Schools across Brevard County are nearly three years into the pandemic and the need for substitute teachers remains a constant to keep schools functioning smoothly.

What You Need To Know

  • Brevard County Schools is hoping to bring aboard as many substitute teachers as possible

  • Elementary and middle school substitute teachers now only need to be at least 18-years-old

  •  Elementary and middle school substitute teachers now only need to be at least 18-years-old

To that end, the district is lowering some barriers to entry for prospective applicants, including lowering the age requirements for some schools.

“COVID has created an environment where substitutes who were already critically important in our schools are even more important now,” said Katherine Allen, a spokesperson for the school system. “We’ve really seen that, especially with the Delta spike that we dealt with in the fall, a lot more people that are out on quarantine or are ill.” 

One of the ways they’ve worked to ease the burden on those wanting to become substitute teachers is waiving all fees associated with drug testing, fingerprinting and certification. They are also lowering the minimum age requirement for those wanting to sub at elementary or middle schools from 21-years-old to 18-years-old. 

“Recently what we were noticing is that we had college students that are seeking their education degrees or other degrees and they were wanting to help be a substitute, but they weren’t 21 yet,” Allen said. 

She added that even with younger subs, everyone takes the same training prior to being allowed in the classroom. They all need to follow the specific guided curriculum in their respective classrooms. 

As of now, Brevard County Schools has about 1,000 substitutes on its roster, but only about 400 who are actively seeking work. Allen said they continue to have a notable need with an average of 3,000 requests for subs each month.

“That doesn’t always mean that it’s a full day or two days. Sometimes it can just be to cover a class period, but there is definitely more need, especially when we’re seeing surges in coronavirus and variants coming through,” Allen said.

Jeff Brown is one of the hundreds within the county who stepped up to help. He’s a long-term substitute teacher at West Melbourne Elementary School for Science. His two kids attend the school and his wife is also in education, so he said he was more than willing to do his part.

“For me, I’ve gotten to make this class my own. We’ve gotten to enjoy each other, we’ve gotten to bond. I know them, they know me and this has become our little family,” he said.

Brown has been with his class of second graders since November 1, so he has been able to bond with them more than most typical subs. He said even though he also works as a full-time pastor with a local church, he believes it’s important that people in the community help out with the school system however they can.”

“Knowing that there’s a sub there, helps give a teacher peace of mind that their kids are going to be looked after,” Brown said. These teachers invest and they love and adore their children and we as subs, we get to carry on and almost have a co-parenting relationship with them during this time.”

To learn more about the steps needed to become a substitute teacher in Brevard County, click here.