Nov. 15, 2021

What:             
SAISD Board of Trustees to vote on significant daily pay rate increase for substitute teachers for Spring 2022

Who:               
SAISD Board of Trustees
SAISD interim superintendent Dr. Robert Jaklich

When:           
Nov. 15, 2021 (Monday), 5:30 p.m.

Where:         
SAISD Central Office Board Room, 514 W. Quincy, 78212

The SAISD Board of Trustees will hear a presentation and is expected to take action on increasing substitute daily pay rates for highly qualified, certified teachers during its regularly scheduled board meeting on Nov. 15. With the pandemic creating higher than expected vacancies and absences, there is a need for certified substitute teachers to cover classroom instruction. 

Board President Christina Martinez said qualified and credentialed teachers and substitutes are critical to the learning process.

“Our young people need to be surrounded with as many safe and caring adults as possible. It's how we will close social emotional and academic gaps we've experienced over the last three school years due to the pandemic,” she said. “This daily pay rate increase proposal is a way for us to express to our substitutes how valuable they are, and it's one piece of the puzzle in providing the exceptional education our students deserve. Through this program, we are re-inventing our substitute teachers and it is our hope that we can fill the vacancies we're experiencing for good.”

According to the Texas Education Agency, during the 2018-2019 school year 21,869 new teacher certificates were issued across the state. In the 2019-2020 school year only 17,734 new teacher certificates were issued. This is a decrease of 4,135 new teacher certifications in just one year. School districts across San Antonio, the state and nation are experiencing a decline in the number of available certified teachers. 

Currently SAISD has 100 teacher vacancies.

“We must embrace this challenge with an innovative approach,” said Dr. Robert Jaklich, SAISD interim superintendent. “Our goal is to recruit and retain highly qualified, certified teacher substitutes in our classrooms so we may lessen the load on our existing teachers, provide our teachers with more opportunities to plan and collaborate, and support our teachers in their commitment of assisting students in their academic recovery caused by the pandemic.” 

In reviewing the data, SAISD found that the highest number of unfilled jobs are on Mondays and Fridays. So, the district adjusted its plan accordingly.
 
SAISD’s plan includes increasing the substitute rates for a certified substitute in a critical subject area to $200 a day for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $225 a day for Mondays and Fridays. Critical areas are recognized as Bilingual/ESL/Dual Language, Special Education, Math, Science, English and Social Studies. 
 
Non-critical area substitutes will be paid $175 per day for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $200 a day for Mondays and Fridays in the elementary grades. In the secondary grades, these substitutes will earn $200 a day for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $225 a day for Mondays and Fridays.
 
A certified individual who is not substituting in the area of their certification will receive $150 a day for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $175 a day for Mondays and Fridays in the elementary grades.  In the secondary grades, these substitutes will earn $175 a day for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $200 a day for Mondays and Fridays. 
 
A degreed substitute will earn $135 a day for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $160 a day for Mondays and Fridays in the elementary grades. In the secondary grades, these substitutes will earn $160 a day for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $185 a day for Mondays and Fridays. 
 
A non-degreed substitute will earn $120 a day for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $145 a day for Mondays and Fridays in the elementary grades. In the secondary grades, these substitutes will earn $135 a day for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and $160 a day for Mondays and Fridays. 
 
Secondary teacher substitutes at Cooper Academy and in the Sam Houston and Lanier clusters will receive an additional $25 to their daily rate.

The proposed rates would apply to the spring 2022 semester.