“Campbell County Schools will provide a world-class education that enables every student to choose and pursue any post K12 endeavor”

Welcome to Campbell County Public Schools.  Thank you for becoming part of a successful team of educators who strive to provide students with a great learning experience every day.  Substitute teachers play a vital role in helping us accomplish our mission.  If a teacher has to miss a day of work, we rely on our substitutes to establish an orderly, positive environment and to deliver the lesson provided.  We count on our substitutes to ensure our students have a positive, meaningful school day.  

Please review the enclosed information and become familiar with the school community in which you will be working.  Introduce yourself to our administrators and do not hesitate to ask questions.  We all want you to have a great working experience with Campbell County Schools.

Being a substitute teacher means much more than being someone who parrots class assignments or “watches” students. It takes a special kind of person to be a successful substitute, one who sincerely likes children and youth, and who is patient, creative, versatile, and responsible.

The Campbell County School System makes every effort to obtain qualified persons to substitute when teachers must be absent. A substitute teacher is employed to ensure that the regular routine of the classroom and the daily progress of the students continue without interruption. Consequently, a substitute teacher must be prepared to come into a classroom and establish a positive climate for learning.

This handbook has been developed to help you do a good job as a substitute teacher. It includes both essential and helpful information. If you will become familiar with it, you will be better informed of your responsibilities when substituting.

Please pay particular attention to the last section pertaining to crisis management.

Substitute teachers can be a positive influence for the school system by adding variety, a new face, and a fresh approach. We trust that your experience will be successful and that you can leave school knowing that the students have learned something new that day.

Welcome to the Campbell County Public Schools!

HOW TO BEGIN THE DAY

Arrive at school as early as possible, at least thirty minutes before the students, to determine the location of the classroom.  Times will vary throughout the county due to variances in the bus schedule. You should first report to the office first for initial/final instructions and to sign in.  Inquire about any special circumstances you should be aware of such as drills or assemblies. Also, become aware of the procedures for sending students to the nurse. Check the absent teacher's mailbox for notices or materials that might be needed for that day. Find out if you have any special duties, such as bus duty, hall duty, cafeteria duty, etc.

Once in the classroom, locate and study the lesson plans. If the plans are incomplete or confusing, consult with the principal or his/her designee for assistance. Locate fire drill instructions and become familiar with them. Look around the classroom and locate supplies, books, paper, etc.

When the students arrive, greet them and begin the class routine immediately by making announcements, and writing your name on the chalkboard (print for K-3). Tell the students your expectations and do not give them an opportunity to be disruptive.

In an elementary class, where you may stay with one group all day, it is a good idea to have the students make name cards to place on their desks.

One effective management tool that should be utilized is constant movement by the teacher. Circulate around the classroom and be aware of what your students are doing.

Going to the student’s desks to look at their work or to give them help is much less confusing and disrupting than having the students come to your desk.

Try not to have any periods of time during which the students have nothing to do. Make classroom assignments promptly. Be prepared to provide supplementary activities. Use your own skills or hobbies to create interesting enrichment activities. Never leave the students without something to do.

At the end of the day, the room should be left in neat order, supplies, returned to their proper place, etc., and the appropriate information left for the regular teacher's return.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE POLICY

Information regarding absences and excuses, tardiness, leaving school early, etc., that the substitute would need should be obtained from the Main Office.

The regular teacher should have prepared a substitute's folder that includes the following items:

1. Lesson plans
2. Daily schedule
3. Seating chart and class roll
4. Notes on special students, programs, etc. 
5. Location of necessary materials 
6. Information on how to contact the main office, guidance office, custodian, nurse, etc.
7. Description of how to locate the cafeteria, library, restrooms, teacher's lounge, and special parting, if any.

The substitute teacher should follow these plans exactly as directed unless told to do otherwise by the principal or his/her designee.

Examine the lesson plans closely. If the teacher anticipated the absence, you will find plans that are more complete with extra activities. If the teacher was absent because of an emergency or unexpected cause, the plans may only reflect the basic outline the substitute needs to follow. It is more important to be thorough with what you do as opposed to finishing the lesson plans. Do not rush through the plans just to "finish". Document the lessons completed and leave notes to explain to the teacher what you did.

BEST PRACTICE

• Report and introduce yourself to the principal or person in charge of supervising substitute teachers. 
• Arrive early and look over lesson plans, locate record books, and print your name on the chalkboard. 
• Present yourself in a professional manner to students, faculty, staff, and parents. Be friendly and congenial.
• Ask the name of a helpful neighboring teacher. 
• Recognize your responsibility for promoting positive community relations by practicing professional ethics. 
• Avoid "loaded" questions in the lounge about the teacher's lesson plans or about individual students. Avoid discussing and comparing situations in one school while serving in another.
• Keep an accurate attendance record and a written report of instructional progress for the regular teacher.
• Leave the physical classroom neat and orderly. Keep all student/teacher records and matters confidential by not discussing them outside of the school.
• Dress neatly and appropriately for your assignments.
• If you have concerns or questions, please ask.

PLEASE DO NOT

• Leave students unsupervised.
• Use your cell phone during class.
• Surf the web while monitoring students.
• Administer corporal punishment.
• Make unenforceable threats.
• Argue with students or allow disobedience.
• Use profanity. 
• Take medication in front of students or allow students to take medication.  Send them to the nurse. 
• Repeat hearsay information or information that can have a negative impact on the school, its students, or personnel.
• Be a negative influence.

Be familiar with the School's handbook, especially the section on discipline.  For example, cell phones should be off and out of sight.

Discipline and classroom management begins when the substitute walks through the door. A substitute must be confident, fair, firm, and in control of their students. You can be in control and still be friendly.  Do not try to intimidate students.  Positive, professional student relationships with clear expectations will be the key to your success as a substitute.

Supervision of students at all times will prevent most discipline problems. Never leave a student unsupervised. You may not leave a student in the classroom while you take the rest of the class out of the room. You are responsible for anything that may happen to that student. If the student must be separated from the class, request assistance from the administration. Don't be afraid to ask for administrative help when you really need it. Keep track of the time a student leaves the room for any reason.

In spite of your best efforts, there may be some students that are determined to disrupt your instruction. Inform that student that his/her behavior is not appropriate and will not be allowed to disrupt the class. You may wish to take that student into the hallway and explain how the behavior is interfering with instruction and that further inappropriate behavior will result in a need for administrative support. The entire class should not be penalized for the action of one or more students. Always follow through on your warnings. Carrying out discipline in a calm but firm manner discourages future problems. Consistency on your part is equally important. Behavior considered unacceptable one day should be considered unacceptable every day.

It is a good practice to praise the class for good behavior and cooperation whenever possible. When the students are working well, let them know you will leave a complimentary note for the teacher. On the other hand, if poor behavior occurs, the students should understand that this will be included in a note to their teacher.

Any serious and/or illegal infractions, as well as dangerous situations, are to be referred immediately to an administrator, i.e. fighting, threats, weapons, drugs, alcohol, etc.

It is very important that you know what to do in emergency situations before they occur. Escape routes for fire drills and other emergency drills should be posted in the room. Drills may be held periodically with no prior warning. In case of an emergency or drill, as a substitute, your primary duty is to get the students safely out of the building. Exit properly and take the roll book to keep attendance. Be able to account for all of your students.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Students in the Campbell County School Division have many special educational programs throughout the day in an attempt to meet their individual needs. You will likely have individual or small groups of students scheduled for remedial, special education, or resource classes.  If you are substituting for a Special Education teacher, you may spend part of your day co-teaching with another teacher.  You are required to be in the room together as co-teaching is a legal accommodation for some of our special education students. This may not always be noted in your lesson plans.

SUSPICION OF CHILD ABUSE

Suspicion of abuse or neglect of a child must be referred to the school administrator and to Child Protective Services in accordance with the requirements of the laws of Virginia.  Any indication that a child is being abused or is considering hurting themselves must be reported immediately.

AIDES/STAFF ASSISTANCE

Instructional aides are in schools to assist the teachers. Do not hesitate to ask an instructional aide assigned to your class to help you. Ask the aide what their duties and responsibilities are and allow them to proceed as normal. Having an additional adult available can help you tremendously. Remember to respect the person's position and allow the aide to assist you.

The same procedure should be followed for student teachers or college students serving as aides in the classroom.

Other resources that you can utilize when you need help are the teachers located nearby and the department chairman. Either of these sources will be glad to offer assistance or information.

Be aware of how you can contact administrative, faculty, and classified support in case help is needed.

2023/2024 Rates

 

The long-term rate will be paid in specific instances where the substitute teacher is needed beyond the period of twenty (20) consecutive days for the same regular teacher.

When it can be determined initially by the Personnel Office that the regular employee's leave will be longer than twenty (20) days, the substitute's pay will begin the first day at the long-term compensation rate.

Beyond the per diem rates, there are no added fringe benefits or experience credit granted.