ROSSFORD, OH (WTOL) – People still looking for a job could consider becoming a substitute teacher. Substituting provides valuable experience and could lead to a full-time job.
Sherri McKibben has been hunting for a teaching job since graduating from the University of Toledo in December.
"I thought it would be easier to get a job, but graduating in December kind of makes it hard ‘cause the teachers don't really quit in the middle of the year," explained McKibben.
McKibben applied for a substitute teacher position for the Rossford School District among 30 others.
Eric Soltis is a Rossford graduate and has a bachelor's degree in architecture and a masters degree in business. Soltis has a job, but wants to substitute on the side.
"It's all about giving back to the community and, you know, this really offers a great opportunity to be able to do that," said Soltis.
Substitute teachers in Rossford make $108 a day. All they need is a bachelor's degree and an Ohio substitute teacher's license.
"They are real teachers. That's the highest compliment you can pay a substitute teacher is to take away the word substitute, and consider them a real teacher because they are part of the educational process," said Rose Reiter, a Rossford teacher.
Reiter, who is hosting the event, spent more than 30 years teaching Spanish and French. She said substituting is one way teachers can land their first job.
"I think it's a great step in the door because they're meeting people who actually work in the district and we're meeting them, and we are learning about each other so that when an opening does become available, you know, maybe we'll think of that person," Reiter said.
McKibben hopes that works for her because the job market has been anything but thoughtful.
"Terrible. Terrible. There's a lot of special ed jobs, but not for regular education, so it's kind of hard here," McKibben said.
Candidates interested in becoming a substitute teacher in Ohio need to file an application with the Department of Education.
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