Substitute Teacher Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Substitute Teacher, or Sub, teachers and supervises students in the event that their regular teacher is unable to lead class. Their duties include managing classroom behavior, quickly interpreting lesson plans and creating reports to inform the students’ permanent teacher of their success.

 

Substitute Teacher duties and responsibilities

In order to create an encouraging learning environment for students while their regular Teacher is absent, the Substitute Teacher will need to effectively manage and instruct the class from roll call through to tidying up the classroom after the students have left. Some of the Substitute Teacher’s duties and responsibilities include:

  • Follow lesson plans provided by the regular Teacher to create a cohesive and consistent learning experience for students
  • Manage the classroom effectively to encourage student participation, minimize distractions and maintain a positive learning environment
  • Adapt teaching methods to fit the needs of each individual student
  • Supervise students in and out of the classroom, including in the halls, on the playground and in the cafeteria
  • Provide in-class and at-home assignments based on the available lesson plan
  • For long-term substitutes: develop lesson plans and assignments consistent with the regular teacher’s past lesson plans