teacher

elementary school teacher

high school teacher

cafeteria manager

teacher's aide

School District of Manatee County

As a substitute teacher, you feel you are making a difference.  It is rewarding to feel you are helping students and teachers to endeavor to receive quality and uninterrupted education.

Unfortunately, overall as a substitute teacher, you are always an outsider it appears.  The children loved me and most of the teachers appreciated my contributions.  

A typical day at work:
Read lesson plan and or create a lesson plan
Make sure you have all the materials needed
Write on the board relevant instructions for the day/ and or Bell Work
Make expectations clear to students - especially regarding behavior.
Expectations of the lessons -  review those as you approach each lesson and make necessary adjustments to the schedule if running over.
Look for students who need different approaches to learning - audio, visual, tactile, etc. Find other ways for them to grasp the subject.  Put them with students who can work well together to enable leadership in quick learners/empowering lower level learners.  This helps to bring out the strengths in all students.
Be aware of any incidents personally affecting a student, and students trying to avoid work due to lack of understanding/avoidance tactics due to problems/medical issues which affect understanding and more...
Wrap up in enough time to go over the day and clean up and have students prepared with homework and expectations for the next day.
this does not cover everything but some of the most important.

The hardest part is not to be distracted by students who do not want to be there but try to encourage them to love being there to learn.

The most enjoyable part of the day is when a student who is struggling, finally gets it, and you were able to be part of the growth and support of that student.  Also, when a student tells you "You are the best substitute teacher" - because you took the time to help them and made it enjoyable but you reinforced respectful behavior and it was reciprocated, or Not.

As far as pay subs are underpaid. Pay started at $92 a day early 2000s and dropped a few years later due to pay decreases to $89 a day and never came back up.  Of course, due to the flexibility of schedule and love of making a difference most of the subs have kept doing what they are doing but...many are feeling unappreciated.

We have attendents on just about every bus. Having both adults  assures a safer bus ride. Drivers are able to concentrate on driving while the attendents  monitor the students. They both share responsibilies. Our attendents know the route as well as the students.  If the either is off work the other knows the route and kids. This allows for a better and more stable environment. Most adults care and are team players, a few are not. Management will do the best they can with what little help and resources they have. We're very very low on drivers, and attendants which in return puts a huge strain on everyone. For me the hardest part is my husband's health. There have been times when I have had to call in because he had a rough night and he couldn't be home alone due to his health. Driving children and keeping them safe should be top priority. There have been days where drivers are so stressed mentally that they shouldn't be driving but we have no choice. What if something happens then the driver is at fault. We are then told we shouldn't have driven but if we don't drive were looked down upon and considered not dependable. I have worked in different counties and states and have found that so far manatee has been the best over all.. I do love working for Manatee school board and most people are awesome and friendly. I just wished we were more respected and were paid what we deserve. There are a few individuals that just stick together and don't mingle with others but these group of clicks are small and the VAST majority are kind and caring. If we were fully staffed I would rate this district the best i have worked for. 

I went to work in the pest control department. I was told I was doing a great job several times. At the time we only had two employees we hired a 3rd employee. I never miss a day that was not earned. Out of the blue I was told I had a choice to be fired  or I could resigned on my on I was forced into  this decision the county never gave me a reason why I was no longer going to be employed there Except for that they did not thank I was a goold fit. I have over 15 years of experience in the industry and the 3rd person they hired did not have but 3 years. However I lost my job. I did like working for the county when I first started however I found that the only benefits were days off and good insurance after a while I just felt like a number like any other place they don't seem to care about experience knowledge or anything else there you'll be just a number just like I was. Do not apply for any job at the county if you thank that you're going to have job security because you  they get rid of people for absolutely no reason and keep people there that are missed  Fitts that have absolutely no training The hiring managers there have no clue who the good workers are and who the misfits they just get rid of people on the fly. I've done this company a great job. For this company and was told several times how well I was doing no warnings were given it any time to me that I was not doing my job however they forced me to resign do not go to work at this place you'll be in the same boat that I was

This job could be great, but the low pay makes it impossible to live off of, so stress is very high, if I get sick or hurt, it’s the end. People that have been here a long time have accepted the low pay, as if they are beaten into submission... and tell me the benefits are great, even though I’ve had many jobs that far outweighed these. Many holidays and and other days off are not paid. When hiring on, I was not told that I had to pay for my background, fingerprint and drug test, almost was a deal breaker, big red flag, should have just walked out then, but rose colored glasses were still on. Supervisor and teaching staff treat you less than human, ordering you around at will(special place in h-e double hockey sticks for them). All praise goes to supervisor, and all blame goes to custodian. There is no teamwork here. Moral is all time low, used up data last month looking for other jobs at break time. Area to clean every night is huge, frequent calls to rooms to clean up large piles of vomit, feces, urine, blood. Hours are terrible, and switched a lot of times the night before, could be 2pm one day and very next day be 7am, and the asked why do you look tired? Ignorance abounds. If I had a second job, it would have to be self employed, because of the unstable schedules here. Again, could be great job, but schools look at our job as an extra, even though money is blown on things like the new software budget that is millions over budget, stealing the taxpayers money for frivolous purchases.

I totally enjoy teaching and love watching light bulbs come on everyday.I looked forward to going to work everyday.Since I lived in Puerto Rico for tres y media anos,I was given the ability to see beyond what other teachers could see re Hispanic students.I ALSO TOOK CLASSES IN TEACHING ESE STUDENTS AND FOR SOME REASON COULD RELATE TO THEIR NEEDS. I HAVE A GIFT AND I CHERISH IT.
Management and co-workers are all controlled by the school board who have not been in the classroom in years. In the last two years ,I have seen the Board take over and control the system to the point where teachers were stripped of creative teaching approaches to the point where students hated coming to school.That broke my heart (as a creative teacher) and it broke the spirits of the students.
The hardest part of the job was when the Board started teaching to the FCAT . For the teachers it was mundane and to the students it only created fear. How disgusting to take such young lives and kill their spirits.How demeaning to teachers that those "who are in charge" that they destroy the very reason that we became teachers in the first place.
Back in the day ,my most enjoyable part of the day was working with the students on their levels and making it a good day for all students.

The school at which I work is a family of teachers and staff who work together for the benefit of the students. A typical day of work includes the hours on campus and instruction of 6 classes averaging 24 students per class with one planning period. I have learned to be flexible in that student schedules were changed frequently and technology provided doesn't always work. After school, an additional 45 minutes to an hour are spent preparing for the next day while most paper grading and planning is completed at home. We have weekly meetings with teams, grade levels, and faculty. The hardest part of the job is differentiating lessons to meet the needs of each individual student. The most enjoyable part of the job is the look on a student's face when he/she "gets it".

Due to budgeting problems 4 years ago, the County is unable to offer competitive salaries especially to teachers who move into the county with more than 8 years experience. I had 28 years experience and received a salary for an 8-year teacher resulting in a salary cut of 33%. The Board did not negotiate well this year and health insurance has doubled causing another cut in my pay.

Job Description for Substitute Bus Driver:
•	Transported regular and special needs children from home to school and back.
•	I learned to handle unique situations in a versatile environment.
•	Management was pro-actively involved with all substitute drivers, and helped manage difficult situations when and if they arose.
•	My co-workers were friendly and helpful.
•	The hardest part of the job was switching to different bus assignments frequently because of the transitory nature of the job.
•	The most enjoyable part of the job was friendly co-workers and helpful management.
Substitute Teacher’s Aide Job Description:
•	I assisted teachers within diverse classrooms with regular and special needs children.
•	I learned to have an adaptive attitude and approach while dealing with children in a learning environment. 
•	My co-workers were friendly and helpful.
•	The hardest part of the job was working with the special needs children because it took more work to focus them on the task at hand.
•	The most enjoyable part of the job was interacting with the children, and having them understand what you were trying to teach.

In a typical day at my current job, I deal with many different issues that my students have. From learning disabilities, to behavior problems, gang activity, and mental illness. There are often times that teaching has to be placed on the back burner in order to handle behaviors that are going on within the classroom. I have gained a lot of experience in writing individual education plans, as well as working with Functional Behavior Assessments. I have used various reading programs to assist me in determing the reading levels of my students. This allows me to work within small groups to teach what each student needs. The hardest part of my job is the fact that I have little resources to support the needs of my students and their varying needs. These students are in an alternative setting and, again, behaviors often prevail and teaching suffers. What is most enjoyable about my position is that I do have a very strong relationship with my students. They trust me, and will work with me to increase their reading. They let their embarrassment go and really try to learn.

The only way I have gotten a decent pay raise is by spending my own $ to get more degrees.  Since they now keep increasing starting teachers pay I am not making much more with EdD, and I’ve been in classroom since 2005 for them. 
Unless you are a ‘yes person’ you will not get a district level position. Most who obtain district level positions, from within or out of district, do NOT last. 
They do not hold kids accountable at high school level. If a kid fails, no matter the reason, it is teachers fault. Pressure not to take time off. No choice on what classes you teach. They WILL assign you to teach out of your cert. area. MANY ESOL students, which you are constantly reminded that you can NOT give D or F to(unless you give accommodations) ha- no accommodation is enough in their eyes. I’ve given up. I am there for a paycheck. I know I’m teach a few kids that actually do the work and don’t cheat. Go to Sarasota county instead of Manatee- better pay and treatment. 

I did not choose teaching as a career, it chose me. I was enquiring about electronic related positions within the school board when I was told I was qualified to teach Technical Education classes (i.e. Vocational). I was intrigued by the idea, and we needed good benefits since we had just started our own business (Edge Mechanical Service, Inc.) and couldn't afford the health insurance and other benefit necessities.
Most days were very enjoyable, though some, like 9/11/2001, I'd like to forget. The principals and other teachers I worked with were great and I had many mentors who I respected deeply. Teaching is the hardest job there is, in my opinion. It's not for lazy people or those that just want to cruise through their workday and go home. Some days you worked until 3:00 a.m. if need be to get the job done right. The hardest part of the job was the students, and the most enjoyable part of the job was the students.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Teacher 4 salaries reported	$50,125 per year
Elementary school teacher 10 salaries reported	$46,289 per year
High school teacher 5 salaries reported	$49,142 per year
Cafeteria manager 2 salaries reported	$18.83 per hour
Teacher's aide 2 salaries reported	$19,340 per year

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