How to Become a Substitute Teacher in Polk County, Florida

<h2 id="section---CareerInformation">Career Information</h2> <p>Individuals who wish to substitute teach in Polk County, Florida, must be enrolled with the county's partner company, Kelly Educational Staffing. After enrolling, substitutes are given access to the company's online system and can undergo the necessary procedures for finding employment, including gathering all the required documentation, completing any mandatory training, scheduling interviews, and undergoing a background clearance. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Education/Experience Required </td><td> 30 semester hours of college credit<br />Substitute teacher training program<br />Paid employment training</td></tr> <tr><td> Exam Requirements </td><td> Background clearance</td></tr> <tr><td> Average Annual Salary (2018) </td><td> $23,960 (Lakeland-Winter Haven area)*</td></tr> <tr><td> Estimated Job Growth (2016-2026) </td><td> 10% (teachers and instructors, all other, nationwide)*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau Labor of Statistics </i></p> <h3 id="section---InformationOnKellyEducationalStaffingAndHowToApply">Information on Kelly Educational Staffing and How to Apply</h3> <p>Polk County Public Schools is in partnership with Kelly Educational Staffing, a nationwide employment company that assists substitute teachers in finding available work. Prospective substitutes in Polk County will need to complete an online pre-screening process through the KES website, a procedure designed to determine applicants' eligibility for employment. </p> <p>Once pre-screening is completed, a representative gets in touch to schedule an interview and provide applicants with further instructions for completing the application process. This may include submitting letters of recommendation from professional contacts. </p> <p>Applicants must also submit to a background clearance procedure, which involves undergoing a fingerprint and drug test screening. Individuals must pay the appropriate fees to undertake both tests. </p> <h3 id="section---EducationalAndTrainingRequirements">Educational and Training Requirements</h3> <p>All substitute teachers in Polk County schools must have a minimum of 30 semester hours from an accredited college or university. As part of their application process with KES, individuals also need to attend and complete a substitute teacher training program that covers legal and health issues, classroom management, instructional strategies, professional standards, and other fundamental areas of teaching. </p> <p>Once employed, the school district will provide substitutes with paid, on-the-job training - helping them fully grasp the responsibilities of their role as well as district policies and procedures. </p> <h3 id="section---UsingTheFrontlineEducationSystem">Using the Frontline Education System</h3> <p>Once enrolled with KES, substitutes will have access to Frontline Education's Absence Management Solution, an online system that assists with viewing, scheduling, and accepting teaching assignments. Individuals will need a login to enter this system, directing them to a dashboard where they can manage their existing tasks and view other available jobs. </p> <p>Additionally, the system has an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) feature that allows individuals to receive notifications of any available assignments to help them stay on top of new substitute teaching opportunities. </p> <h3 id="section---AdditionalRequirementsForSubstituteEmployment">Additional Requirements for Substitute Employment</h3> <p>Substitute teachers employed by KES must meet the minimum work requirements by teaching at least two days per week. Additionally, over the course of 45 days, they must work a minimum of two Fridays and two Mondays. They must also be willing to work in at least two schools and accept last-minute or same-day assignments when necessary. </p> <h3 id="section---SubstituteTeacherPay">Substitute Teacher Pay</h3> <p>Polk County substitute teachers working under KES earn a rate of $80 a day, increasing to $90 on their 11th day teaching in the same classroom (also known as long-term substitute teaching). No fees are required to be employed under the NES system. </p> <p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in May 2018 that substitutes working in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL, area earned an average annual salary of $23,960.</p>