Be pro-active! By Subber

I chose a day when I knew students did not have school, but the teachers would be there. I created business cards to hand to the teachers I met personally and a letter w/business card for the teachers that were out of their room. Some schools were reluctant or unwilling to let me in, but the schools that let me in were very receptive to meeting me and thought handing a business card to them was a great idea. I will tell you that I dressed like a professional when I visited the schools. I dressed in pants, jacket, blouse, and heels. If a teacher was in a room by themselves I went in and introduced myself, said I was subbing this year, discussed my practicum experience, etc., shook their hand and gave them a card. Some of them even posted it on their bulletin board that very minute and told me right out that introducing myself was a wonderful idea. Some actually kept me up to 10 minutes discussing my education, grade level preference, experience, etc.

You have got to sell yourself because no one is going to do it for you. By visiting schools and letting teachers get a face with a name you are giving them an impression of you and your abilities. I visited schools on a Friday and received a call that following Monday to sub!

(By the way I bought an inexpensive software program to make business cards and bought nice bond paper at Staples for my introduction letter.)

Visiting the schools was the best thing I did to get sub jobs. Everyone I know personally who subs 2-3 times per week has done this very same thing.

If there is not a "no school day" in the near future just visit the teachers after school at a time when you are sure students are gone but they are probably in their room. Explain to the secretary you don't want to take a lot of their time, you just want to introduce yourself and give them a card and respect that they are busy and won't keep them long.