Cookies are a nice touch, but...

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Home : 2003 : November : 19

Cookies are a nice touch, but...
By Subber

I live in Oregon, Douglas county specifically, not more than 70 miles south from you. I have had my license since Oct. this year... just about a month. I waited two weeks for the phone to ring for a sub job and then took
matters into my own hands. I posted earlier on this same subject, but here is what I did.
I made business cards on my computer. I spent a day going to schools in my district and I did not speak to the principals, I spoke to the teachers. I chose a day I knew they would be at school, but students would not. I dressed very professionally and introduced myself to every teacher I could. I

said Hello my name is ..., I shook their hand... and explained I was subbing this year. I only wanted a moment of their time, but most of them wanted to ask me questions about my practicum experience, etc. and I visited with some teachers for 10 mins or more. I had a letter ready for teachers who were not in their room when I stopped by that said...

Dear Teacher: I am sorry I missed you. I wanted to introduce myself... and I gave them some info about the grades I had student taught in, the reading and math curriculums I was familiar with, the fact that my coursework included intensive study in classroom management and child development, etc. and names and numbers of my references.

Anyhow, I visited schools on a Friday and I got called to sub the following Monday from a teacher I had just met on Friday! I just subbed two days this week for a teacher I have never met, but left a letter and business card with.

As I was saying cookies are a nice touch, and I had the same thought in mind, but I really feel that teachers need to be able to see and speak to you to get an idea of who you are and what you are about in order to feel comfortable requesting you for their classes.

I can tell you honestly that I get called every week now to sub and I even turned down a day because I was busy with other things. Teachers are now calling me to schedule days weeks in advance. I got called this week alone to schedule days in December.

I wish you the best and I believe the phone will ring if you do a little leg work.