subbing vs teaching assistant

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2001 : July : 10

subbing vs teaching assistant
By Carolyn

I worked in the Northeast, also (PA). As soon as I graduated with my teaching certificate, I began to sub. I took a long-term substitute position as a sixth grade teacher in the middle school where I had done my student teaching.
I had the position for one semester. The following year, I began to sub on a daily basis, then the year after that I took a position as an instructional assistant. There was such a glut of teachers where I lived that they actually hired certified teachers at 1/2 of the salary (at least) to work as instructional assistants. Competition for these instructional assistant positions

was intense, believe it or not. Competition for long-term substitute positions was also intense.

Should you chose a long-term or daily sub position over an instructional position? I'll give you my impressions here, and then I will let you decide. I liked the benefits I received--full medical, dental, vision when I was an assistant. In addition, I was accruing retirement benefits while I worked as an assistant. I could depend upon getting up in the morning to go to the same school, working with the same children, and forming a bond with an instructional, administrative, and office staff. The biggest downside was the waiting game. I waited for three years to get a full-time teaching position while I was an assistant. I came to resent the salary I was earning while I worked alongside people who had the same credentials I had but earned so much more money. Sure, the money isn't everything, but I wanted to get paid what I was worth, and I did want to improve my standard of living.

Working as a substitute gave me more flexibility in my time than I had as an assistant. I could refuse an assignment if I didn't want it. I got to meet a lot of people--teachers, kids, parents, and administrators. I thought subbing was fun. On the downside, you don't get any benefits. You may go a couple of weeks without a phone call and go crazy from boredom, as I did. I only earned $60 a day, which wasn't as much as I earned as an assistant.

Now I am living in North Carolina and teaching full-time in South Carolina. I look back upon those days I subbed and worked as an assistant with fond memories. Both were wonderful experiences for me and helped prepare me for what I do today.

As for what path you should choose, I think you should think about the money, especially if you are single. Which job pays you more? Again, money isn't everything, but if you have to pay rent and car payments, it does make a difference.

How would you feel about bouncing from one classroom to another to teach? Would you prefer being in the same classroom all of the time?

Ask yourself questions like these and consider what I have said about my own experience. I quit my assistant job to become a substitute, then I regretted it. I think if I had hung on a little longer I might have gotten a full-time job in the district I was assistant in. Other assistants got jobs. Of course, some of the subs got jobs, too.

Good luck to you and let us know what you decide.