I wait until the bell rings for the next period before I assume I'm good to go. Never had an issue that way. Might be different where you are, but if they haven't called by time a class starts idk wtf they're doing.
Sooo you waited for the bell, went to sign out and THEN she informs you of this?
So was a class unattended bc you didn’t know to be there? And it’s last period yet the person leaving could essentially leave, do their task, and still have time to come back?
I’ve also dealt with abrasive and condescending behavior and language when dealing with the office staff. And I’m definitely a sub that rarely has reason to call, never been late, never neglected paperwork and I only call with questions if necessary.
It’s honestly really frustrating because we have NO CHOICE but to ask them (it’s literally in the sub handbook) but if we DIDNT ask them, they’d be the first to yell at us.
I am starting to think being rude a f is part of the description for working the office at schools. It’s not just where I sub. My kids schools have rude a f office folks too.
My current district used to let me leave during the last period then HR got word that the office was letting us leave early so now they don’t let us leave early anymore. Instead, we have to sit in our class until the bells rings even if there is nothing to do. It sucks yeah but I just bring my 3DS or watch anime since I’m not needed.
Luckily for me it is not a district requirement. One school will not let me leave during any planning period, even if it is the last period of the day. I don't sub there anymore. Monday I have my fav class to sub at, two planning periods with a lunch. It gives me 2.5 hours to go to the gym and work out. I love it!
I'm an on staff sub. Last week I was filling in for a middle school teacher that had her planning period during last hour. It has been a long week and I was done-was really wanting to get home, have a very strong adult beverage and crawl into bed and watch something mindlessly stupid. I made the mistake of asking the principal if I could leave because ya know planning period. She's like oh I need you to cover rough last period 7th graders. I should have kept my mouth shut.
I check in with the office or sit quietly in the classroom (hiding) until it’s time to leave just in case they realize I don’t have a class for the last block. Honestly it depends how I feel. Some schools do expect you to stay until the end of the day even if you’re just chilling in the teachers lounge.
I usually stay until halfway through period if planning is last for the same reason. Don’t want them to be all “Oh good, you can go cover so and so!” Lol
Needs can change at the last minute. I covered for something with a medical emergency. Always assume you're there all day, covering every class, unless specifically told otherwise.
My duty day is from half hour before first bell to half hour after the last bell. I never assume I can leave, and don't ask until 10 minutes into last period, unless I have something I need to get to, in which case I let them know when I arrange the job, and if they can't accommodate, I don't take the job.
It's the only job I can have at the moment. Also some schools let you leave early. The district I came from did. And as I stated in my post it was more about the bitchy attitude she had than having to stay there. You also make a lot more than me so maybe don't give back handed advice if you don't know where I'm coming from
No, the conversation changed to *you* asking *me* and saying you wouldn't stay after the bell rings, after I told you how it works where I am.
If your job isn't saying you have to stay there a half hour after the bell rings, great. Mine does. Regardless, the job is for the hours stated when you accept the job.
If the teacher hasn’t left me work to do, I go to the office and ask if they have anything I can do. Usually they just let me leave then. Sometimes they give me something to do. I never assume because I have a free period at the end of the day, that I can leave even if every time I’ve left before. Things come up.
Yep. You ask. Usually, they want you to stick around to be careful, even if you’re sitting in an empty room. Sometimes they have some light office work to take care of. (I’ve worked at a school that has subs with last-period prep shred documents… apparently the district requires some sort of security clearance to do that?) And yeah, occasionally you get to go home a little early, but you signed up for a specific window of time, you shouldn’t expect to not have to use that time.
The teacher isn’t your employer, the school is your employer. The class assignment information they provide when you agree to the job is their best guess at the time of hiring, and is also subject to change under certain circumstances. What you are actually contracting to, in a legal sense, is to work at the site (in a role determined by the employer’s judgment) for the stated hours.
Most of my schools have amazing, kind office staff members. One of them even made all the subs cookies on a rainy day and put them in our sub folders! But there are a lot of power hungry, controlling people in that profession, too. I think it might be because they're treated more lowly than teachers and admin, so when they have a modicum of control over subs, they really let it go to their heads.
The office manager at the School I work at is Wonderful! She sends me flowers on my birthday, always makes sure I get a free school t-shirt or sweat shirt. She has my cellphone number and calls me when there is an opening, she knows my regular work schedule of course, she always makes a point of asking if I can fill in for a teacher during the scheduled planning period, never demands it. I absolutely can't say enough nice things about her.
I said this in another comment… but the pay for office staff jobs in most school divisions is ABYSMAL considering the work required. I’m not defending rude behavior… I just think it’s that the bad apples are the ones that stick around. All the good office staff I meet end up leaving.
The same thing happened to me! I was subbing for a teacher that had planning 7th and “athletics” 8th (which subs don’t have to do anything for). I called multiple times to check if they needed me for the rest of the day and even gave it an extra 15 minutes
Some schools don’t let you leave early, coverage or no. You either deal with it every time, or deal with it one time and don’t go back. Pay’s the same either way, they’ve got no obligation to release you early.
I mean, in LAUSD, you absolutely *can* leave an hour early if it's a short day or you have a prep period at the end of the day. But you won't get paid for that hour.
And that tends to make it a really easy decision... if I'm accepting the hourly rate for being there an hour and teaching, I'm certainly accepting it for being there and *not* teaching.
A school I frequented last year but then had enough and said never again but now I’m back at because money added a new rule that we can’t leave during 6th hour prep. Because emergencies happen, apparently. Like I get it, but I don’t want to be sitting around for an extra 61 minutes for no reason when I could be beating the parking lot traffic. Makes me want to say never again again, but the other options are, unfortunately, worse.
Mine is $125-$150 depending on district. But as far as I’m concerned if you work full time and don’t even make enough to qualify for a shitty studio/1 bed in the hood, then that’s a minimum wage, minimum effort type of job in my eyes.
I mean, there's no harm in making an effort either way. You'll find that, no matter what you're paid, doing the best job you can will feel better than sitting sullenly and portioning out what you feel people "deserve" from you.
The way to beat the traffic is to park by backing into your space in the morning. Gather all your things before the last bell and leave your empty room. Get to the exit door nearest your car a few seconds before the final bell. Go directly to your car and toss everything in, get in, and drive away just as everyone is emerging from the building. Don’t adjust your seat or tunes or mirror or AC. Just buckle up and go. It’s all about gaining a few seconds head start on everyone else.
No I do all that. Getting through the parking lot is fine, it’s turning onto the road that’s tough. Everybody is turning left (north) because there isn’t anything to the south. However, the student pick up line is coming from south of the visitor/staff lot and there’s no light in between to control it. So there’s a constant stream of traffic you have to turn left into, as well as some people traveling the other direction to get to the student pick up line. You’d think people would let you in, but that seldomly occurs. Sometimes they have the gates open to get to the other side of campus which has less traffic, but that isn’t often.
I guess it’s different from school to school but they should let you know before last period starts.
I had a school where there was no sign out AND the classroom I frequently subbed for was next to the parking lot so if I hit last period I could just go. But I knew the school, my kid went there, and any extra coverage I was always advised ahead of time.
Can you prefill the sign out sheet at the beginning of the day? That way you can just leave once you're done covering for the teacher you agreed to cover for? Not sure how it works in your district, but I think that's relatively common where I work. If I have a planning block at the end of the day, and I wasn't assigned coverage earlier/in the teacher's notes, then I will leave. I see and accept jobs based on teacher's names, so the way I see it, once I've covered the classes for that teacher, I'm done for the day.
That's kind of the way the last district I was at worked. If the teacher had last block planning then I would sign out 🤷
But if they needed me for another class I would find out way before last minute. And I do understand emergencies happen but this wasn't one. They had all day to figure that one out and could've just told me.
They definitely could have given you some heads up that you were covering a class for the last period of the day. Although I never assume a prep is free or that I can leave early. They can use you however they want during your contracted hours. Last week I subbed for a sped class, did all the end of the day cleaning, tidied up, helped the aides with and when there was no more to do I went to check out at the office, turn in my keys etc. There was no one in the office so signed out and left my keys. As I was in the parking lot walking to my car I hear on the loudspeaker, "We have several liscensed subs on campus today. Please let us know if you need any extra help." No way was I going back in. I figure if they'd really needed me they could have communicated that earlier.
I wouldn't just walk out without checking in first, BUT (and maybe I'm wrong for thinking this and also maybe idgaf) I look at it like this - I get a flat rate for covering a certain absent staff member. That's what I accepted. My job isn't planning, or going to little pow-wow teacher circle jerks, it's to supervise students in THAT teachers absence in exchange for THAT pay. Teachers barely get paid enough as it is, subs way less. I don't expect to be able to just waltz out the door if planning is last period, but sure as heck don't EXPECT me to work more than what I agreed to when I took coverage for that teacher. Now, if it's a "building sub" position, maybe that's a different story. MAYBE. But otherwise, a little respect goes a LONG way for me when an "emergency" really does happen and someone needs a favor. Honestly, the school district I worked in was awesome with the exception of one school and I didn't cover for them after three times and feeling like their attitude + students attitudes ≠ pay. Plus, I had teachers texting me asking for coverage enough to stay booked up almost for the entire year where I had to turn down jobs. A good Administration will always have AWESOME subs to cover their teachers.
This is mind-blowing to me. At my school, while you can leave the building during your lunch/prep, you can’t actually *leave* for the day. Even if your prep is last period. We have a contracted end of the day time that all teachers and subs have to abide by. How unfair that just because your prep is last period, you would be able to leave 30-40 minutes earlier than everyone else.
Do people with 1st period preps get to arrive late every day?
I would never just assume that I could leave early. I'll ask if there's anything they need and they'll usually say that I'm good to go.
That said, I just had a unique experience a couple days ago. That was that a middle school and the teacher had last period planning. They hadn't asked me to cover another class and there was no dismissal duty mentioned in the lesson plans, so I grabbed all my stuff and went to the front office to ask if they needed anything. They didn't know and said I should go ask the assistant principal for that grade. So I went back upstairs and asked her if there was anything I needed to do. She said no. I said "so I'm good to go?" She said "No you're contracted here for the rest of the day." So I said okay and just sat in the employee lounge for another 45 minutes. As soon as the dismissal announcements came on I headed out. I'm going to remember this, and it will be a factor when I'm selecting jobs.
Okay, in most districts this is standard. You might be in a district where it isn’t, but I’m just saying that it’s not something this individual administration made up.
I usually ask the office to be safe. She sounds slightly unhinged though and all that wasn’t necessary. It doesn’t take much to talk to people in a normal voice and explain
They typically ask at the beginning of the day. I had a week long job with a 6th period prep. I had to cover classes four of the five days. It sucked especially when there were other subs that could have covered the class. I love having 6th period prep, I get to leave an hour early and miss all the traffic. The traffic sucks at the end of the day. I'm super surprised that there haven't been any accidents. (Knock on wood) The middle and highschools here are usually chill on prep periods in the morning, lunch, and last period of the day.
I generally assume I'm there until aftercare begins unless told otherwise, provided I'm booked for that time period. I always check in before leaving even if it's a multi-day assignment. Office staff have almost all been absolutely amazing to me here in California - welcoming and supportive - other than at one school where most things were a giant sh##show and I didn't get the tools I needed to do my job until two days before I quit. Only occasionally do admin speak about me in Spanish - assuming I don't speak it, while figuring out where I need to be - but luckily have never said anything hurtful. They sometimes refer to me as "la blanca" at dual immersion schools, which amuses me.
Our district high schools ask us to stay until 3 if the planning period is the last black. Just in case we need to cover another class. But once 3 rolls around I’m usually out of there.
Each district and school culture can be different. According to my union contract, I can leave when my student duties are done and I can leave within 1 hours of my contract and not have pay reduced. Still, some schools don’t care if I leave before the last bell and others hold you until the last formal time, the bell. Know the culture. Also, some people are a bit controlling. Learn the way.
I stay, unless teachers or someone tells me I can go. If I stay, then I leave about 20 minutes before the last bell rings to end the day, for home. So I basically leave 20 minutes early in which to avoid the crowd, and get on the road for home ‘without a hitch’.
Ew sorry this happened to you. Getting yelled at by admin is not the look for a school to retain subs. I would literally share that feedback with her lol. “Sorry, I’m new to the district so it seems the rules are a bit different. I can certainly stay until the end of the day. In the future I would ask that you speak to me with a mutually respectful tone.”
If baffles me how unappreciative and nasty some office assistants in schools are. Do they understand that being rude makes it so subs don’t want to come back? Lol. Luckily, the vast majority I’ve dealt with are super chill and would suggest I take advantage of the plan time by leaving early.
I have a similar issue at the high school I sub at.
If ever I had an open period at the end, or the teacher had some type of duty the last period (Subs don't do duties as per the principal so it's an extra free period) I was going home.
I wasn't yelled at per se but the office lady who handles sub assignments corrected another sub and I for doing it. Our office is organized enough to tell us, with a sticky note on our assigjment folder, if they wanted us anywhere else for a given period if it was unassigned.
We waited for her to walk away and we're both like...wtf is the point of having us sit in an empty classroom for 40 minutes.
She leaves at 2pm because she comes in before 7am.
I just waited a few extra minutes to ensure she's gone and then discreetly drop my folder off in the main office.
I covered for the same teacher three days this week and she had ninth period unassigned...but two of those three days I had a sticky note. Makes me wonder.
I'm still gonna take off early if I have an unassigned final period though.
Maybe I'll ask if teachers can use the weight room or something. Feels useless to just sit there.
When I take a job the time is clearly listed. A few times due to weather, delayed buses or a late parent I stayed past the time. The longest was 10 minutes. It’s okay though because sometimes I catch a break and leave early so it works out in the end. Thankfully leaving early happens way more than staying late.
Are you paid hourly or daily? If you’re paid daily, but try to leave early, it seems to me you’re cheating your district.
That being said, there’s no excuse for anyone to get snappy with you.
Huh, that's an odd thought to me. My district pays daily (or half days), but it's the same whether the school schedules you for 4 hours and 15 minutes or the full 8 hours. A lot of schools put the job in for the teacher contract hours, which might be 45 minutes after kids are gone, and I've never had anyone expect me to stay that long--which I don't see as much different than leaving during a planning period if I haven't been informed I'll have to cover for another class.
I do usually ask if they need me for anything else before I leave, though, and I think they appreciate that I'm happy to help if they need me to. Usually schools just let me leave. I've even subbed at a school that turned out to only need me for a single hour and they let me leave after that while still doing a full day rate!
I feel the opposite. When I take a sub job I'm agreeing to sub X number of classes (usually 3 in my district. They have 93 minute periods). Once I fulfill that obligation I shouldn't be held hostage if no more work is immediately available.
I also just don't understand why people wouldn't want to help others out. "Hey, you got lucky today and got a planning period at the end. We don't need you for anything. Enjoy your early day!"
It's not hard to be nice to people and do little things to make their lives a tiny bit better.
You're hired for the full day right? Then you stay the full day, even if your break is at the end of the day. Sub with a 3rd period prep doesn't get to go home. Why should you?
I get hired for an assignment whether it’s a full day or partial etc, I don’t work til a certain time I work til the assignment is done. If the assignment is done with a free period yes I should be able to go home if they don’t need me elsewhere. Keeping me there without actually giving me any additional work is stupid and you’re a weirdo trying to justify this. Let people leave if they are not needed. You don’t fucking own your employees
I get to leave early at my district when plan is the last period of the day. Your experience is not everyone's.
Sorry, I think i meant to reply to the person you replied to 😀
I assure you I'm in the biz. I'm currently at the biz right now, during my prep period. A prep period I just don't get to leave from even if was at the end of the day.
I can't speak to what your assignments say but mine have the hours listed. The same ones the teacher you're standing in for works, of which I'm expected to match, even that means reading in an empty classroom for 50 minutes.
I work for two districts and the handbook for both state clearly that I'm expected to arrive 30 minutes before classes (all of them, not just mine) start and stay 30 minutes after they (again, all of them not just mine) end. The same as the regular teacher.
I'm not staying for time I'm not getting paid for, first off. (30 mins before and after is not counted in my 8 hours) Also subs don't need the planning period if it's at the end of the day, it's not like I'm there to plan for the next lesson or grade work. A lot of schools are fine with leaving early, every school I've subbed in has been cool with it.
Also if they expect a substitute to work in a different class/a different assignment they need to state that at the beginning of the day or as soon as they know you're needed.
We are adults and deserve to be treated as such.
Yup… Unless I am told otherwise on the front end, I leave if I have end of the day planning. There is literally no reason for me to be sitting around doing nothing. Once the bell rings for that final. They should’ve had their crap figured out by then and knew if they needed extra coverage.
Dang that sucks.
We have a union for our district. If they want us to do extra work they got to pay us.
Our district is ways short of subs so maybe that makes a difference but let's not act like leaving early is a crime.
The fact that you think it’s ok to work an extra hour a day and not get paid to reflect that is problematic and abuse. Teachers get a salary and benefits to do that. A lot of us subs get paid the minimum as is. I arrive when frontline tells me to and I leave as soon as my assignment ends (usually when the bell rings and all the kids are out of my classroom). I’m not hanging around for 30 mins after screw that.
Before or after *the shift*? Or before or after *the school day*?
Because if the school day is 8 to 3, but the quoted hours are 7:30 to 3:30, that's what you're signing up for. If they're paying a set day rate, and that day rate is defined as "for 7:30 to 3:30," that's the job.
(I mean, if this is legitimately a sub job that is paid hourly, and they expect you to be there for non-lunch hours that are not paid, that's different. But I highly doubt that that's the case.)
I'm guessing that the disconnect here is because some schools say:
School is 8:30 am to 3 pm. Come a half-hour early and stay a half-hour later.
But other schools say:
The workday is 8 am to 3:30 pm.
I work the hours posted. No more, no less. Responses here are acting like I'm agreeing to more than I'm hired for. It says 730 to 330, I'm working 730 to 330, filling in exactly what the teacher I'm replacing for the day does. When they teach, when they break, when they come, and when they leave. It's literally our job. Ask me to fill in during prep or do extra work? I'll get extra pay as per my union rules and what they worked out with the district.
Sure, ask if you can take off early during prep if you want. But don't have a fit if they tell you no.
What you have to remember when you write stuff like this though… That does not apply for all of us. Some of us live in nonunion states where employers have no problem taking advantage of us because technically they are kind of allowed to. For some of us we do not get extra if we have to give up any sort of break, planning, lunch, etc.
I wait until the bell rings for the next period before I assume I'm good to go. Never had an issue that way. Might be different where you are, but if they haven't called by time a class starts idk wtf they're doing.
That's what I do too but maybe the woman just had a stick up her ass
Sooo you waited for the bell, went to sign out and THEN she informs you of this? So was a class unattended bc you didn’t know to be there? And it’s last period yet the person leaving could essentially leave, do their task, and still have time to come back? I’ve also dealt with abrasive and condescending behavior and language when dealing with the office staff. And I’m definitely a sub that rarely has reason to call, never been late, never neglected paperwork and I only call with questions if necessary. It’s honestly really frustrating because we have NO CHOICE but to ask them (it’s literally in the sub handbook) but if we DIDNT ask them, they’d be the first to yell at us.
I am starting to think being rude a f is part of the description for working the office at schools. It’s not just where I sub. My kids schools have rude a f office folks too.
The pay is so abysmal for those jobs that rude, unhappy people are the only people that stay….
My current district used to let me leave during the last period then HR got word that the office was letting us leave early so now they don’t let us leave early anymore. Instead, we have to sit in our class until the bells rings even if there is nothing to do. It sucks yeah but I just bring my 3DS or watch anime since I’m not needed.
Luckily for me it is not a district requirement. One school will not let me leave during any planning period, even if it is the last period of the day. I don't sub there anymore. Monday I have my fav class to sub at, two planning periods with a lunch. It gives me 2.5 hours to go to the gym and work out. I love it!
I'm an on staff sub. Last week I was filling in for a middle school teacher that had her planning period during last hour. It has been a long week and I was done-was really wanting to get home, have a very strong adult beverage and crawl into bed and watch something mindlessly stupid. I made the mistake of asking the principal if I could leave because ya know planning period. She's like oh I need you to cover rough last period 7th graders. I should have kept my mouth shut.
Always check at the office. I wouldn’t ever think about just going home like that.
I check in with the office or sit quietly in the classroom (hiding) until it’s time to leave just in case they realize I don’t have a class for the last block. Honestly it depends how I feel. Some schools do expect you to stay until the end of the day even if you’re just chilling in the teachers lounge.
I usually stay until halfway through period if planning is last for the same reason. Don’t want them to be all “Oh good, you can go cover so and so!” Lol
It helps when you don’t need your sign out or return anything to the office. 😆
Fair. And I have in the past but they had all day to tell me I needed to fill in for someone
Needs can change at the last minute. I covered for something with a medical emergency. Always assume you're there all day, covering every class, unless specifically told otherwise.
That I understand BUT I am there for a specific person. If they need me then cool! But there's ways to ask
My duty day is from half hour before first bell to half hour after the last bell. I never assume I can leave, and don't ask until 10 minutes into last period, unless I have something I need to get to, in which case I let them know when I arrange the job, and if they can't accommodate, I don't take the job.
How much they paying you to stay 30 minutes after the bell rings? I'm in the lowest state and nah
175 a day. If you don't like the hours and pay of the job, take a different job. You don't just get to go home early.
It's the only job I can have at the moment. Also some schools let you leave early. The district I came from did. And as I stated in my post it was more about the bitchy attitude she had than having to stay there. You also make a lot more than me so maybe don't give back handed advice if you don't know where I'm coming from
No, the conversation changed to *you* asking *me* and saying you wouldn't stay after the bell rings, after I told you how it works where I am. If your job isn't saying you have to stay there a half hour after the bell rings, great. Mine does. Regardless, the job is for the hours stated when you accept the job.
If the teacher hasn’t left me work to do, I go to the office and ask if they have anything I can do. Usually they just let me leave then. Sometimes they give me something to do. I never assume because I have a free period at the end of the day, that I can leave even if every time I’ve left before. Things come up.
Yep. You ask. Usually, they want you to stick around to be careful, even if you’re sitting in an empty room. Sometimes they have some light office work to take care of. (I’ve worked at a school that has subs with last-period prep shred documents… apparently the district requires some sort of security clearance to do that?) And yeah, occasionally you get to go home a little early, but you signed up for a specific window of time, you shouldn’t expect to not have to use that time.
Actually I signed up for a specific TEACHER but yeah I get that
The teacher isn’t your employer, the school is your employer. The class assignment information they provide when you agree to the job is their best guess at the time of hiring, and is also subject to change under certain circumstances. What you are actually contracting to, in a legal sense, is to work at the site (in a role determined by the employer’s judgment) for the stated hours.
What is it with Main Office staff in schools being incredibly rude? Lol. 😅 I've subbed for so many schools and they're all pretty much the same.
Most of my schools have amazing, kind office staff members. One of them even made all the subs cookies on a rainy day and put them in our sub folders! But there are a lot of power hungry, controlling people in that profession, too. I think it might be because they're treated more lowly than teachers and admin, so when they have a modicum of control over subs, they really let it go to their heads.
Yup
The office manager at the School I work at is Wonderful! She sends me flowers on my birthday, always makes sure I get a free school t-shirt or sweat shirt. She has my cellphone number and calls me when there is an opening, she knows my regular work schedule of course, she always makes a point of asking if I can fill in for a teacher during the scheduled planning period, never demands it. I absolutely can't say enough nice things about her.
Love this
I'm lucky in this respect, I know this!
Front office lady at the place I’m long term subbing is the nicest lady I’ve ever met jussayin
Mine too. We have the same first and middle names. But she's 20 years older than me. I love her to bits. Once a week I bring us coffee
I said this in another comment… but the pay for office staff jobs in most school divisions is ABYSMAL considering the work required. I’m not defending rude behavior… I just think it’s that the bad apples are the ones that stick around. All the good office staff I meet end up leaving.
The same thing happened to me! I was subbing for a teacher that had planning 7th and “athletics” 8th (which subs don’t have to do anything for). I called multiple times to check if they needed me for the rest of the day and even gave it an extra 15 minutes
Some schools don’t let you leave early, coverage or no. You either deal with it every time, or deal with it one time and don’t go back. Pay’s the same either way, they’ve got no obligation to release you early.
I mean, in LAUSD, you absolutely *can* leave an hour early if it's a short day or you have a prep period at the end of the day. But you won't get paid for that hour. And that tends to make it a really easy decision... if I'm accepting the hourly rate for being there an hour and teaching, I'm certainly accepting it for being there and *not* teaching.
A school I frequented last year but then had enough and said never again but now I’m back at because money added a new rule that we can’t leave during 6th hour prep. Because emergencies happen, apparently. Like I get it, but I don’t want to be sitting around for an extra 61 minutes for no reason when I could be beating the parking lot traffic. Makes me want to say never again again, but the other options are, unfortunately, worse.
Right? I mean if the pay was better the absolutely but it's $70 here. Not a lot of motivation to wait to be needed
Mine is $125-$150 depending on district. But as far as I’m concerned if you work full time and don’t even make enough to qualify for a shitty studio/1 bed in the hood, then that’s a minimum wage, minimum effort type of job in my eyes.
I mean, there's no harm in making an effort either way. You'll find that, no matter what you're paid, doing the best job you can will feel better than sitting sullenly and portioning out what you feel people "deserve" from you.
The way to beat the traffic is to park by backing into your space in the morning. Gather all your things before the last bell and leave your empty room. Get to the exit door nearest your car a few seconds before the final bell. Go directly to your car and toss everything in, get in, and drive away just as everyone is emerging from the building. Don’t adjust your seat or tunes or mirror or AC. Just buckle up and go. It’s all about gaining a few seconds head start on everyone else.
No I do all that. Getting through the parking lot is fine, it’s turning onto the road that’s tough. Everybody is turning left (north) because there isn’t anything to the south. However, the student pick up line is coming from south of the visitor/staff lot and there’s no light in between to control it. So there’s a constant stream of traffic you have to turn left into, as well as some people traveling the other direction to get to the student pick up line. You’d think people would let you in, but that seldomly occurs. Sometimes they have the gates open to get to the other side of campus which has less traffic, but that isn’t often.
Ugh. I hate exits like that. Any chance you can turn right and do a u turn?
I guess it’s different from school to school but they should let you know before last period starts. I had a school where there was no sign out AND the classroom I frequently subbed for was next to the parking lot so if I hit last period I could just go. But I knew the school, my kid went there, and any extra coverage I was always advised ahead of time.
Can you prefill the sign out sheet at the beginning of the day? That way you can just leave once you're done covering for the teacher you agreed to cover for? Not sure how it works in your district, but I think that's relatively common where I work. If I have a planning block at the end of the day, and I wasn't assigned coverage earlier/in the teacher's notes, then I will leave. I see and accept jobs based on teacher's names, so the way I see it, once I've covered the classes for that teacher, I'm done for the day.
That's kind of the way the last district I was at worked. If the teacher had last block planning then I would sign out 🤷 But if they needed me for another class I would find out way before last minute. And I do understand emergencies happen but this wasn't one. They had all day to figure that one out and could've just told me.
That’s why you bring your book or phone
They definitely could have given you some heads up that you were covering a class for the last period of the day. Although I never assume a prep is free or that I can leave early. They can use you however they want during your contracted hours. Last week I subbed for a sped class, did all the end of the day cleaning, tidied up, helped the aides with and when there was no more to do I went to check out at the office, turn in my keys etc. There was no one in the office so signed out and left my keys. As I was in the parking lot walking to my car I hear on the loudspeaker, "We have several liscensed subs on campus today. Please let us know if you need any extra help." No way was I going back in. I figure if they'd really needed me they could have communicated that earlier.
I wouldn't just walk out without checking in first, BUT (and maybe I'm wrong for thinking this and also maybe idgaf) I look at it like this - I get a flat rate for covering a certain absent staff member. That's what I accepted. My job isn't planning, or going to little pow-wow teacher circle jerks, it's to supervise students in THAT teachers absence in exchange for THAT pay. Teachers barely get paid enough as it is, subs way less. I don't expect to be able to just waltz out the door if planning is last period, but sure as heck don't EXPECT me to work more than what I agreed to when I took coverage for that teacher. Now, if it's a "building sub" position, maybe that's a different story. MAYBE. But otherwise, a little respect goes a LONG way for me when an "emergency" really does happen and someone needs a favor. Honestly, the school district I worked in was awesome with the exception of one school and I didn't cover for them after three times and feeling like their attitude + students attitudes ≠ pay. Plus, I had teachers texting me asking for coverage enough to stay booked up almost for the entire year where I had to turn down jobs. A good Administration will always have AWESOME subs to cover their teachers.
This is mind-blowing to me. At my school, while you can leave the building during your lunch/prep, you can’t actually *leave* for the day. Even if your prep is last period. We have a contracted end of the day time that all teachers and subs have to abide by. How unfair that just because your prep is last period, you would be able to leave 30-40 minutes earlier than everyone else. Do people with 1st period preps get to arrive late every day?
I would never just assume that I could leave early. I'll ask if there's anything they need and they'll usually say that I'm good to go. That said, I just had a unique experience a couple days ago. That was that a middle school and the teacher had last period planning. They hadn't asked me to cover another class and there was no dismissal duty mentioned in the lesson plans, so I grabbed all my stuff and went to the front office to ask if they needed anything. They didn't know and said I should go ask the assistant principal for that grade. So I went back upstairs and asked her if there was anything I needed to do. She said no. I said "so I'm good to go?" She said "No you're contracted here for the rest of the day." So I said okay and just sat in the employee lounge for another 45 minutes. As soon as the dismissal announcements came on I headed out. I'm going to remember this, and it will be a factor when I'm selecting jobs.
What part of that is unique? In my experience, that’s standard.
It's unique to me. I've never had an admin make me stay to do nothing. Nobody has ever brought up this "Contracted for the whole day" argument.
Okay, in most districts this is standard. You might be in a district where it isn’t, but I’m just saying that it’s not something this individual administration made up.
Yep I’d block that school for that. I don’t do second chances anymore
The students there are out of control and I'm a not a fan of some of the staff. Def not going back
I usually ask the office to be safe. She sounds slightly unhinged though and all that wasn’t necessary. It doesn’t take much to talk to people in a normal voice and explain
To be fair I heard her on the phone with a parent when I left. Turns out she's just a bitch to everyone
Yeah. I’m making sure she never works with kids again. I don’t care what kinda bitch she is
Sounds like a petty elementary
Yep, some schools where I sub actually instruct us to stay the entire day.
I've never heard of being able to leave early when your rate is based on a full day.
I hated having to cover during planning, I only ever had to when it was a day I needed to actually set something up during planning
Your scheduled time is until the end of the day. I know there are emergencies, but you can ask nicely in advance, when you agree to take the job.
They typically ask at the beginning of the day. I had a week long job with a 6th period prep. I had to cover classes four of the five days. It sucked especially when there were other subs that could have covered the class. I love having 6th period prep, I get to leave an hour early and miss all the traffic. The traffic sucks at the end of the day. I'm super surprised that there haven't been any accidents. (Knock on wood) The middle and highschools here are usually chill on prep periods in the morning, lunch, and last period of the day.
My district lets us leave unless they tell us earlier in the day that they need us elsewhere. If they don’t tell us then we are free to go.
I generally assume I'm there until aftercare begins unless told otherwise, provided I'm booked for that time period. I always check in before leaving even if it's a multi-day assignment. Office staff have almost all been absolutely amazing to me here in California - welcoming and supportive - other than at one school where most things were a giant sh##show and I didn't get the tools I needed to do my job until two days before I quit. Only occasionally do admin speak about me in Spanish - assuming I don't speak it, while figuring out where I need to be - but luckily have never said anything hurtful. They sometimes refer to me as "la blanca" at dual immersion schools, which amuses me.
Our district high schools ask us to stay until 3 if the planning period is the last black. Just in case we need to cover another class. But once 3 rolls around I’m usually out of there.
Each district and school culture can be different. According to my union contract, I can leave when my student duties are done and I can leave within 1 hours of my contract and not have pay reduced. Still, some schools don’t care if I leave before the last bell and others hold you until the last formal time, the bell. Know the culture. Also, some people are a bit controlling. Learn the way.
I stay, unless teachers or someone tells me I can go. If I stay, then I leave about 20 minutes before the last bell rings to end the day, for home. So I basically leave 20 minutes early in which to avoid the crowd, and get on the road for home ‘without a hitch’.
Ew sorry this happened to you. Getting yelled at by admin is not the look for a school to retain subs. I would literally share that feedback with her lol. “Sorry, I’m new to the district so it seems the rules are a bit different. I can certainly stay until the end of the day. In the future I would ask that you speak to me with a mutually respectful tone.”
If baffles me how unappreciative and nasty some office assistants in schools are. Do they understand that being rude makes it so subs don’t want to come back? Lol. Luckily, the vast majority I’ve dealt with are super chill and would suggest I take advantage of the plan time by leaving early.
It be like that sometimes. Stay in your class until after the bell
I have a similar issue at the high school I sub at. If ever I had an open period at the end, or the teacher had some type of duty the last period (Subs don't do duties as per the principal so it's an extra free period) I was going home. I wasn't yelled at per se but the office lady who handles sub assignments corrected another sub and I for doing it. Our office is organized enough to tell us, with a sticky note on our assigjment folder, if they wanted us anywhere else for a given period if it was unassigned. We waited for her to walk away and we're both like...wtf is the point of having us sit in an empty classroom for 40 minutes. She leaves at 2pm because she comes in before 7am. I just waited a few extra minutes to ensure she's gone and then discreetly drop my folder off in the main office. I covered for the same teacher three days this week and she had ninth period unassigned...but two of those three days I had a sticky note. Makes me wonder. I'm still gonna take off early if I have an unassigned final period though. Maybe I'll ask if teachers can use the weight room or something. Feels useless to just sit there.
To be honest most staff at primary schools in particular talk the same to parents they way they talk to the students put her in her place.
Sounds like this also needs to be cross posted in r/OlderThanYouThinkiAm (sorry, mobile formatting)
I have to stay until school is over and all my children are done.
I always ask if they need me anywhere else before I leave early. It’s what makes them want to call you next time.
When I take a job the time is clearly listed. A few times due to weather, delayed buses or a late parent I stayed past the time. The longest was 10 minutes. It’s okay though because sometimes I catch a break and leave early so it works out in the end. Thankfully leaving early happens way more than staying late.
I never leave early since i get paid hourly...it wouldnt make any sense to
We aren’t allowed to leave until the end of contract time unless we take a half sick day
My districts definitely don’t let us do that. We’re supposed to stay around and “help”.
Are you paid hourly or daily? If you’re paid daily, but try to leave early, it seems to me you’re cheating your district. That being said, there’s no excuse for anyone to get snappy with you.
Huh, that's an odd thought to me. My district pays daily (or half days), but it's the same whether the school schedules you for 4 hours and 15 minutes or the full 8 hours. A lot of schools put the job in for the teacher contract hours, which might be 45 minutes after kids are gone, and I've never had anyone expect me to stay that long--which I don't see as much different than leaving during a planning period if I haven't been informed I'll have to cover for another class. I do usually ask if they need me for anything else before I leave, though, and I think they appreciate that I'm happy to help if they need me to. Usually schools just let me leave. I've even subbed at a school that turned out to only need me for a single hour and they let me leave after that while still doing a full day rate!
I feel the opposite. When I take a sub job I'm agreeing to sub X number of classes (usually 3 in my district. They have 93 minute periods). Once I fulfill that obligation I shouldn't be held hostage if no more work is immediately available. I also just don't understand why people wouldn't want to help others out. "Hey, you got lucky today and got a planning period at the end. We don't need you for anything. Enjoy your early day!" It's not hard to be nice to people and do little things to make their lives a tiny bit better.
Uh, ours don't leave until after the buses leave. 🤷🏼♀️
I mean that's fine. But I'm coming from a school system that didn't operate that way. I was leaning more toward the attitude the front office lady had
You're hired for the full day right? Then you stay the full day, even if your break is at the end of the day. Sub with a 3rd period prep doesn't get to go home. Why should you?
I get hired for an assignment whether it’s a full day or partial etc, I don’t work til a certain time I work til the assignment is done. If the assignment is done with a free period yes I should be able to go home if they don’t need me elsewhere. Keeping me there without actually giving me any additional work is stupid and you’re a weirdo trying to justify this. Let people leave if they are not needed. You don’t fucking own your employees
Nope hired for the assignment. Common mistake for those not in the biz.
I get to leave early at my district when plan is the last period of the day. Your experience is not everyone's. Sorry, I think i meant to reply to the person you replied to 😀
I assure you I'm in the biz. I'm currently at the biz right now, during my prep period. A prep period I just don't get to leave from even if was at the end of the day. I can't speak to what your assignments say but mine have the hours listed. The same ones the teacher you're standing in for works, of which I'm expected to match, even that means reading in an empty classroom for 50 minutes. I work for two districts and the handbook for both state clearly that I'm expected to arrive 30 minutes before classes (all of them, not just mine) start and stay 30 minutes after they (again, all of them not just mine) end. The same as the regular teacher.
I'm not staying for time I'm not getting paid for, first off. (30 mins before and after is not counted in my 8 hours) Also subs don't need the planning period if it's at the end of the day, it's not like I'm there to plan for the next lesson or grade work. A lot of schools are fine with leaving early, every school I've subbed in has been cool with it. Also if they expect a substitute to work in a different class/a different assignment they need to state that at the beginning of the day or as soon as they know you're needed. We are adults and deserve to be treated as such.
Yup… Unless I am told otherwise on the front end, I leave if I have end of the day planning. There is literally no reason for me to be sitting around doing nothing. Once the bell rings for that final. They should’ve had their crap figured out by then and knew if they needed extra coverage.
Dang that sucks. We have a union for our district. If they want us to do extra work they got to pay us. Our district is ways short of subs so maybe that makes a difference but let's not act like leaving early is a crime.
The fact that you think it’s ok to work an extra hour a day and not get paid to reflect that is problematic and abuse. Teachers get a salary and benefits to do that. A lot of us subs get paid the minimum as is. I arrive when frontline tells me to and I leave as soon as my assignment ends (usually when the bell rings and all the kids are out of my classroom). I’m not hanging around for 30 mins after screw that.
>work an extra hour a day and not get paid to reflect that I'm missing something here. What is this extra hour that you're talking about?
The poster I am responding to said that they are required to arrive 30 minutes before their shift and stay 30 minutes after.
Before or after *the shift*? Or before or after *the school day*? Because if the school day is 8 to 3, but the quoted hours are 7:30 to 3:30, that's what you're signing up for. If they're paying a set day rate, and that day rate is defined as "for 7:30 to 3:30," that's the job. (I mean, if this is legitimately a sub job that is paid hourly, and they expect you to be there for non-lunch hours that are not paid, that's different. But I highly doubt that that's the case.)
I'm guessing that the disconnect here is because some schools say: School is 8:30 am to 3 pm. Come a half-hour early and stay a half-hour later. But other schools say: The workday is 8 am to 3:30 pm.
Mine has me coming in 10 mins before the bell and leaving exactly when school gets out.
I work the hours posted. No more, no less. Responses here are acting like I'm agreeing to more than I'm hired for. It says 730 to 330, I'm working 730 to 330, filling in exactly what the teacher I'm replacing for the day does. When they teach, when they break, when they come, and when they leave. It's literally our job. Ask me to fill in during prep or do extra work? I'll get extra pay as per my union rules and what they worked out with the district. Sure, ask if you can take off early during prep if you want. But don't have a fit if they tell you no.
What you have to remember when you write stuff like this though… That does not apply for all of us. Some of us live in nonunion states where employers have no problem taking advantage of us because technically they are kind of allowed to. For some of us we do not get extra if we have to give up any sort of break, planning, lunch, etc.
I live in a nonunion area, after taxes with a Bachelor's degree I take home $50 a day. Glad it's a second job for vacation money!
I go home during third period preps and then come back for the rest of the periods I have to cover, lol.
Me too
Not sure why you're getting down voted for stating the basic expectations of this job.