substitute teacher

special assistant

elementary school teacher

assistant teacher

special education teacher

Albemarle County Public Schools

My typical day starts at 0500. i have to travel a distance to get to the bus. I try to be there by 0600. I start my pre-trip inspection at 0630 and by 0645 I leave the station. My first pickup is at 0703. this is my elementary run. these kids are so cute in the AM but by afternoon they are out of control. They know the bus rules and why they are enforced. I carry approx. 30-40 students to murray then I go for my second run. middle and high school students. first pickup at 0815. Now these guys are a little more challenging. They also know the bus rules about safety but need to test how sincere I am about enforcing them. My lead driver is fabulous and i dont often meet with my other co-workers but they are all knowledgable, kind and respectful. When one driver is behind all the others do everything that they can to help. its great to hear on the radio how helpful everyone is to each other.
I think the hardest part of the job is keeping the kids safe. while I am driving the bus and trying to watch 40-50 kids behind me and watching the traffic from all angles is truely the hardest challenge i have had. We must be highly vigilent of suspicious people, cars that run our warning lights- have to get make,model, and plates. make sure the kids are supervised and get on the right bus and off at the correct stop. We have to keep the bus clean and maintained. I encourage the kids to wash their hands at school. The great thing about this all is that we all educate the kids together. We compliment each other and we all work together to keep the kids safe,get them to school on time and get them home safely. It is at times extremely exhausting depending on their moods but its all worth the time and effort. The kids are our future and i will never give up on any of them.

My experience working for Albemarle County Public Schools has been deeply challenging due to a consistent lack of support, communication, and resources at the classroom level. As an educator dedicated to students with significant needs, I found myself navigating responsibilities that were overwhelming and unsustainable — often without the administrative backing necessary to ensure student safety, instructional quality, or staff well-being.

While there are many caring professionals in the division, systemic issues make it extremely difficult for teachers and support staff to succeed. Expectations are high, but staffing shortages, unclear protocols, and inconsistent leadership responses leave teachers to problem-solve crises on their own. Communication between departments is often fragmented, and requests for assistance — whether behavioral, instructional, or logistical — can go unanswered for long periods.

In special education especially, the lack of consistent training, collaboration time, and realistic caseload management has created environments where burnout is inevitable. Teachers frequently cover roles far beyond their scope, and the emotional toll of trying to meet student needs without adequate resources is immense.

I remain proud of the work I did for my students and the relationships built with families and colleagues who share a deep commitment to education. However, the system itself requires serious reflection and reform. Without meaningful investment in staff support, Albemarle County Public Schools will continue to lose strong educators who care deeply but simply cannot thrive under current conditions.

Terribly sad place to work. First year teachers should not begin here. This is a terrible time to join this county. Burn out is high.  The most seasoned teachers say they have never seen morale so low and it is not because of the pandemic. The policies and lack of support leave teachers and administration feeling as though they have no safe or reliable line of support.  Decisions are site based and differ amongst buildings as well as departments. There are few top down decisions made causing great inconsistency and little accountability. Wealthy county but wasteful spending for such a lack of student achievement across all grade levels and ethnic/racial groups. Leadership starting at the top exhibits unethical practices the likes of which I have never seen in my 20 years of teaching. Equity amongst all stakeholders is not truly afforded to all. They say one thing and do another while speaking distastefully behind the backs of community members who speak up either respectfully or disrespectfully. They are more focused on creating social justice warriors than they actually are on teaching anymore. 

*Disclaimer* I can’t speak to the local government side of things, they are very different entities, despite sharing a name* This is a fun place to work, with a lot of kind people. The atmosphere almost makes it worth it to stay. The benefits are amazing, and you’ll know you’re working for a good cause by working for your local school district. However, job repsonibilites shift almost monthly, and salaries are low unless you’re at the very top. There’s a lack of paths to advance, and it feels like 25% of the staff do 80% of the work. A lot of people get away with just showing up and coasting in an easy job, and as long as they talk a good game, they’ll make a career that way. It can be really frustrating, and good work is almost never rewarded. This is a great temporary job, but in 2 or 3 years, don’t be surprised if you don’t want to stay.

Going to work was exciting but a little tedious when it came to parking. I felt good when I would see the students. The students always kept me on my toes. The management was above and beyond what we needed which made me very happy. My co-workers were always willing to asisst me and give me instructions on things that just popped up such as fire drills. The most difficult part of the job was trying not to enjooy the students too much. The most enjoyable part of the job was giving all the students a big hug when they would come to class.

I love this job! I work as a Sped TA and my colleagues and I are all so passionate about  our work. The issue however, is that ACPS does not pay TAs even close to a living wage. Albemarle County and the surround counties are expensive! I don’t know a single TA for ACPS who, on their current income, is able to afford a modest one bedroom apartment in the area, while also covering reasonable living expenses.  I find this incredibly problematic for any full time job, but more so when considering the intensity of this job. In particular, SPED TAs face hazardous situations. We receive  extensive quality training through CPI but without the kind of pay that show ACPS takes us and our work in high stress, volatile situations, seriously. 

Cold in the Winter and hot in the Summer. Management has no idea how to run a business. Everyone lacks basic business etiquette regarding email and scheduling basics. It may be weeks before an email is acknowledged if at all. Working 6 hours a day and getting no pay when school is closed makes this job a challenge for anyone who pays bills- $ is unpredictable. Senior coworkers do not speak and come off cold and miserable. You are expected to clean the bus inside and outside. This is the only position where you must clean after the students in addition to your primary job function of transporting them.  All other County positions have paid cleaning staff. 


I received a call or notification most days. 
In most cases, I had great support, and material was well-prepared beforehand. 
The hardest part of the job...well, I'd have to say that would be a few things. 
One, sometimes I would see several openings for the same day, at different schools. Although usually it is better to have a few options, so I'm not really complaining about that!
Two, I've been "cut" by a few schools, and no reason was given. None. And that's how it goes, as a substitute teacher. 
Three, the opposite of #1...not getting any calls/notifications for a day or two. Or three. But a call to HR can sometimes clear an issue up. 

The most enjoyable part is the variety being a substitute teacher provides!

During a typical day of work, i learned how to deal with pressure from potential customers, scheduling and planning for various groups and events, and how to think quick when it comes to making decisions. The culture was whatever I wanted it to be as I worked by myself, but  my boss stopped by a lot and I really liked his personality and thoughts towards working and having fun, which I still follow to this day. The hardest part of the job is when buses come in full of children and you have to count off a ticket for each child. Most enjoyable part is on the super busy days when you count the money at the end and realize just how many people you actually serviced that day.

My typical day, is getting up at 4:30 am, usually at work by 6:30 am I pre-trip bus for safety reasons, start my run, first pickup is 7:10, elementary run, also do middle and high school, finish up at 9:15 am Repeat in the evening, finish up by 5:00 pm. I have learn supervisory skills in dealing with employees, communication skills with management, staff , co-workers,children and parents  I get along with management, and my co-workers, have come to have good friends outside of work.  The hard part is making sure you are safe everyday and sometimes that can be a challenge.  I do enjoy the fellowship with other employees, and the elementary are so cute, and smart, and say some of the darndest things.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Substitute teacher 72 salaries reported	$268 per day
Special assistant 94 salaries reported	$20.51 per hour
Elementary school teacher 56 salaries reported	$19.88 per hour
Assistant teacher 20 salaries reported	$21.33 per hour
Special education teacher 1 salary reported	$45.00 per hour

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