substitute teacher

special education teacher

spanish teacher

elementary school teacher

preschool teacher

Kokua

Kokua education is a great experience for those who are interested in teaching that are still in college. I wouldn't recommend this company if you're a college graduate looking for an income to pay bills or to have medical insurance. This job doesn't offer any PTO nor health insurance. The only way you will get paid is if you sign up through the app Frontline whenever a job is posted. The job shifts were impossible to pick up because everyone would be searching the app waiting for a job post. So what was left is on calls which is something you don't want if you lived in a big city that always have traffic because you had to be there immediately once they've on called you. Some of the IDEA and Kipp schools will not tell you that you actually have to teach students, instead of just being a substitute teacher. If you did sign up for a school, they will have it as sped for an call substitute teacher for that school and sometimes you will be sent home without being paid if the school didn't need you, but Kokua says you're needed in fact you wasn't needed that day. The children and staff at these IDEA and Kipp schools under Kokua were not respectable to the subs. Expect to be disrespected and dropped from some schools if you argue with them about teaching when you're supposed to be a substitute. Then the staff at these IDEA and Kipp schools are not welcoming to their subs. The teachers and staff at these schools were very unprofessional to expect the substitutes to have knowledge of the teacher's lesson plan and schedule as if it is their classroom and not the teacher's classroom. There were more substitutes than teachers at these schools because the teachers would quit due to the children being to bad and management being to disorganized. There is no structure at these IDEA and Kipp schools. If you like a job to be organized then prepare for it to be disorganized and chaotic. It was a total nightmare working for this company and the schools I was send out to. To be honest if you don't have a Bachelors, I wouldn't recommend applying for this company just because at the IDEA schools they demand you to know all of the subjects for whatever classroom you substitute in. The ICP and IA administration will report you back to Kokua if you have taught the kids the wrong answers, even though Kokua will tell you that you don't have to have knowledge of any of these subjects. There wasn't really anything enjoyable about this company. You don't get paid if there are holidays for the children nor if you call in sick. You also don't have any medical insurance and the pay isn't worth the headache from dealing with extremely bad children and disrespectful staff at these IDEA and Kipp schools. You're only making less than $200 a day and it's not motivating for those who wanted the experience of teaching with having the bills paid. This job is only good for college students who want the experience in education and don't necessarily have bills to pay. 

If you are new to the school, take time to familiarize yourself with the building. It may seem trite to say, but it helps get your bearings for the school day. For instances such as this, getting early helps. If you are unfamiliar to the area, looking at google maps and similar stuff assists with your arrival there if you are driving. Doing this saves time looking for a parking space, if needed.

Attendance counts.  In high school, you will most likely have to take attendance. If you do so, take a student count after you call roll. When you take attendance, some students may not respond for any number of reasons, and sometimes students will say present for a friend who is hanging out in a different part of the school. Synchronizing the student count with attendance may take time, but the attendance office and administrators appreciate diligence with this.

Leave notes at the end of the day, so the regular teacher knows what you have done, or were unable to do.  If you get a long-term assignment, it is helpful to have access to their network, so you can do online lessons - this is where learning and teaching have been for some time. Schools may be reluctant to give that access, though. If I am in a school, I get to know other teachers and staff; this helps out.

At the beginning of class, I walk around the classroom. I have been in countless science classrooms where, prior to class, I moved beakers and other glassware that were a little to close to the counter edge. An inadvertant backpack swipe can cause shattered glass on the floor. In one permanent classroom, I had to do some serious cleaning, but it helped create an orderly classroom. Also, put your name and date on the board. Assignment instructions can be written there too. I try to do this too if I can.

It is not always possible to greet students when they enter, but make the students feel welcome at the beginning of class. If there is work to do, give them the assignment, and assist with them if they have questions. If the students know you, and you know them, it can make the day go better.  Students need time to adjust to your style, and you need time to adjust to the classroom culture.  Likewise, students may need process time to understand instructions, and this is where teacher patience comes in, and part of the reason why you were hired. In class, you may have English language learners and special needs students, and individualized attention may have to be given.

You may not always have lesson plans, so a study period may have to be given.  At the end of class, I will say bye to the class. At the end of each class period, I will look for left behind items such as ID cards and such. If I am off, I will go that student's next class and drop it off to them; students appreciate that. If I cannot, I will drop off at the main office. At the end of the day, do not forget to sign out and return keys and other items. Throughout the day, keep track of your personal items too.

A typical day as a guest teacher with Kokua varies, but it usually starts early by checking for available assignments and heading to the designated school. Once there, you step into a new classroom—sometimes with detailed plans and other times with minimal guidance—so adaptability is key. Every day brings different students, subjects, and expectations, which keeps the job interesting yet unpredictable.

Through this role, I learned to manage various classroom environments, quickly build rapport with students, and remain calm and effective even when plans change. It strengthened my classroom management skills and taught me to think on my feet.

Management at Kokua is generally responsive and helpful. They provide timely updates, clear instructions, and support when issues arise. However, since it’s a contractor-based role, communication is often remote, and you don’t have much direct contact with supervisors.

The workplace culture is built around flexibility and independence. You are trusted to do your job well with minimal oversight, which is empowering if you are self-motivated. That said, it can feel a bit isolating at times since you usually work solo in different schools each day.

The hardest part of the job is the lack of consistency, both in scheduling and classroom expectations. You might go from teaching kindergarten one day to high school the next with little notice.

The most enjoyable part is the students. Connecting with different kids, even briefly, and knowing you’re helping keep their education on track is incredibly rewarding.

Typical day: If you don't have a long-term assignment, then you sign up to be on-call.  Just before 6 am, all the day's assignments appear and you select one.  There will be somebody in the school's office to show you where to go, and they'll supply you with attendance sheets.  Sometimes you might have to help supervising the kids getting into cars at the end of the day.  Sometimes you get to go home when your last class finishes.
What I've learned: some classroom management skills--this is especially challenging for a sub, especially since the kids know by the seventh grade that you don't know their names and have little say in disciplinary matters and cannot contact their parents. 
The management is fair and understanding.  I caught a severe chest cold and had to miss a few days.  They work with you when you find a school which is a great fit for you.
The hardest part of the job is classroom management/keeping the students on task.  It is helpful when you receive a seating chart and a list of the students in the class--by middle school, the students think they can give you fake names to avoid being written up for disruptive behavior.  It is also a blessing, but doesn't always happen, when you get a lesson plan for the day, with enough time to preview it before teaching.  
The most enjoyable part of the job for me is that I'm getting valuable teaching experience while working through a certification program.  Also, I've had some fun adding humor to the lessons.  Sometimes it works, and the students like me more.  

Typical day when working, operations will contact you with potential options for assignment; they will provide all details along with follow up communications via text and email for easy reference. Arrive at the school at the designated time, once checked-in, receive lesson plans and report to your classroom to begin Teaching!

I've learned that the ways of the education system have changed, evolving to today's demands is necessary - some schools are meeting these expectations while the others that are behind, are significantly falling short. This unfortunately and ultimately impacts communities where tax dollars are stretched or null.

Management is always there to help guide you to the next assignment whether daily coverage is needed or ongoing coverage. Allowing the employees to navigate and learn, Management has created a great internal infrastructure for self initiated acclamation of the process and resources. This promotes independence, yet Management is easily reached for anything you may need. Hence creating balance of workplace culture.

Hardest part of the job would be the observation of schools or districts lacking forward progress.  Unfortunately due to insufficient local funds of a district, schools can find themselves behind the times and facing shutdown.

The best part of my job is, Experiencing the positive impact I can have on my students for something as simple as being there for them, guiding them thru their school work.  Teaching them from a different perspective, giving them another point of view on communication and teaching style. 

I was at Kokua Education only for a little less than three months. Within this short period my experience of a typical day at work is as follows:- 
Before the day at work you get listed as available to teach and that you’re on call waiting for assignment one or more days earlier. It is called a ‘scheduled assignment’ and this has to be changed into ‘available assignment’ for me to get work for the day. The change occurs sometime between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. on the same day of work. So, I have to keep waiting near my phone starting 6 a.m. in the morning until I get a call or text message from the Operations Specialist for confirmation. If assignment is not confirmed, that is when there is no assignment I will get a text message to that effect. But once availability of assignment is confirmed I have to leave within 15 minutes and drive to the school/Elementary school assigned. In the school the Assistant Principal will take me to a specific class, introduce me to the class teacher and the students. Then I will keep assisting the teacher or interacting and teaching the students for the entire day up to 4 p.m. The students are Pre-K to 3rd Grade. This was a new experience for me because my previous teaching has been limited to adult students only. While assisting and teaching I was also learning. The interaction with the young was very interesting and fascinating. It was work but it was also fun!


What is the best part of working at the company?
I love new assignments and meeting new people and going to new places. I was a substitute teacher hired by Kukoa Education I mostly worked for Idea public schools in the Austin area. At  Kukoa they are so great always supporting me if I needed through messages, phone calls or emails. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Challenges in my opinion are keeping the kids focused on their assignments, if one of the kids offer help, appreciate the help, they usually are very helpful. Despite not being the main teacher, kids appreciate a different teacher and they know it's more chill, a free class to catch up on late assignments or reading or drawing or doing online educational games or classes. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It's a vibrant environment,  because kids are so funny and so curious, it's a happy environment. Also  learning environment, learning new things every day is so much fun.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I get a call around 6 am with my assignment for the day, if I accept the assignment I just go have to be there around 07:15 if it's too far away I wait a few minutes and another assignment comes up. Or I can get a long term assignment which is more preferable, two weeks or less in that same class or same school. 7:15 to 3:30 or 4pm.  Usually watch the kids while the main teacher is gone for personal reasons appointments, vacation etc if needed we help with dismissal at the parking lot. We basically watch for kids safety.

Somewhat autonomous work arrangement that allows some flexibility in the days you work as a substitute teacher, with a minimum requirement of at least three days per week. Management is readily accessible via text or email, but what's great is you get to build rapport at each school, thereby deciding which schools you'd like to return to and which ones are a definite no. This is a great position for career changers, looking to explore the field of education and assess their grade level and subject preference prior to committing to a master's program and/or full-time teaching role. The down side is schools often fail to adequately specify assignments, thus you may say yes to subbing third grade, for example, yet be expected to jump into covering fifth grade thereafter, depending when the original assignment ends and what the school's needs are. Other times, schools list one assignment yet the needs expressed upon your arrival at the school completely differ. While Kokua supervisors are flexible when it comes to guest teachers accepting permanent roles elsewhere with a chance to pivot back to their organization, they fail to understand that for some, subbing may not be just gig work, but a segue into fully committing to the profession; They expect all subs to leap at any and every assignment, with little regard for the sub's preference. While this is a part-time position, it gets busy at times and you can accept assignments five days a week, if not long-term. Another perk is that Kokua offers a W2 instead of a 1099.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The pay and quality of Professional staff at the schools where I work.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I am disabled and I have asked the Kyle campus administration to provide me with a key to the staff bathroom. I was told to use the student female bathroom. I don't feel comfortable using the female student's bathroom because I don't feel this is appropriate. I have to wait until someone is in the staff bathroom comes out so I can use it or go and ask a teacher with a key to please unlock the door for me while the teacher is having class. This is totally unacceptable because I have to interrupt the class and I refuse to do this. This is the only campus that will not issue a bathroom key to me.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is positive and friendly. The culture is different because there are students from other countries attending school at IDEA and they are smart and respectful.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I report to my assigned classroom unless I am moved to another classroom depending on the need. I stand at the door and welcome the students. I take attendance and walk around the class asking the students if they need ant assistance with the given assignments. I make sure that they pick up their trash before they leave and push in their chairs.

I work as an on-call teacher. My typical day involves waking up early in the morning, and driving to whatever adventure I get to embark on that day! Kokua has been very great at letting me know in a timely manner when/where my assignment is, and is very prompt in answering any questions I have. I can always count on the Operations Team to respond to my texts! They are also very understanding about traffic stalls in the morning. My only concern would be that I haven't received a performance review, so sometimes I'm not sure if I'm performing the way Kokua expects me to. For example, lots of teachers assign Google Classroom assignments that are quick to complete or don't provide lesson plans - am I expected to come up with a lesson plan on the fly? Does it have to be relevant to their class? Or is it okay if the students have free-time to work on assignments (like in high school), or the ability to play games?

I've also been thrown into a couple situations that I did not feel qualified for. I was once in charge of a second grade class after a teacher emergency called off with no lesson plan left for the day. The kids were very hard to control since I had to make up activities to do on the fly and I have no experience or training as an elementary educator. 

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Substitute teacher 3403 salaries reported	$163 per day
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