S Folinsky

I live in L.A. A close friend had a mid-life change in career. He was highly educated, but simply got tired of the pursuit for research grants. He worked as a teacher in a private high school while taking the supplemental courses to sit for the California certification exams. He then worked for LAUSD.

So, no certification required to work in private schools. It is required for public schools. (I have no idea about "charter" schools). From what I understand, everyone has to take some supplental coursework.

Good luck.

carcajou

Friends of mine who are principals, and higher, in the US have told me in the past year that their schools/systems are paying between $80 and $100 per day. It does vary from district to district.

So if someone is subbing every day . . . that would top out at . . . not a lot of money per month, as you indicated. In fact, it's ballpark with working at Denny's or other similar employment.

However, as difficult as subbing is - if there was someone like your friend who did it because they liked it - and that was genuinely why they were doing it - I would probably want that person on staff full-time.

morpeth

Yes varies a lot by district and state- in Ohio the average substitute teacher could make $26,000 per year ( compared to working at a place similar to Denny's at $18,000 per year) but in most parts of Ohio $26,000 per year would pay for rent, food, and then some. Looked up on internet and it said average California substitute teacher can make $36,000 per year, which in some parts of California probably couldn't cover rent on a decent house. But nice supplemental income as OP said husband was one moving for job if I recall.

Getting into government school as teacher and in the union, salaries can be lucrative especially including the generous health and pension benefits. I looked up one elementary school in Orange country near Los Angeles county, quite a few teachers making over $100,000 per year.

The advantage of substitute teacher I think is one gets used to system, makes some contacts, and school can advise and help on getting certifications.

Maste

Charter schools are state dependant. Some states require certification, some don't. So you know for future reference!

A_Cruz1

Big thank you to everyone who has given me valuable advice. Lots to think about. Thanks ever so much!

Bob

Where I am, to be a sub, you put your name in at the school district level and they send you out to the schools in the district you are interested in, when needed. There's supposed to be a rotating list they go through but the reality is, if you don't have friends in the right places, you'll never get high enough on the list to get either the nice schools, or the locations you are interested in. There is always a need for sub teachers, but it's the same handful of people that get the positions all the time it would seem.

As for masters, there isn't a strict requirement for a teaching position, even in pre-school, but the reality is around here, with so many teachers, that if you don't have one, you won't even get a interview.

I think the long term music sub only got it because she had something like 20 years experience teaching in the neighbouring state and had recently moved back here, but even so, she had taught in the district when she first got out of college.

Bob

It's really hit or miss down my way. Averages to $22 a hour in Boston, or $110 a day. Our school district, I think pays $85 a day, which is pretty poor in comparison.

morpeth

It seems every state is different in the circumstances. In Oho I know lot sof schools go through agencies though like any organization and maybe more in the academic field who you know helps. Anyway being a substitute can generate can help develop contacts for full time positon which seem to pay quite well when one counts the benefits. pension and of course vacation time.

S Folinsky

OP says "LA" which in context means the Los Angeles metropolitan area. There are quite a few school districts in the area. Los Angeles Unified is by and far the biggest. There are many local districts in Los Angeles County and adjacent counties. For example, from where I live, it would be a shorter commute to Glendale Unified or Pasadena Unified than to most school in LA Unified.

livinginparadise5

Hi, I teach in the Bay Area in an international school with a UK qualification and no state certification. If you are considering international schools, January is typically the recruitment season for the next school year. Good luck!

A_Cruz1

Good to know! Thank you.

scrubbedexpat099

Which visa did they sponsor you for, how long did it take.

livinginparadise5

I have the J1, although have colleagues with various other visas. We got our jobs a year ago, but started in August (one of the biggest international teaching recruitment fairs is in London this weekend, hence why most schools do their recruitment now). Two of the larger recruitment agencies are Search Associates and CIS, although if you're looking to move somewhere specific, you could always write speculatively to the private schools in that area.
The visa process was a matter of weeks for us.

scrubbedexpat099

So this is a short term placement?

Maste

My teacher friend in the UK looked in to the J-1 teacher exchange. It's basically expected you'll share your experience back home in the UK, so I imagine it would come with the 2 year home stay attached, possibly.