What are the steps to becoming a substitute teacher for Berrien County School System?

Step 1: Complete an application to substitute teach. 

Step 2: About once a quarter the personnel director will conduct screening interviews of potential substitute candidates.

Step 3: When candidates pass the screening process then they will have to meet fingerprinting and background requirements and training requirements.

a-   A fingerprinting and criminal background check will be conducted through an option offered by the Berrien County Sheriffs' Office. For more information, please refer to the link on our website, FINGERPRINTING & BACKGROUND CHECKS. This will require a fee paid by the substitute teacher candidate. This is in compliance with both state law and school board policy.

b-    In compliance with GA Policy Code 505-2-.36, all substitutes must meet a 4-hour training requirement. Substitute candidates can meet these requirements in several ways depending on their situation. A substitute wishing to substitute for other counties in addition to Berrien will need to take the three-hour training thru RESA and then follow up with a one-hour orientation training in Berrien. Substitute candidates only wanting to sub in Berrien can do the three-hour training with us or do the RESA training and then a one-hour orientation with us. Substitute candidates with teaching certificates or paraprofessional certificates are exempt from the three-hour training and only have to attend the one-hour orientation. The substitute will need to complete background checks prior to training.

Step 4: Once all the requirements in step 3 are met then, substitute candidates are placed on a substitute teacher list.

What does it pay and can you get benefits? Regular substitute teachers make $80.00 per day.

Certified substitute teachers (those persons holding a valid GA teaching certificate) make $100.00 per day.

Long-term substitutes must hold a current GA teaching certificate in the field in which they are subbing­ The pay rate is $100.00 per day for the 1st thru consecutive 10th day of the long-term placement. Upon the 11th day of a long-term substitute placement, the rate is $150.00 (Only Certified). 

Substitute teachers are not permanent employees of the Berrien County School System but are employed on an as-needed basis and do not qualify for health and retirement benefits. Substitute teachers also do not qualify for unemployment benefits thru Berrien County School System.

Am I guaranteed employment and how often can I work?

Substitute teachers are not regular part-time or full-time employees of Berrien County Schools. Substitutes are classified as Purchased Services Providers and are not eligible for unemployment should they no longer substitute teach for Berrien County School System. They are employed on an as-needed basis and therefore are not guaranteed employment by the school system. However, good substitutes who have shown a good work ethic and work well with teachers and students

are often called to sub.

How do I get scheduled to sub?

Berrien County has implemented an online/phone calling system- Absence Manager (formerly Aesop). You can log on by internet or call in 24 hours a day to see what jobs are available. This system will also call or send you emails concerning available positions.

Can I work at certain schools, or do I work for all schools?

Not all substitutes work at all schools. Some chose to work with just certain age groups.

When will I have to be available?

Some substitutes work just certain days, depending on their schedule. Substitutes will need to be

available from 7:30 or 7:45 am (depending on which school) to approximately 3:30 pm (dismissal times for each school vary slightly).

How will the schools contact me?

The automated Absence Manager (formerly Aesop) system will contact substitutes by phone and/ or internet, so substitutes must have a reliable phone and/or internet service. Some substitute use just the phone option, some use just the internet option, and some use both. Substitutes also need to be aware that sometimes emergency and last-minute situations will cause calls to be late at night  ( however, no calls after 9:00 PM) and very early in the morning, starting at 6:00 am.

When will RESA teach the substitute classes?

RESA is located in Lenox but they schedule classes in Valdosta, also. If there is a

enough who want the class in Nashville, we may be able to schedule a RESA substitute teacher training in Nashville. The RESA class is $25. Please see the RESA website for dates, times, and training locations. http://www.cpresa.org/Staff Development/Course links.htm   click on substitute teacher training.

When will Berrien teach the substitute classes?

We will try to schedule a class once every 2-3 months, depending on the need for classes and the number of people needing training. Training will be conducted during the day by the personnel director. There is no fee for training in Berrien.

If you have a question that is not addressed above, please contact Personnel

Director at 686-2081 or email at Jordan.williams@berrien.k12.ga.us