By Emma Tanner etanner@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn School District is on the hunt for new substitutes as the school year rapidly approaches.
To be a substitute with the district, those interested are encouraged to apply online. Applicants must undergo a background check at the district office, located at 31 County Road 401 in Corinth. The background check costs $36 (check or exact cash). A free drug test is also required. The result form should be delivered to the district office.
The last thing required by the district is a recommendation letter from a principal within the Alcorn School District. All substitute teachers must undergo an hour-long substitute training course at the district office. The next training course will take place on Monday at 10 a.m.
“We try to do sub training for our new subs once a month, but sometimes that doesn’t pan out,” said ASD Director of Human Resources Christy Irvin. “We go over the handbook and expectations as a sub in the district. We tell them a little bit about us if they’re not familiar with the Alcorn School District.”
The Mississippi Department of Education does not issue substitute teaching licenses or special permits. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or diploma equivalent. They must also have verification to work in the United States.
All district hires must be approved by the school board. Personnel changes are discussed and approved at the board’s regular monthly meeting, which takes place on the second Monday of each month.
Many substitutes go on to be hired full-time by the district. There is often a need for more subs.
“We’re always in need of substitutes,” Irvin said. “We’ve retained a lot in the past year or so, which is great. A lot of them are interested in education, so they’ll start subbing. Then they’ll get their degree. We end up hiring a lot of them, which is great, but then we have to rehire subs.”
The district holds its staff to five pillars of excellence: Commitment to Excellence, Supportive Professional Development, Collaborative Culture, Student-Centered Approach and Community Engagement. Because of this, substitute training sessions are integral to the hiring process.
“We want to give them an overview of everything to let them know the expectations of working for the district,” the HR director said. “The kids come first. We need to let them know the ins and outs of everything that we do at the school district.”
The substitute teacher application may be found under the “Job Opportunities” tab at www. alcornschools.org. Those who have further questions or concerns are encouraged to reach out to Christy Irvin at cirvin@alcornschools.org or 662-286-5591.