Becoming a Substitute Teacher in Mississippi, MS
Ranking 31st in state population, Mississippi has 493,000 public students. With 1,055 public schools the state has been continuing to add teachers to its educational system to cope with growing student populations. This brings along the need for more substitute teachers as well, making now a great time to look into becoming a sub. Becoming a substitute is very alluring for many reasons, one of the main ones being that most states do not require you to have a Bachelors Degree, however Mississippi does not require its subs to have one. In becoming a substitute teacher it is important to understand the need for a flexible schedule, as you can be needed on very short notice. Many full-time salaried teachers started as subs and greatly appreciate the experience as it allows you to get a feel for the teaching industry without fully committing to a 4 year degree right off the bat. Many subs also enjoy the flexible work schedule as it allows them to pursue other ventures on the side, often times finishing up their Bachelors Degree or working part-time on the side.
Required Training, Qualifications, and Education
Mississippi is one of the states that does not require a Bachelors Degree in order to become a sub, however you will also need to go in for state fingerprinting and state and federal background checks. Some districts may have other requirements so make sure to check before applying.
Licensure and Certification
The following situations are required for a substitute teacher license–
- Submit the Substitute Application through a local school system
- Include any official transcripts, references, or other relevant material
- Include required Application fee/s
- Must reapply for certificate every four years
Career Expectations For Substitutes in Mississippi
Becoming a sub in Mississippi is an alluring prospect for many reasons, especially because a Bachelors Degree is not needed. Growing state populations allow teachers to have pretty good job security as they will always be in need to maintain acceptable student-teacher ratios. Although the recession hit everyone pretty hard, teachers managed to fair pretty well compared to average. Coming out of the recession has allowed most states, including Mississippi, to continue expanding their educational systems, which bodes well for job security as well as job availability. Since a lot of substitute work is given based on experience and education, many substitute teachers use their time when not subbing to complete Degree Programs or hold work on the side.
Salary Expectation
Currently, the average salary for a Substitute Teacher in Mississippi is approximately $38,000 a year (according to bls.gov) which is about 28% higher than the national average. Substitute Teachers in Mississippi make significantly more then the national average, however it is important to realize this number can vary greatly as final pay is determined by experience, education, and by district. Additional income can be gained during times when you are not substitute teaching through things like test proctoring as well as tutoring.