As the 2023-2024 school year progresses, there has been an ongoing need for long-term substitute teachers at SHS. Unfortunately, the search and hiring process can be challenging, as the pool of qualified applicants is usually limited.
SHS World Language Department Chair Kathryn Ciulla noted difficulties finding long-term substitutes and permanent teachers. When a department needs a long-term substitute, a letter that includes the requirements is submitted. SHS administrators work with SPS human resources personnel to post the position.
Many Massachusetts school districts, including Scituate, use a platform called SchoolSpring, where jobs in education are posted. The process of hiring a long-term substitute teacher entails primarily screening candidates and making sure they are appropriately licensed. Next, candidates come in for interviews and demo lessons when the candidate’s teaching skills are assessed.
When hiring long-term substitutes, Ciulla looks for teachers with extensive knowledge about the subject, especially at the high school level. She also seeks candidates who like to work with adolescents and demonstrate an engaging, organized, and compassionate personality.
The World Language Department has been fortunate to welcome back retired SHS teacher George Haddad while he filled several long-term substitute positions. Haddad retired in 2021 but is currently substituting for an SHS Spanish teacher on maternity leave.
SHS English Department Chair Laura Messner noted that the nationwide teacher shortage has impacted the availability of qualified long-term substitutes. She said the difficulties with this ongoing issue involve “factors outside of our control.” Since high school teachers need a specific skill set, searching for long-term substitutes is increasingly difficult.
Specifically, when Messner was searching for a teacher to fill a high school English position, she looked for someone who was flexible, curious, and able to teach an established curriculum. She started the hiring process 5-6 weeks before the position needed to be filled, noting that it usually takes around 3-4 weeks; however, with this specific scenario, it only took two weeks.
Messner said department members feel lucky to have Michael Carroll fulfilling the responsibilities of a long-term substitute, as he is flexible, adaptive, intelligent, and especially helpful in the role of an AP teacher.
Carroll said he learned about the job on SchoolSpring and has thoroughly enjoyed working at SHS. Before his current position, he worked briefly as a substitute teacher at Stoughton High School. The interest in Scituate was sparked because when he was young, his family used to vacation in Humarock. He always appreciated the local scenery and was happy to return to the area.