Help Is On The Way ! Recruiting and Keeping Substitute Staff by Verda Rubottom

Why a Substitute Staff? Emergencies Illness Family Crisis Vacations Teacher needs a leave of absence Teacher wants to attend adult class

Emergencies

Illness

Family Crisis

Vacations

Teacher needs a leave of absence

Teacher wants to attend adult class

Organizing a Substitute Staff How to Recruit How to Train How to Keep

How to Recruit

How to Train

How to Keep

Reasons People Hesitate to Serve Not enough time Not willing to make a commitment Feel unqualified Not sure what’s expected Spouse does not support involvement Feel they have “put in their time” Don’t want to miss adult class or service Don’t feel called to children’s ministry Already involved in another area

Not enough time

Not willing to make a commitment

Feel unqualified

Not sure what’s expected

Spouse does not support involvement

Feel they have “put in their time”

Don’t want to miss adult class or service

Don’t feel called to children’s ministry

Already involved in another area

1. How to Recruit “ Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Matthew 9:38

“ Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:17

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Matthew 9:38

Pray for guidance and wisdom Be specific in your prayers Expect God to provide the workers you need Be willing to wait for God’s timing Prepare for the workers God will send your way

Pray for guidance and wisdom

Be specific in your prayers

Expect God to provide the workers you need

Be willing to wait for God’s timing

Prepare for the workers God will send your way

Spiritual Qualifications Born again believer Faithful attendance for at least 6 months Has attended pastor’s class, membership or similar class, or has transferred from another church. Is in agreement with basic beliefs of your church Supports the mission of your church.

Born again believer

Faithful attendance for at least 6 months

Has attended pastor’s class, membership or similar class, or has transferred from another church.

Is in agreement with basic beliefs of your church

Supports the mission of your church.

General Qualifications People who are good role models for children People who really care about children People who understand the nature of children, and their characteristics People who are patient, kind and even tempered.

People who are good role models for children

People who really care about children

People who understand the nature of children, and their characteristics

People who are patient, kind and even tempered.

Look for People with Irregular Schedules Retired people School teachers Military personnel Firefighters Hospital workers Police officers High school and college students

Retired people

School teachers

Military personnel

Firefighters

Hospital workers

Police officers

High school and college students

People with Special Circumstances Newlyweds New parents Earning a degree Working two jobs Taking care of elderly parents Physical limitations New Christians

Newlyweds

New parents

Earning a degree

Working two jobs

Taking care of elderly parents

Physical limitations

New Christians

Recruiting Steps Prepare job description. Have children’s department application forms available. Follow your church policy for approving potential teachers. Share the need, and opportunities available.

Prepare job description.

Have children’s department application forms available.

Follow your church policy for approving potential teachers.

Share the need, and opportunities

available.

5. Meet personally with prospective workers. 6. Invite to workers orientation meeting, or regular staff meeting. 7.Give curriculum sample for volunteer to examine. 8. Allow volunteer adequate time to make their decision.

5. Meet personally with prospective workers.

6. Invite to workers orientation meeting, or regular staff meeting.

7.Give curriculum sample for volunteer to examine.

8. Allow volunteer adequate time to make their decision.

2. How to Train Have substitute staff meeting once or twice a year Invite subs to regular teacher’s meetings, but don’t require their attendance. Have teaching materials, resources, books and training seminars available for your subs as well as for regular staff.

Have substitute staff meeting once or twice a year

Invite subs to regular teacher’s meetings, but don’t require their attendance.

Have teaching materials, resources, books and training seminars available for your subs as well as for regular staff.

Substitute Packet Class schedules Curriculum sample Children’s department mission statement, policies Discipline policy Map of church site, classrooms, restrooms, Sunday school office, media/resource room

Class schedules

Curriculum sample

Children’s department mission statement, policies

Discipline policy

Map of church site, classrooms, restrooms, Sunday school office, media/resource room

Safety and security policies Well baby policy Job description of substitutes Nametag/ID Bible story color sheets List of children’s staff & phone numbers Parent’s newsletter Games

Safety and security policies

Well baby policy

Job description of substitutes

Nametag/ID

Bible story color sheets

List of children’s staff & phone numbers

Parent’s newsletter

Games

Tips for Substitute Teachers 1. Arrive early 2. Follow plans, but be flexible 3. Locate restrooms, exits, offices, ushers 4. Follow church policies 5. Use nametags 6. Greet with confidence 7. Have something to do, begin with prayer 8. Don’t abandon rules 9. Be positive, pleasant and patient 10. Share a story, or play a game 11. Have a sense of humor. 12. Follow check out policy. 13. Contact absent teacher 14. Compliment children 15. Pray for children’s requests. 16. Stay in contact with the class.

1. Arrive early

2. Follow plans, but be flexible

3. Locate restrooms, exits, offices, ushers

4. Follow church policies

5. Use nametags

6. Greet with confidence

7. Have something to do, begin with prayer

8. Don’t abandon rules

9. Be positive, pleasant

and patient

10. Share a story, or play a game

11. Have a sense of humor.

12. Follow check out policy.

13. Contact absent teacher

14. Compliment children

15. Pray for children’s requests.

16. Stay in contact with the class.

When you Need a Sub Prearrange times when you can contact your sub volunteer Approved subs may be contacted by dept. leaders or teachers Keep list of phone numbers and emails of workers at home and office. Alternate teachers and “team” teachers, may also serve as subs

Prearrange times when you can contact your sub volunteer

Approved subs may be contacted by dept. leaders or teachers

Keep list of phone numbers and emails of workers at home and office.

Alternate teachers and “team” teachers, may also serve as subs

3. How to Keep Substitutes on Your Team Recognize subs as a vital part of your CE team. Connect them with other staff. Match up assignments with their ability and interests. Respect their decision to say ‘no’ when they aren’t able to fill in. Respond to concerns and needs ASAP.

Recognize subs as a vital part of your CE team. Connect them with other staff.

Match up assignments with their ability and interests.

Respect their decision to say ‘no’ when they aren’t able to fill in.

Respond to concerns and needs ASAP.

Provide staff phone numbers/ email. Keep sub-staff updated (email, letters). Remember birthdays and send notes of appreciation. Include in department social events. Pray for them, and encourage them to develop their teaching gift.

Provide staff phone numbers/ email.

Keep sub-staff updated (email, letters).

Remember birthdays and send notes of appreciation.

Include in department social events.

Pray for them, and encourage them to develop their teaching gift.