FAQs for Substitute Applicants
Please read carefully the Instructions page before downloading the
application and payroll forms.
There is information there which refers to:
2008-2009 Minimum Requirements & District Substitute Teacher Pay Rates
Scheduling Appointments and What to Bring
Map and Directions to 900 Watervliet - Shaker Road
HazCom/Right-To-Know/Universal Precautions Training
What’s a Confidential College file?
If you have one, you know it! They are files set up for
students in a teaching program
by their colleges to keep a record of their
recommendation letters and certifications. If
you don’t have a
confidential file, two written
reference letters written within the previous
two years are
acceptable. They may be character references and don't have to be related
to
teaching.
If I have a Confidential College file, should I have
it sent to you by my college?
If so, where do I send it?
Colleges usually insist on sending the credential files
directly to us. Our address is listed
on the Scheduling Appointments link.
Some colleges will fax credential files. Please ask for
the fax number when you
set up your appointment.
Do you need my actual
Bachelor's (or Master's) degree? How about a transcript?
We can accept
your diploma or a good copy, or a transcript (does not have to be sealed)
from your college that states that your degree was conferred and the conferral
date. We are
unable to accept the multi-page unofficial transcripts downloaded from the
internet.
I
haven't graduated from college yet! How do I prove I'll be graduating?
You can provide a transcript from your college showing courses completed
(again, not the down-
loadable document from the internet) or a registrar's letter stating when you
will graduate.
How can I prove I'm certified?
You can bring
a copy of your certification or you can access the TEACH site at
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/ Make a copy of the page
showing that your
certification was issued and bring it to your interview.
Can my two reference letters be from the same people
I list in the references
section of the page on the application?
Yes. They must have been written in the last two years,
but do not have to be written
specifically to us. You may bring copies of
letters written for you for other employment or
graduate school etc. as long as
they are signed and have the reference’s phone number or
address on them.
May my references send their letters to me or do they
have to be sent directly to
you, and what is your address? My mother (or sister,
brother, cousin, aunt etc.)
wants to write a reference letter for me. Is that
acceptable?
Our address is on the Scheduling Appointments link. They
may be addressed to
Program Manager, Substitute Coordination Service. Letters
may be sent directly to us
or you may bring them in yourself. We do not accept
reference letters from relatives.
Do you accept email references?
Not at this time unless you set this up with the Program Manager at your interview.
I’m not able to bring everything requested for my
interview. Should I still come to
my appointment?
We suggest that you do keep your appointment, as long as
the application is completely
filled out. You may mail, fax or bring in
subsequent documentation after your interview.
Your application is not
forwarded to the Program Manager for a reference check until all
required
paperwork is complete.
What if I can’t come to my appointment?
At peak times there is often a waiting list of a month or
so. Please call to cancel by
leaving a message so that someone from the waiting
list can take your place!
Do I have to be certified to substitute for your districts?
Guilderland requires certification, Niskayuna
and Bethlehem strongly prefer certification but will look
at applications on a case by case basis. That said, all of our districts prefer certified teachers and
require a Bachelor’s
degree
except for the following exceptions: with an
Associates degree you may sub
as a teacher
in
the Cohoes and
Duanesburg
districts. You may sub as a teaching assistant only with your High
School diploma in the South Colonie, Schalmont, Cohoes and BOCES CTE districts
and the
Voorheesville Jr/High School.
How do I substitute for the Capital Region BOCES Special Education division?
For Special Education, contact Barb Petraznik at 862-6317.
How long does it take to be approved?
You should allow four weeks if all required documents are
in your file. Reference checks
can take anywhere from a day to many weeks.
Please make sure your references know
you need this reference. Once you’re
approved out of our office (application file complete,
reference check done)
your application will be sent to the districts for approval. Approval
is
dependent upon each district’s board meeting schedule.
I used to substitute for you and I would like to come
back on the list.
What do I have to do?
Call the help desk at 464-3919 and your file
will be pulled and checked over.
You will be called back
or mailed a chart with what is required
to return to the Service. In most cases a
new application and
interview are
required.
Do you hire permanent or long term substitutes?
No. Hiring long term or permanent subs is a district decision.
Do you handle substitutes for summer school?
No. We suggest you contact the school district offices directly.
Do you handle home tutors?
Only Cohoes and South Colonie
districts use tutors from our substitute list. If you want
to home tutor for either district proceed
with the substitute application process and then
follow up with them directly.
The Service does not call for home tutors.
I have questions about New York State Teacher
Certification. How do I contact the
BOCES Certification Officer?
The BOCES Certification Officer is Joy Moch, who can be
reached at 862-4915.
For certification information please refer to the NYSED
website at
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/faqapply.htm or call them at 474-3901
from
9 -11:30am and 1:30 - 4:30pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
I was fingerprinted for the NYSED OSPRA database once
already.
Do I have to be printed again? How do I tell if my fingerprints are on
file?
What if I was fingerprinted for the New York City Board of Education?
You do not have to be reprinted as long as you were
fingerprinted for the NYSED
OSPRA database after July 1st, 2001. If
you were printed for the New York City
Board of Education after July 1st,
1990 you fill out and send the NYCBOE an OSPRA 104
form authorizing the NYCBOE
to release your print results to NYSED OSPRA. If you were
printed for daycare or
as a bus driver, you have to be fingerprinted again. Our process
and fees are
explained on our fingerprint link. You may also check your fingerprint status
online, arrange to be fingerprinted on your own, or access the fingerprint forms
link, at
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/ospra/ospra100.htm Or you may call
NYSED
OSPRA directly at 473-2998 for information.