The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is actively seeking out substitute teachers and support staff throughout the district. While the numbers of COVID-19 being low on the Kenai has fortunately allowed students to attend classes in-school, a safety net of substitutes must still be established to allow for staff showing symptoms to be able to stay home without putting a strain on each school.
KPBSD Superintendent John O’Brien spoke with KSRM on Tuesday about the need: “A big push, right now in our schools, for substitutes. We need substitutes for teachers, school nutrition, special education, secretaries, custodians, you name it. If you’re wanting to help your school district out, sign-up to be a sub. That would be much-appreciated. We are going to experience more need for subs this year because we do have that strict symptom-free protocol, both for staff and for students. So, in the past, a staff member might not quite be feeling tip-top, but would power through a day because they just wanted to be there for their students. We are asking all staff and students, if you are exhibiting any symptoms, to stay home so that you don’t spread the flu or, in a worst-case scenario, if it is COVID. We are in-need of substitutes.”
He also mentioned that strides have been made to increase pay for substitutes in recent years: “We gave a nice little bump in all areas last year, effective this year. Hopefully, that will help. I understand that there are some folks out there that may have recently experienced a job loss due to the pandemic and businesses struggling, so being a substitute is a good way to help out your local school district, but also, you’ll make a little extra.”
Certified teachers will see a rate of pay of $150 per day, based on an eight hour day. Non-certified teachers will see a rate of $130 per day, also based on an eight hour day. KPBSD offers one day of on-the-job training as soon as a substitute has completed requirements to be hired. This allows substitutes to be paid while shadowing an employee currently in the position for which they may be substituting for.
Interested applicants can fill out the application online, while browsing current vacancies. Additionally, the district suggests calling (907) 714-8888 with questions or requests for assistance.
