(NAPSI)—Some 50 million children attend school in America, taught by a little over 3 million full-time teachers, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Additionally, nearly 620,000 individuals work as substitute teachers and provide continuity in the classroom when the regular teacher is out for personal or professional reasons. In fact, it’s estimated that students will spend one full year of their academic career with a substitute teacher by the time they graduate from high school. But you don’t need to be a math professor to know that quality educators are in high demand.
Fortunately, this demand is also creating a rewarding and flexible employment option for job seekers interested in the education profession. Whether individuals are new to the classroom environment or are retired professionals, there are a number of advantages to being a substitute teacher.
Why Work As A Substitute Teacher
Substitutes can enjoy:
- A flexible work schedule
- A good work-life balance
- Access to training and development
- Access to benefits
- An opportunity to test the waters-that is, to try out teaching before committing to a full-time position
- A chance to play an important role in the continued academic achievement of students
- Having a stepping stone to full-time work and advancement opportunities.
In addition, other benefits are available for substitute teachers who find employment through the staffing companies that more and more school districts turn to for running substitute teacher programs. For example, Kelly Educational Staffing® (KES®), the largest provider of substitute teachers nationwide, offers its employees:
- Service Bonus Plans: an annual service bonus to employees who satisfy the established criteria, calculated as a percentage of that year’s total wages
- ACA-Compliant Health Care Plan: Eligible employees (and their spouses and dependent children) are offered an ACA-compliant health care plan option that provides minimum essential coverage and meets all affordability requirements associated with the ACA regulations
- Access to medical, dental and life insurance through a designated third-party provider
- Weekly electronic payroll options: Both direct deposit and an electronic pay option
- Additional work assignments and ongoing income when school’s not in session to keep workers engaged and productive
- Flexible scheduling options and choice of school preference: Employees schedule their work at their convenience with 24/7 accessibility; work when they want and where they want
- Ongoing career development: Access to more than 6,000 online self-paced or facilitated career development courses as well as 55,000 e-books and publications at no charge.
- Eligibility for Substitute Teacher of the Year Award Program: Each year, KES managers nominate outstanding substitute educators based on performance and recommendations from school personnel. State winners receive a $100 award and one national winner receives a $1,000 bonus, as well as an additional $1,000 to donate to his or her school of choice.
“Kelly Educational Staffing has been the employer of choice for nearly 50,000 substitute teachers across the United States who enjoy competitive pay, access to benefits, flexible work schedules and continued training,” said Scott Apsey, vice president for Kelly Educational Staffing. “Not only are these individuals passionate about teaching, but they also enjoy the rewarding experience of making an impact in the continued academic achievement of students.”
Learn More
Anyone interested in a rewarding career as a substitute teacher working in KES partner schools can visit http://kellyeducationalstaffing.com/US-KES/Substitute-Teachers/ for further information.