Lincoln Public Schools

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Responsibilities of the Regular Teacher to the Substitute Teacher

Even though they may never meet, the substitute and the regular teacher have a responsibility to each other. The regular teacher is responsible to an important degree for the attitude that his/her pupils display toward the substitute teacher. The attitude should be one of helpfulness and courtesy such as would be accorded any invited guest of the school. The regular teacher also needs to make as much current information available to the substitute as possible. This will help the substitute to successfully maintain the continuitu of the program. When entering an absence with SubFinder, the regular teacher should indicate any special circumstances to the substitute such as:

• Field trips requiring certain apparel
• Long outdoor recess duty
• Optional periods that the regular teacher is assigned
• After school clubs or duties beyond a normal day
• Optional periods or duties which take the place of lunch

The regular teacher is required to maintain all of the information a substitute would need in taking over his/her work. Complete lesson plans containing an up-to-date record of the work of the class and outline of the lessons to be covered during the current week are to be kept in the teacher's plan book. Lesson plans should include due dates for assignments and homework procedures.

The following items of information, with all necessary explanations, should be available in the substitute folder:

• Attendance procedures and where to place absentee folder/list for pick-up
• Class lists according to reading/math groups and/or various classes and/or homeroom
• Current daily schedule, which should include: Individual student schedules, e.g. library, speech, resource
• Fire/tornado/crisis drill procedures for passage to/from classroom
• Guidelines for lunch, recess, hall duty, phone usage by students, student work groups meeting outside of the classroom, passes and student assistants names / schedules / responsibilities.
• Up-to-date seating charts
• Personal information sheet listing the following:
  • Student helpers
  • Special needs students (LD, BD, MI/MOD, etc.) and information pertinent to their needs
  • Updated notes on students temporarily needing special attention because of school or home concerns
  • Pertinent student health information
  • University / college field placement students
  • Special Education staff, paraeducators, or other staff present during instruction
• Any additional responsibilites of the individual teacher, e.g. grading and distribution of papers, supervision duties, breaks and special disciplinary measures
• Teaching plans for the day's classes which include names of books and an explanation of any abbreviations used
• Contingency lesson plans (when a lesson cannot be followed)
• Building characteristics should be outlined including the location of the lunchroom, lounge, restroom and media equipment
• Map of the school
• School or team discipline plan/rules
• Names and rooms of other members of the teaching team
• Who to call or report to if there are problems. (Please include at least two persons's names.)

Teachers are to complete and sign a Certificied Notification of Absence whenever they return from an absence even if a substitute was not employed during their absence. Teachers are also to complete and sign a substitute teacher evaluation form regarding their degree of satisfaction with the substitute's performance. Other teachers, students and/or the principal may give valuable input into the evaluation.

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Responsibilities of the Students

The students are expected to share the responsibility of making the day's work effective despite the absence of the regular teacher. A substitute teacher should expect the full cooperation of all students in the room and should help ensure such cooperation by planning to make the day worthwhile and productive.

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Responsibilities of the Principal

The principal has the responsibility for discipline in his/her school and for setting a proper climate for good school control for teachers and pupils.

Upon arrival at school, a substitute should report to the principal's office. There, the principal or someone designated by him/her will explain the assignment and any other special duties the substitute is expected to perform. Questions in regard to textbooks, the teacher's plan book, supplies or general procedures will be answered by the principal, a team teacher, or, in the high schools, the head of the department.

The principal may introduce the substitute teacher or arrange to have them introduced to at least one of the regular teachers who may be of assistance to the substitute whenever the principal is not available for consultation.