As one of the largest school districts in the nation, the Clark County School District is home to hundreds of schools just looking for substitute teachers to fill in when regular teachers are unable to. The fact is, the hiring market in Las Vegas is not great right now for regular teachers, unless you are qualified in a high-need area, so it may be easier to get in as a substitute first. If you are certified to teach, then schools will be sure to consider hiring you first as a permanent substitute in your given field before dipping into the pool of regular substitutes. This will hopefully lead to getting hired as a full-time teacher later. Recent graduates should definitely add the extra endorsement on their teaching license in case jobs are difficult to find.
Becoming a substitute for Las Vegas is a timely process, but anyone working with children should expect that. You go through a background, reference, and fingerprint check. The licensing fees are expensive, $161, plus $60 for your fingerprints, but you can easily make this back in two working days. If everything checks out, you will be able to start in the district a few months (yes, months) after you place your application.
How much do you get paid?
The pay is definitely not comparable to a teacher’s salary and benefits, but it is better than many jobs out there right now. Starting at $90 a day, you can earn up to $110 a day if you are willing to work in higher-risk schools. The pay in those schools will increase to $120 dollars a day if you are working in a vacancy assignment or a long-term assignment after the tenth day.
Will you get called?
Absolutely! Even if no one knows you, you will get called by the automated system. Calls come in high-volume on Monday and Friday mornings. Once you start working, schools will start calling you almost daily. If you show a preference for a specific school and show them you are reliable, they will put you on their preferred list. You will never have a problem getting a job.
The substitute teaching situation in Las Vegas is very good right now. If you’re waiting for the permanent teaching gigs to roll in before giving subbing a shot, you may be waiting awhile. At least you will get to try out different schools this way.