Substantial Blog

Do you like to geek out on substitute teaching, too? Our blog is designed for people in education looking for new ideas, resources and tried-and-true strategies to improve the substitute teaching experience.

A Letter of Thanks to Substitute Teachers

by Paul Oh | Nov 16, 2017

In honor of Substitute Educators Day, I write this letter to you, the “guest teachers” who worked in my various classrooms over the years. First grade, second grade, computer lab - you covered them all, ably, at a moment’s notice, and to my eternal gratitude.

A Case for Substitute Teacher PD

by Paul Oh | Oct 30, 2017

What do substitute teachers need to thrive? If a recent West Contra Costa Unified School District professional development day is any indication, it’s: teaching resources, a chance to interact with other subs, and the space to try out new ideas.

Joining the Substantial Team

by Paul Oh | Sep 26, 2017

I’ve joined the amazing team at Substantial as we reimagine the sub experience for everyone involved, from the district sub coordinator to the substitute teacher to students themselves.

Building a Sub-to-Teacher Pipeline

by Cheryl Cotton | Aug 9, 2017

Through our data analysis work with Substantial, we learned that one of our most important teacher pipelines is right under our noses—our substitute teacher pool.

Substituting Your Way to a Permanent Teaching Job

by Amy Belkora | Jul 7, 2017

For teachers transitioning between grades, schools, or districts substituting is the perfect vehicle to clarify career priorities...

Five Reasons Why Every College Student Should Try Substitute Teaching

by Cristin Quealy | Jun 6, 2017

This spring, the Substantial team had the privilege of supporting 12 UC Berkeley students to become substitute teachers. At the end of the semester, we sat them down and asked them about the experience, and overwhelmingly they said that every college student should be a substitute teacher, here’s why...

The Benefits of College Student Substitute Teachers

by Cheryl Cotton | Jun 6, 2017

This spring my district, West Contra Costa Unified, partnered with Substantial to recruit college seniors to serve as substitute teachers in our schools. Here are three reasons why hiring college students as substitute teachers makes sense for my district, and why I think you should try it in yours...

What We Learned Helping College Students Become Substitute Teachers

by Cristin Quealy | Jun 6, 2017

In December 2016, we initiated a program to recruit, train, and support UC Berkeley students to become substitute teachers, it was a truly amazing experience for us, the students and the school district. Here’s what we learned...

Three (Unexpected) Things We’ve Learned from Substitute Data

by Amanda von Moos | Apr 11, 2017

What questions do you have about substitute teaching in your district? Curious about where subs choose to work? When demand for subs peaks? How frequently subs work? Chances are many of those questions can be answered by digging into the data you are already have...

Five Things Schools and Districts Can Do Today to Improve the Substitute Experience

by Jill Vialet | Nov 18, 2016

November 18 is the final day of American Education Week, and today we appreciate the contribution of Substitute teachers across the country. In honor of their critical role in schools, here are 5 practical ideas you can implement to improve the substitute teaching...

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