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Substitute Teaching

Thank you for your interest in a SUBSTITUTE teaching position with the Washington County Public School system. Listed below are materials which must be submitted to the Human Resources Department to complete your substitute application. Links provided are to PDF versions of the appropriate forms.

  1. Three (3) completed Recommendation of Candidate for Substitute Teaching form ( 1 page - Adobe PDF form 8.44 KB).
  2. Evidence of your TB test   (1 page - Adobe PDF form 28.44 KB). 
  3. Copy of High school diploma,college transcripts, and/or copy of teaching certificate.

When all applicant materials have been received, your file will be reviewed, and you will be contacted for a screening interview. If selected, you will be contacted for fingerprinting. If you are not selected, you will be notified by mail.

I. Selection

 Substitute teachers will be placed in groups as follows:

Group A:  Degree-holding teachers who are, have been, or could have been fully certificated in Maryland; degree-holding teachers who can, under special State-approved reciprocity arrangements, fully certified in theState; and retired teachers from the Washington County Public School system.

Group B:  Individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or above and do not have full certification in the State.

Group C:  Individuals having less than a bachelor’s degree.

The applicant for substitute teaching has the responsibility of placing on file in the Human Resources Office all necessary official documents,  which shall include post-secondary transcripts and grade reports, high school records and teaching certificates. School administrators shall be expected to utilize the services of substitutes in Group A before using persons listed in Group B, and persons in Group B before using those listed in Group C.

II. Responsibilities

A. The regular teacher shall provide:

  1. Seating charts arranged for reading from the teacher’s desk.
  2. A daily class schedule for the teacher including section number, room number, and time periods. 
  3. A set of lesson plans in the teacher’s plan book.
  4. School or classroom discipline plan.

The above data and materials shall be kept in the center or main drawer of the teacher’s desk.

B. The school administrator or designee shall provide:

  1. An orientation period for the substitute to include the school plan, school policies and procedures, and the use of intra-school forms.
  2. Suggestions on classroom procedures and other pertinent areas that will assist the substitute in having an effective and worthwhile teaching experience.
  3. A congenial and pleasant atmosphere in which to work.

C. The school system shall provide:

  1. A system for evaluation of substitutes that will insure the best qualified and most skillful person in each classroom.
  2. Periodical orientation sessions for persons who have been selected as substitutes for teaching in the county school system.

D. The substitute teacher shall:

  1. Make every effort to preserve the regular routine of the class, follow the plans designed by the classroom teacher, and perform such duties as required.
  2. Attend special orientation sessions provided by the school system and such meetings as requested by the school administration.
  3. Complete reports that are requested or required by the school.
  4. Mark all written work assigned to students and record the grades, if any, for all students unless directed to do otherwise by the classroom teacher.
  5. Notify the Human Resources Office immediately if he or she is no longer available for substitute work.

III. Evaluation

The evaluation of substitute teachers is a continuous, cooperative, and constructive process which may involve the substitute, the classroom teacher, and the school administrator.

A. After effective evaluation procedures are utilized, school administrators should communicate with the Supervisor of Human Resources, whenever a substitute teacher’s performance is ineffective or is of questionable value to the school system.

B. Before May 31, the Human Resources Office shall acquire from school administrators, evaluations of all substitute teachers who were employed in the school system during the school year. To facilitate these evaluations, it is recommended that the Substitute Evaluation Report form be used.

C. Substitute teachers whose performance is unacceptable, or their contributions to the school system are questionable shall be notified and removed from the approved substitute list.

IV. Conditions of Employment (Effective July 1, 1997)

A. Compensation

  • Group A – $100.00
  • Group B – $75.00
  • Group C – $64.00

(Groups defined in Section 1 – Selection)

B. Pay Period

Substitute teachers shall be paid on a bi-weekly basis. Paychecks are mailed directly to the substitute's home address, or the substitute may sign up for direct deposit.

C. Hours of Employment

A substitute shall be considered to have worked a full day if he or she has been employed for not less than four hours, excluding a duty-free lunch period. In the interest of being properly prepared for the day’s work, a substitute should report in advance of the first regularly scheduled class in order to be properly oriented.

The substitute shall be considered to be employed for a half-day if he or she is on the job not less than two and one-half hours. A substitute should not ordinarily be employed if the work period involves less than two and one-half hours.

D. Long-Term Substitutes

A substitute employed eleven or more consecutive days in the same position shall be considered to be a longterm substitute. Eleven (11) or more days are defined as days in which school was actually in session. Longterm substitutes will be so designated on the eleventh (11th) consecutive day and thereafter in the same position. (REPORT 11TH DAY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SCHOOL)

Daily compensation for long-term substitutes will be at a rate calculated as follows (for certified classroom teacher positions only):

  • Group A – $120.00
  • Group B – $85.00
  • Group C – $74.00
  • Long-term substitute pay will not be retroactive to the first day of employment. The long-term payrate does not apply when a substitute is assigned to a paraprofessional position.
  • Long-term substitutes shall be expected to assume the responsibilities of a regularly certified employee.
  • Substitute teachers shall not participate in the health and welfare plans or other fringe benefits of the school system.

E. Application Process
As a condition of employment each substitute must :