Teacher?</h3> <p>Substitute teachers ensure that students do not have their education interrupted when their regular teacher cannot make it to class. To do this, they follow the lesson plans left behind by the class' teacher, which may involve providing assistance to students in small groups or on an individual basis. Substitute teachers are also tasked with accurately recording class attendance as well as grades. Additionally, substitute teachers are responsible for a teacher's duties outside of the classroom, such as supervising lunch or recess. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheFingerprintingRequirements">What Are the Fingerprinting Requirements?</h3> <p>Maine requires that everyone employed by a school be fingerprinted. This requirement includes substitute teachers, who must be fingerprinted every five years. To do this, one needs to mail the state a completed approval form and register with IdentoGo. One must also pay a $15 fee for mailing in the application and an additional $55 processing fee to IdentoGo. This is a total of $70 that must be paid every five years. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatGradesDoSubstituteTeachersWorkWith">What Grades Do Substitute Teachers Work With?</h3> <p>Substitute teachers can potentially work with any grade of student. Substitute teachers may also find themselves working with students with disabilities. A substitute replacing a teacher who teaches younger grades may find themselves teaching one single class all day. A substitute replacing a teacher who teachers older grades, such as high school, may find themselves teaching multiple classes. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatAreTheEducationalRequirementsToBeASubstituteTeacher">What Are the Educational Requirements to Be a Substitute Teacher?</h3> <p>While most school districts require that substitute teachers only have a high school diploma to be employed, additional educational qualifications can increase one's pay. Some school districts pay a higher daily wage to substitute teachers with at least two years of college education, and some will pay even more to those with a four-year degree. Additionally, some school districts require that substitute teachers who work for more than ten days consecutively have at least two years of college education and, accordingly, pay them at a higher rate. </p> <h3 id="section---WhatTraitsDoesOneNeedToBeASubstituteTeacher">What Traits Does One Need to Be a Substitute Teacher?</h3> <p>Substitute teachers have both interpersonal and physical requirements they must fulfill to effectively do their job. The physical demands are largely limited to being able to move around the classroom for the purpose of handing out work to students and moving TV and DVD player carts. Personal traits for substitutes include the ability to control a class, attentiveness to issues that may arise in the classroom, and excellent communication skills.</p>