Applications to substitute teach surge

Shirley Kalafatis, a retired school principal, remembers when finding substitute teachers for Randolph Elementary School in Goochland County was a challenge.

"A few years ago, it was a real struggle," she said. "But now, there's an overabundance of subs."

She's one of them now, working in Goochland schools several days a week.

With the economy on precarious footing, school districts find themselves inundated with applications for substitute positions.

It's a way to pick up some quick money -- some teachers can make more than $100 a day -- while having flexibility for job interviews or for family needs.

Kalafatis said she feels more secure earning a little extra cash to supplement her pension while doing a job she loves. She has seen a lot of new substitutes coming in who need the money.

So has Cassandra Hines, certification specialist for human resources in Petersburg public schools.

"We have definitely noticed a lot of applicants coming from places where there have been layoffs," she said. Applications nearly have doubled from a year ago.

Henrico County is seeing a huge increase in interest in substitute positions, said Philip R. Jepson, director of human resources.

"We were seeing 25-30 a week at our orientation sessions, and we still weren't keeping up with the demand," he said.

Because school systems can't use all the candidates, Henrico and Chesterfield County have stopped accepting substitute applications.

"When we got to about 2,000 in our pool, we started freezing applications," Jepson said. "We evaluate the number every month. We will take applications when the pool goes down to about 1,500 or 1,600."

Chesterfield was receiving about 25 applications per week, much higher than previous years, schools spokesman Shawn Smith said. "As of January 1, we stopped processing any new applications," he said.

In Richmond, a substitute teacher with a college degree earns $74.02 per day. In Henrico, it's $83.84, but Henrico pays an additional $25 per day at what it calls challenge schools, mostly those in the eastern part of the county that officials say are harder to staff.

Some districts pay less for substitute teachers who do not have a college degree.

Permanent subs -- those who work in one assignment more than 20 consecutive days -- earn more. Instructional assistants and secretaries earn slightly less.

Richmond Public Schools substitute applications are up about 30 percent this year, spokesman Alfonzo Mathis said. The system still is accepting applications.

Even in relatively small Goochland, substitute-leave coordinator Laurie Tilman has seen applications increase about 50 percent this year.

"They've always trickled in, but they're flowing in a lot faster this year," she said. "Perhaps people are between jobs or have a spouse impacted and lost a job."

Contact Lisa Crutchfield at (804) 649-6362 or .

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