USU offers nationwide substitute teacher training
Utah State University is a nationwide leader in improving the quality of time spent with a substitute teacher and the only university to have such a program.
The university started a substitute teaching institute in 1995 and its focus is training substitute teachers for their task.
“Permanent teachers are the most excited about our training because they know it works,” said Geoffrey Smith, executive director of the Substitute Teaching Institute.
Training is offered live and through CD-ROM.
USU won the Silver Telly Award in the CD-ROM category at the 22nd annual Telly Awards. USU won the only award given to a university in a category dominated by large commercial enterprises, according to a 2001 USU Substitute Teaching Institute press release.
The training takes place in five areas of teaching: Being prepared and professional, classroom management skills, understanding all legal issues, knowing teaching lesson plans, and assembling a substitute pack.
“We found that a teacher’s favorite substitutes were those with substitute packs,” Smith said.
A substitute pack is the individual’s own teaching plans in case the lesson plan falls short on time.
Substitute teachers in the Millard County School District in central Utah are required to participate in USU’s training. This requirement began two years ago under the head of its new superintendent, Ray Timothy.
“Training validated the importance of the substitute’s work. They had to be trained. They liked it and it was good for them,” said Scott Petersen, Delta North Elementary principal.
The demand for substitute teachers is high due to the fact teachers hold an 8 to 12 percent absentee rate, Smith said.