Pine Bush Central School District
PO Box 700, 156 Route 302, Pine Bush NY 12566
845-744-2031
Public Notices
Non-Discrimination Notice
The Pine Bush Central School District hereby advises students, parents, employees, and the general public that it offers employment and educational opportunities, including vocational educational opportunities, without regard to sex, gender, race, color, age, national origin, or disability. Secondary vocational educational opportunities available to district residents under age 21 are courses in the Business Education, Family Consumer Science, and Technology/Industrial Arts Programs. Inquiries regarding this non-discrimination policy may be directed to:
Title IX & VI Compliance Officers
- Terrilyn Cohn (845) 744-2031, ext. 4011
- Angela Wise-Landman (845) 744-2031, ext. 3508
Section 504 Compliance Officers
- Terrilyn Cohn (845) 744-2031, ext. 4011
- Erica Walentin (845) 744-2031, ext. 4801
IDEA/ADA Compliance Officers
Table of Contents
- Welcome
- Red Rover Absence Management System
- Procedures
- Locations and Phone Numbers of Our Schools
- Start and End Times
- FAQ’s About Substituting
- Principles: Pedagogy Tips
- Principles: Building Relationships With Students Tips
- Special Duties: Hall, Lunch, and Bus
- Field Trips
- Assemblies
- Legal Requirements and Responsibilities
- Emergency Procedures
- Payroll Information
For more information about the Pine Bush Central School District, current employment opportunities, and the Absence Management by Frontline substitute system, please visit our web site at www.pinebushschools.org or contact the following district staff for assistance:
- Executive Director of Human Resources and Data: Angela Wise-Landman 744-2031 ext. 3508
- Personnel/Human Resources Secretary: Amy Zupetz 744-2031 ext. 3516
- Absence Management by Red Rover Help Desk: Marie McSharry-Acker 744-2031 ext. 4021
Welcome!
Thank you for working as a substitute in the Pine Bush Central School District. Hopefully, this booklet will assist you. Whether you are planning to substitute only occasionally in one or two schools, or hoping to work every day, you are fulfilling a very important position; you will be responsible for the safety, well-being, and education of a classroom of our children. This is a responsibility of great importance and should be considered seriously only after deliberation and thought on your part. The joys of working daily with different aged children can be unlimited, but substituting can also be challenging and demanding. Please do not hesitate to ask questions from an administrator if you have any concerns or need clarification.
Red Rover
- Obtain your login information from the Office of Human Resources upon hire.
- Login daily to Red Rover here or via free app on your smartphone device to check for jobs and accept positions.
- The Red Rover app is available for free download in the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
- You can accept positions up until an hour before the designated start time of a school day (see school start times on page 6).
Procedures
Before You Arrive
- Ensure the night before that you know the location and sign in time of the school you are substituting at.
- Please dress professionally and be on time.
As You Arrive
- Please report to the Main Office of the respective school to sign in. Sign in and obtain a Substitute Teacher pass to wear visibly at all times. Please be prepared to show identification to the Greeter and to show the pass to any school monitor or security guard that inquires as to your purpose in the building.
- Introduce yourself to the secretary and pick up the substitute folder. This should contain all the necessary information concerning your teacher’s schedule, building rules, procedures, etc.
- Please check the folder immediately to see if you have homeroom or a duty (bus, hall, lunch, etc.). If you have a question, please ask the office staff. Be sure to perform all duties assigned. Inquire about any special programs, assemblies, or other changes scheduled for that day.
- Ask the office staff if any students in the class have any medical problems you should be aware of. If you are unsure of how to handle a situation, and you are not able to get assistance, it is best to err on the side of caution and safety.
In the Classroom
- Check for posted fire drill and other safety instructions located next to the door. Locate the evacuation map, exit windows, and exit signs in the hallway. Please read and be sure you understand. If information is missing, please notify the main office.
- Introduce yourself to teachers in nearby classrooms.
- Review the teacher’s lesson plans and follow them as closely as possible.
- Review attendance procedures and prepare materials. If there is a teaching assistant, go over the plans and procedures with them.
- Identify books, handouts, and papers that will be needed throughout the day. Study the seating chart if possible. Note if any students have been designated to assist you.
- Try and familiarize yourself with the recess times, lunch period, “specials” class times. Stand at the door and greet the students as they arrive. Be professional, friendly, and enthusiastic about the day. First impressions are lasting. Regardless of the situation or challenges you must confront, strive to be positive and respectful.
- Start class immediately with the assigned work. Have all student work properly identified. Walk around the room frequently.
- If a student is to leave the class, a written pass must be issued to them. 9. Never leave students unsupervised. Call the main office via the telephone if you have any problems or questions.
At the End of the Day (or Class Period)
- Collect all materials before the students leave the room.
- Remind students of their homework assignment, if any.
- Ask students to straighten up the area and clean around their desks.
- Dismiss the class when the bell rings, or when dismissed via intercom system and according to the schedule you were given. Keep students in their seats and away from the door until you dismiss them. Do not permit students to leave class early.
- Keep notes, bulletins, and other communications for the regular classroom teacher. Leave the teacher a report of what was accomplished and what needs to be completed.
- Sign out at the office, return the key (if you were given one), and check with the school secretary for any additional information.
Discipline Procedures/Incidents
- Check with the building administrator for preferred procedures. Usually, the practice at most schools is to call the office for a security escort if a student is repeatedly disrespectful or disruptive. We strongly encourage you to exhaust all options before calling the office for removal of a student.
- As soon as possible, please discuss any discipline issues with the appropriate
administrator before you leave. This will help to clarify any situations when the
administrator meets with the student(s). - Never touch students in any manner. Do not shout or use inappropriate language.
Locations and Phone Numbers
Pine Bush High School: 118 State Route 302, Pine Bush, NY 12566 | Phone: (845) 744-2031 ext. 3600
Crispell Middle School: 77 Maple Avenue, Pine Bush, NY 12566 | Phone: (845) 744-2031 ext. 4400
Circleville Middle School: 1951 Route 302, Circleville, NY 10919 | Phone: (845) 744-2031 ext. 5600
Pine Bush Elementary: 21 Ulsterville Road, Pine Bush, NY 12566 | Phone: (845) 744-2031 ext. 4300
Pakanasink Elementary: 1953 State Route 302, Circleville, NY 10919 | Phone: (845) 744-2031 ext. 5700
EJ Russell Elementary: 78 Holland Avenue, Pine Bush, NY 12566 | Phone: (845) 744-2031 ext. 4200
Circleville Elementary: 2000 State Route 302, Circleville, NY 10919 | Phone: (845) 744-2031 ext. 5500
Teacher Start and End Times
Pine Bush High School: 7:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Crispell Middle School: 7:09 a.m. – 2:09 p.m.
Circleville Middle School: 7:25 a.m. – 2:25 p.m.
ALL Elementary Schools: 8:20 a.m. – 3:20 p.m.
FAQS About Substitution
Must substitute teachers have a NYS teaching certificate?
Not always. There are two types of substitute teachers: those with certification and those without. Uncertified individuals who are not working toward certification may be employed legally on an itinerant, or “per diem” basis only, and may be employed by a school district for up to 40 days during a school year. All substitutes must have NYS Education Department fingerprint clearance.
What is the pay for per diem substitute teachers?
Teachers with valid NYS teaching certification are paid $147 a day. Substitute teachers that have a Bachelor’s Degree, regardless of teaching certification status are paid $132 a day. Substitute teachers without a Bachelor’s Degree are paid $126 a day. Substitute school registered nurses are paid $154 a day. Teaching Assistant substitutes are paid $18 an hour. The Office of Human Resources verifies certification through the NYS TEACH system upon hire.
All official transcripts must be on file with the Office of Human Resources.
Are substitute teachers entitled to any other benefits?
Yes, substitute teachers and teaching assistants have the option of joining the New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS).
Will substituting help me get a full time position with the Pine Bush School District?
The District hires new teachers before each school year and often throughout the school year as needs arise. Whereas substituting is certainly not a prerequisite for full time employment within the district, it certainly can be of help. It is suggested that you make your interests known to the Office of Human Resources and building administrators.
What other classifications of substitute teachers are utilized in Pine Bush?
Long-term per diem: If you have NYS certification in the subject area needed, or if you are working toward the certification in the subject area needed, you may qualify for a long-term substitute position. When a regularly appointed teacher is absent for an extended period of time on a paid leave, a substitute teacher may be called to work in that class on a long-term basis. This position will begin after 20 days of continuous service in one assignment. The pay rate then increases to $165 a day retroactive to the first day in the continuous assignment. If you have more than one absence, the 20 days of normal substitute pay will start over. This position may require you to plan day-to-day lessons, attend faculty meetings, assess students, and keep records and grades of these students.
Itinerant Permanent Substitute: If you have NYS certification, you may qualify for an itinerant permanent substitute position. Each of our seven buildings may hire three IPS’s to sub for their school. These subs are guaranteed to be called to work up to 180 days on a full year basis, provided they are available and accept the jobs when called, and are paid $275 a day. The number of days is prorated when the sub is hired on a partial year basis. They may be placed in
another building if there are no sub needs at their school.
Permanent Substitute: If you have NYS certification in the subject area needed, you may qualify to apply for a posted Permanent Substitute, or leave replacement position. When a regularly appointed teacher is absent for an extended period of time on an unpaid leave, sometimes subsequent to a long-term paid leave, the position is posted as a Permanent Substitute vacancy. These positions are posted on OLAS, www.olasjobs.org, and hired through the
application and interview process. This position will begin the day after your appointment by the board of education and you will be paid according to your placement on the teacher’s salary schedule. You may also be entitled to health benefits and sick and personal leave. This position will have a start date and an end date. You will be required to plan lessons, assess students, and keep records and grades of these students. You will also be expected to participate in faculty meetings and staff development as well as any other contractual duties that would be required of the regular teacher. Observations and evaluations will be conducted at least three times on a full-year basis.
Teaching Assistant Substitute: If you have a teaching assistant certification or are willing to work towards a certification, you may be interested in subbing as a teaching assistant. Any NYS teaching certification also qualifies you to work as a teaching assistant or substitute. Our teaching assistants work from three hours a day to seven hours a day. Teaching assistants may work in inclusion classrooms, or in traditional education classrooms supporting a lead classroom teacher in instruction. Permanent Substitute teaching positions are also posted when a teaching assistant is on a leave of absence. Permanent substitutes are paid at probationary contract hourly rate and may be entitled to sick and personal time on a prorated basis.
Can I limit the schools, the grade levels, or the days of the week in which I am available to substitute?
Yes. If you are prepared to work only with younger or older students, or in certain schools, you may indicate this to the Office of Human Resources and on Red Rover. If you have scheduling limitations, please inform the Office of Human Resources.
What if there are no lesson plans?
Every teacher is required to leave a plan for the day, however, an unforeseen emergency could result in an empty desk when you arrive and look for the lesson plan for the day. If there are no lesson plans, contact the main office so they can advise you on what to do.
Principles for Successful Substitutes: Pedagogy Tips
- Break down the activity into small sequential steps. Teach one step at a time.
- Give students chances to practice what they have been taught.
- Check to see if students understand the material before moving ahead.
- Use many approaches to reach students.
- Remember that learning needs to be engaging. A variety of materials, activities, and approaches make it interesting.
- Be flexible. Teaching demands flexibility.
- Remain calm, quiet and observant.
Principles for Successful Substitutes: Building Relationships with Students Tips
- Be enthusiastic – students mirror your attitude.
- Be a good listener.
- Implement motivational techniques.
- Relate to students – incorporate your experiences.
- Go to the students when they need help. This avoids confusion and needless commotion.
- Encourage student direction. Enlist student advice in a structured way.
- Praise students for positive behavior.
- Don’t criticize, and don’t make sarcastic remarks.
Special Duties and Responsibilities: Hall, Lunch or Bus Duty
As part of some assignments, your responsibilities may include hall, lunch, or bus duty. Hopefully, specific instructions associated with such an assignment will be explained by the principal/secretary or outlined in the permanent teacher’s lesson plans. If not, you should keep in mind the following:
- Supervisory duties involve more than just being in the vicinity of the students. Your job is to supervise student actions and activities to ensure a safe environment and experience.
- Proactive measures will help to successfully deter potential problem situations.
- Be alert and attentive to what students are doing.
- Remain standing and move about the area you are supervising as much as possible.
- Be positive when interacting with students.
- Should a problem arise, intervene before the situation gets out of control, and don’t hesitate to elicit help from another teacher or school administrator.
- Never leave a group of students unsupervised.
Field Trips
A field trip is a method of providing students with first-hand learning opportunities. Field trips are often used to introduce or conclude a specific topic of study. When substituting on the day of a field trip, you have many duties in order to successfully carry out the planned learning experience:
- Parental permission to participate in the field trip must be secured prior to the trip. Be certain that such permission, usually a signed release/consent form, has been obtained for all of the students in the class.
- Find out the school policy for any students who do not have documented parental permission to participate in the field trip. If a student without permission is required to remain at school, arrange for them to attend another teacher’s class or follow school policies. Take attendance after students have boarded the bus. Report any absences to the main office.
- Students should be assigned a travel partner, and chaperones should be given a specific group of students with a list of their names. You may want to consider giving each chaperone’s group a different color of name tags.
- Safety precautions must be followed at all times.
- Ride in the back of the bus to monitor students’ behavior.
Assemblies
Please follow these guidelines if you are ever assigned to substitute during an assembly:
- Find out the time and location of the assembly and any special arrangements that must be made. You should also check to see how the regular class schedule will be altered to accommodate the assembly.
- Talk to neighboring permanent teachers. Many schools have specific procedures for going to and returning from an assembly, as well as assigned seating for each class.
- If such procedures exist, familiarize yourself with them and do your best to follow them.
- If there are no established procedures, devise your own (walk in a single file line down the hall to the assembly, sit together as a class, return in a single file line, etc.)
- Determine the specific behavior you expect during the assembly, with consequences and rewards dependent upon how these expectations are met.
- Praise students for positive behavior.
- Include the “Assembly” as part of your substitute teacher report.
Legal Requirements and Responsibilities
An important consideration when teaching is your legal responsibility in the classroom and school. Listed below is a sketch of your legal responsibilities. Your principal can assist you in learning the specific policies of a particular school:
Supervision of Students – The teacher who is in charge of a classroom has a duty to keep the students safe and orderly. A teacher acts ” In Loco Parentis”- in the place of a parent – and is allowed to use his/her judgment in a manner similar to a parent. The standard is the reasonable use of professional judgment for the safety and orderly education of students. Remember:
Never leave your students unsupervised.
Due Care and Caution – A teacher is required to exercise due care and caution for the safety of the students in his/her charge. This means acting reasonably and with safety in mind, being able to explain circumstances and your actions, and following school safety policies and procedures.
Release of Students – Due to possible constraints as to who may be the custodial parent, students should not be permitted to leave the building during the school day without permission from administration.
Visitors – Visitors (parents, relatives, friends) who show up at your classroom should be referred to the main office.
Confidentiality – It is unprofessional and against the law to disclose confidential information about your students. Refrain from making comments about students that convey private information such as grades, medical conditions, learning or discipline issues; etc.
Anecdotal Records – Maintaining notes on particular incidents in the classroom can assist you with a problematic situation. If you feel that an incident might be questioned, note the date and time, the individuals involved, the choices for action considered, and the actions taken.
Discipline Policies – Learn the school’s policy regarding various aspects of student management. Safe Schools Legislation requires schools to have a written code of conduct and referral process. If a student is sent to administration due to discipline matters, the substitute teacher maintains the duties of supervision and due care of both the individual student and the
remainder of the class. New York State Law prohibits the use of corporal punishment.
Emergency Procedures
All districts have procedures in place to deal with emergency situations. Check with the office, and talk with other teachers about procedures in the following areas:
Medical Emergency
If a life-threatening situation exists (profuse bleeding, loss of consciousness, convulsions, extreme difficulty breathing, choking, chest pain, etc.) you must contact the nurse’s office immediately. Be sure to give your room number, name, and the nature of the emergency. A student with a minor injury should be sent to the school nurse. Contact the nurse’s office so that staff will be prepared for the student’s arrival. Remember to complete an Accident Report from the nurse’s office before you leave for the day.
Medication
Under no circumstances should a substitute dispense prescription or non-prescription medications to students.
Fire Drill Procedures
Please familiarize yourself with the fire drill instructions posted by the door of your classroom. Before leaving the classroom, please close all windows, tum off lights, and close the door. Lead your class outside in an orderly fashion, maintain quiet in the hallway, and assemble the class outside. Please take your class list with you and take attendance once you are safely outside. If any student is missing, contact an administrator immediately. An all-clear signal will sound and allow you to re-enter the building. Re-enter in a quiet and orderly fashion. Report any problems to the main office.
Lockdown
Used to secure school buildings and grounds during incidents that pose an immediate threat of violence in or around the school. Each school building will have various drills throughout the school year, familiarize yourself with each building’s procedures by asking the main office staff.
Lockout
Used to secure school buildings and grounds during incidents that pose an imminent concern outside of the school. Each school building will have various drills throughout the school year, familiarize yourself with each building’s procedures by asking the main office staff.
Dangerous Situation
A substitute teacher is responsible for making sure the learning environment is safe. For example, desks or other obstacles should not block exits, and proper supervision and safety instruction should be provided when potentially dangerous equipment is being used.
Child Abuse and Neglect
The purpose of child abuse reporting legislation is to protect the best interests of students, offer protective services to prevent harm to students, stabilize the home environment and preserve family life whenever possible. Any school employee (including substitute teachers) who knows, or reasonably believes that a student has been neglected or physically or sexually abused shall immediately notify the building principal.
Sexual Harassment
A ‘”yardstick” for determining what constitutes sexual harassment is behavior that:
- is unwanted or unwelcome
- is sexual in nature
- is severe, pervasive and/or repeated
- has an adverse impact on the workplace or academic environment
If you have sexual harassment concerns, report them to your principal and/or human resources office.
Bomb Threat
In case of a bomb threat, there are specific procedures to follow. In some cases, you will evacuate the building in the same manner as a fire drill. Lead your class outside in an orderly fashion, maintain quiet in the hallway, and assemble the class outside away from the building. Please take your class list with you and take attendance once you are safely outside. Report any missing students to an administrator. Do not use or permit your students to use any
electronic devices. An all-clear signal will sound and allow you to re-enter the building. Please do so in a quiet and orderly manner.
Chemical or Hazardous Spills-OSHA
Right to know materials and OSHA universal precautions are posted in the main office. In the event that there is contact with a hazardous substance or a chemical occurs, contact the main office immediately for assistance.
Blood Borne Pathogens
The school is a low risk environment for employees to be exposed to blood borne pathogens. Therefore, only some employees in the school building will be identified as having potential occupational risk to blood borne pathogens. These individuals will have the responsibility of responding to blood/body fluid incidents and caring for the individual and/or cleaning-up the blood/body fluid spill and other potentially infectious materials/surfaces. You should contact the main office to determine who these individuals are in your building. Staff should direct or assist an individual involved with blood/body fluid incidents to care for him/herself with minimal contact. However, there are situations when a staff person will need to intervene and provide assistance that requires contact. Therefore, staff should always use a barrier between him/herself and the individual in need of assistance using clean materials or latex/vinyl gloves. In most instances, the staff member should not be expected to clean-up the blood/body fluid spill or the environment. Appropriate custodial staff should be called for clean up. When a staff member needs to intervene and implement “universal precautions”, they do so from an informed voluntary response under the “Good Samaritan Act” and use of prudent public health protective procedures. Always wash your hands following any assistance provided by you, disposing of barrier materials in a plastic bag that can be sealed.
Payroll Information and Procedures for Teacher Substitutes – To Ensure a Paycheck
File a W-4 Form Withholding Statement and Immigration Form with the District upon hire. Follow the sign-in procedures at the building you are working in, and ensure you are keeping up to date with accepting positions in the Absence Management by Frontline system.
Important Pension Information
If you are a certified teacher, you are most likely eligible to join the NYS Teachers’ Retirement System and earn retirement credit. New membership is optional, but if you are already a member, you must continue contributing.
Substitute teachers who do not have teacher certification may join the NYS Employees’ Retirement System. Service credit earned in this pension system is transferable to the NYS Teachers’ Retirement System upon certification.
Conclusion
Thank you for your dedication to the Pine Bush Central School District and for joining our substitute ranks! Your hard work does not go unnoticed and we greatly appreciate your efforts for our children!