District pay rates for paraprofessional positions, which include clerical and classroom aide roles, start at $75 per day for individuals with a high school diploma or higher, according to the RISD website. Daily rates can be up to two times more for certified teachers who take on long-term assignments. Additional incentives are also available for those who meet eligibility requirements outlined on the district website.
Assistant Superintendent Chris Goodson, who oversees human resources for the district, said the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of several factors that have contributed to making RISD’s pool of substitutes “a little bit shallower.”
“We added positions coming into this school year, and so what we found was that we actually hired many of our subs into full-time positions,” he said.
Goodson said the decreased number of available substitutes from previous years is a trend many area school districts are experiencing. The need for substitutes has risen compared to last school year because so many more students are back in person, he said.
“What we're hiring for is really anybody who is interested in subbing,” Goodson said. “As we establish a relationship with [a substitute], and if there is a particular need, we may designate them as a permanent sub. Then we end up basically keeping them busy throughout the year because there’s always an absence somewhere.”
Once potential substitutes complete the application process, Goodson said they go through a regular vetting and application process, and they could potentially be in a classroom within two weeks.
“As a substitute teacher, you can work as little or as much as you want,” he said. “So, if you only want the [one- to two-day assignments], we’ve got that for you. If you want a long-term assignment, boy, do we have that for you.”
Additional information about RISD’s substitute teacher program is available on the district website.
