Norwin to train potential substitute teachers
Norwin School District is planning a two-day training session in March aimed at qualifying people to become emergency-certified substitutes who can work immediately in the school district.
The substitute teacher academy for those who do not hold a teaching certification is planned for 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 10 and 11 in the high school auxiliary gymnasium. It is open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree in any field, as well as Norwin student teachers and those completing pre-student teaching with Norwin. College education majors who have more than 60 credits also are eligible to attend the sessions.
Norwin this school year raised the substitute teacher pay by $15 to $120 per day in December in an effort to attract more substitutes. Like other school districts during the covid pandemic, Norwin has had difficulty attracting substitute teachers, school officials said. Norwin currently has about 41 active substitute teachers, about half the number it had for the 2019-2020 school year.
Superintendent Jeff Taulro said the district is hoping to recruit as many substitute teachers as possible. As of Friday afternoon, the almost 50 prospective teachers had registered for the free training. The deadline to register is March 1.
As long as the substitutes approved this year for the training meet the necessary criteria, they can be approved again in upcoming years, Taylor said. Those substitutes must complete an emergency substitute application annually so the district may apply for their emergency certificate from the state Department of Education, Taylor said.
The sessions will offer an overview of the school district, responsibilities for substitute teachers, classroom technology and school visits and classroom observation. They will be able to familiarize themselves with building-level administrators and staff.
For those unable to attend the training sessions, there will be a synchronous virtual format.
Those interested in the substitute teacher academy must register by March 1. A registration form is available at norwinsd.org/SubAcademy.
For more information, contact Rocco Telli, Norwin High School assistant principal, at telli.rocco@norwinsd.org.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.