FAIRMONT– A substitute teacher shortage is affecting school districts across the nation, including the Fairmont Area School District. However, Superintendent Andy Traetow pointed out that schools aren’t in a unique position.

“The workforce shortage in general for all entities is a challenge we’re dealing with as a community, as a region and as a country,” Traetow said.

Still, having a qualified person in the classroom to fill the void in the absence of a teacher is crucial.

“We try to minimize the impact on the instructional day the best we can and some days that’s a challenge,” Traetow said.

Traetow shared that being a short-call substitute is a unique position. The current requirements are for individuals to hold a four year degree as well as a short-call substitute license.

He explained the process is done through Teachers On Call, which is the host system the district uses to organize the communication for substitutes needed on any given day.

A short-term substitute can work up to 15 consecutive days without consideration of being employed as a long-term substitute teacher under a teaching contract.

Traetow said there’s about an equal need for long-term and short-term subs. He explained that a long-term sub would be needed if an employee has a pre-arranged medical leave coming up, such as a surgery or maternity leave.

“Our building principals have done a fantastic job of being relentless in their pursuit of new ideas to try to support our teaching staff. Despite those efforts we still have challenges in filling substitute teacher roles on some days,” Traetow said.

While long-term substitutes might be easier to plan for, there’s still instances where building principals need to scramble to find someone to fill in as a short-term substitute.

“It’s something that wakes me up at 5:30 in the morning trying to think how I’m going to put the puzzle together to make it work,” said elementary co-principal, Michelle Rosen.

Rosen said when a teacher, aid or para can’t come into work they work with the system to see if there’s a sub out there.

“However, we have seen more and more that we have more absences than subs out there to take,” she said.

Rosen said all positions in the school are important, but when there’s no classroom teacher, they have to make the decision to take a different school employee with a degree and place them in the classroom.

“Our instructional aids and intervention teachers are a second support for the kids. It’s an important service but sometimes for one day we can take that service and use that adult to fill a classroom,” she explained.

Administrators problem solve to figure out what they can do to best support all students and keep the building running. Sometimes they’ve doubled up on music or P.E classes when a teacher is gone, which Rosen said isn’t ideal but can work once in a while when needed.

She said both she and co-principal Brian Grensteiner have stepped in to fill as a substitute as well.

“We are an essential industry and have to keep going for our hundreds of kids,” Rosen said.

In order to fill gaps and get more subs, Traetow said they’ve posted on the district’s social media pages, principals have put out flyers and information during conferences and have reached out to colleges and universities and the district has also worked to collaborate with local media to generate interest.

Some individuals prefer a certain age group over others and Traetow said ultimately when a request for substitute teachers goes out, it’s at their discretion which job they choose to take. Substitutes also have the flexibility to choose which days they want to work.

However, another big move the district has taken to combat the issue was to create a new pay incentive scale for substitute teachers, which the The Fairmont Area School District approved about a month ago.

Those who work one to four days will receive a base rate of $150 a day. Five to nine days increases to $165 a day and ten to 14 days $180 a day. Fifteen or more days work will receive an average daily rate of $200 a day.

While the pressure of the shortage is still felt, Traetow said they’re grateful for the consistent substitutes that are seen regularly in the school buildings. This includes a number of retired teachers.

“The fact that they’re willing to give some of their time to continue to support our students and staff is commendable. We greatly appreciate it,” Traetow said.

He said not only do they possess an extensive amount of teaching experience in the general field of education, but within the specific school district, which is a big benefit.

Traetow said a substitute teacher job is perfect for people that want to interact with kids and contribute to their growth as learners and as people.

“Anyone is welcome to engage in this work and I would encourage anyone who is interested to consider trying it,” he said.

The opportunities for employment as a substitute teacher are many, not just in the Fairmont Area School District, but in the surrounding area.

Traetow said those who are interested should reach out to the district office and have a conversation about what it would take to become a substitute teacher.