Substitute teaching certification class attracted many job seekers

(Riverton) – For three consecutive Saturday’s in a row in March, a certification class for substitute school teachers attracted a diverse group of county residents seeking future employment in area classrooms.

Among the 32 participants were a married couple, a new arrival in the area, a retired businessman, and a student thinking of becoming a teacher.

“This is a rigorous training with 24 hours of classroom instruction and 30 hours of observation in a classroom,” said Larry Chouinard, who taught the class for the Fremont County Board of Cooperative Education Services, or FC BOCES. The candidates have to spend at least 10 hours each observing in elementary, middle school and high school classes. “Since the downturn in the economy, we’ve seen more interest from people looking for a second, or extra income,” he said. Chouinard said even before this latest class started, he already had a waiting list of people interested in the next class.

The certification class is normally held twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring, but an extra session this spring is under consideration, due to the interest.

Substitute teachers can earn from $75 to $100 a day, and some schools, including Dubois, St. Stephens and Shoshoni, also offer half-day rates from $40 to $55.

In addition to the classroom work, all candidates must provide their educational transcripts, two sets of fingerprints, a medical certification that they are free of tuberculosis, pass tests about their knowledge of the respective constitutions of the United States and the State of Wyoming and then submit an application packet to the Professional Teachers Standards Board. In addition to class fees, the potential substitute teachers also have to pay for a background check and for their certificate, if they are accepted.

Nathaniel and Shayne Keays of Shoshoni are a husband and wife who took the class. “I’m doing construction coursework at Central Wyoming College right now, but construction work typically slows down in the winter months, so I’m looking to supplement our income with this,” said Nathanial. Wife Shayna noted that the Shoshoni schools employ her mother as a classroom para-professional, and it was hearing about her experiences there that created an interest. “The economy is tough now, and anything we can do to supplement our income is good,” she said.

Retired restaurateur John Neel said he was taking the class for “personal growth” and because he and Chouinard had worked together on the “Close-Up” program, where high school students visit Washington, D.C. for a week each school year. Neel has had extensive experience in corporate training, which in many respects is not unlike facing students in a school classroom.

“Schools need to be run as businesses are, and that means schools need to keep growing to break-even,” Neel said. “I’m not surprised that the curriculum here is much like business training.”

A former insurance agent from the state of Florida who recently relocated to Riverton said she was in the class, “because it’s a good opportunity to find work and make your own hours,” said Christine DeMello. “The economy is much better here, and the schools are better too, but the weather sure is different.”

One potential future classroom teacher, Ashley Smith of Riverton, said she is interested in getting a degree in elementary education, “but I wanted to try this first to see if really wanted to be a teacher.”

After going out and observing at elementary classes, “I like it,” she said.

For information on the next Substitute Teacher Certification Class, call FC BOCES at 856-2028.