Something interesting happened to me recently.  I applied for a job at Wantagh, and they asked for 3 references.  I supplied the two that I have, and stated that they were my only references.  I then got contacted by the district and they said that unless I provided 3 references, my resume would not even be considered.  This is absolutely ridiculous.  I was always told that employers ask for multiple references with the knowledge that one or two won't get back to them, so they at least will be able to get in touch with one.  I have never been told, flat out, that it's 3 or nothing.  This is particularly troubling with the way things are going now.  I know many of us have been subbing for years, so many of our references (especially those from student teaching) are woefully out of date.  Even references we get from subbing now may not be that great because once student teaching is over, no one really works that closely with you in the classroom anymore, so anything references from subbing say is hearsay.  Personally, I think for a district (or any employer) to absolutely demand a certain number of references is saying that they don't care about your quality as an employee, they just want someone who will either kiss up to higher-ups or be a social butterfly and socialize all day.  Is this really the type of employee they are looking for?  If so, then I am surely out of luck.  Don't get me wrong, I'm friendly, but I have a life outside school, and I don't spend my time sucking up to everyone on my off periods.  Since I have never been told I was excluded because of a lack of references before, I am hoping this is an isolated instance, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had this occur.  Please, comment here or start a thread in the forums and tell us what you think and if it's happened to you.    

Finally, I get to get back to work this Tuesday.  It's been a long wait, so I'm happy to be going back.  It'll be interesting to see if the same subs are there form last year.  I wonder if any got regular teaching jobs...or if anyone just flat out quit.  I wouldn't blame them if they did...but clearly I am sticking it out as long as it take.  What choice do I have?  I changed my entire career path almost 8 years ago to get in to teaching.  Has it paid off?  Monetarily, no, not really at all.  But at least I enjoy what I do now...even if it means putting off the rest of my life a little (or a lot) longer.  So, let's get the new year started!!!

This is always a slow time of year for subs.  Not many teachers call in sick, not many just taking a day off, so we are all in a holding pattern.  On top of that, permanent subs around here don't start until October 1, so the wait continues.  I actually got one of those automated calls from AESOP to work the other day, but I didn't take it.  I know permanents aren't allowed to work in September, but last year, the dates we weren't allowed to work were blocked off on AESOP, and this year, so far, they weren't.  I called the school to make sure, of course, but they told me I can't work yet...and shortly thereafter, the dates in September were all blocked off on AESOP.  Has anyone else worked at all this September?    

I know what you're saying....school started last week.  Yes, it indeed start last week in many places...but not here.  Here school starts today.  Unless you're a permanent sub.  Then school starts October 1.  So the wait continues.  It's only an extra 3 weeks so it's not so bad.  Plus, nothing has come up on AESOP for my district yet.  Usually, the days start popping up for subs before the school year even starts.  This year, nothing.  It's a little weird.  Oh well.  Anyone out there subbing this year yet?

I finally got word yesterday that I will be a permanent sub again this year.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute.  Actually, at first I was told I would NOT be permanent, then something apparently happened, because they called me back and said they changed their minds and I would be permanent.  What a relief.  Not that I'm stopping my job search, but it's nice to have something steady.  How are everyone else's job searches going?

...Hello, 2013-2014 school year.  Labor Day weekend is upon us, and for many of us that means back to school (although, around here school doesn't start until September 9).  Hopefully, this new year brings new jobs for us all.  I am still waiting for a call from my district to find out if I'm going to be a permanent sub again or not.  Nothing like waiting until the last possible minute to figure these things out.  Keeping my fingers crossed for that one.  That being said, good luck to all of you on another great school year ahead!!  

As you may have noticed, I have added a page to the website.  It's a listing of many of the district HR or employment webpages for Long Island schools.  Hopefully, this makes your job search easier.  I know I wish there had been an all inclusive page like this while I've been looking for a teaching job these past few years.

School is starting in about 3 weeks here.....make that 2 and a half weeks.....and still no work on whether I'll be a permanent sub again or not.  I know they wait until the last minute, but it's really sad how they treat us subs.  I can't wait to win the lottery!!!

So I've decided that subbing in summer school is way better than subbing during the regular school year.  First off, you teach 2 out of 3 periods.  Yes, they are about an hour and 45 minutes each, but they go by fast.  Also, if you teach 1st and 2nd, you go home by 11:30, and even if you teach 3rd, you're still home by 1:30.  Finally, the best part...it pays twice as much as a regular school day!  Can't beat that.  Next week I'm proctoring finals, so I'll be there until 4, which means even more money.  I wish they paid this well all year.    

I actually got called to sub in summer school this summer.  I thought after about half of the summer school calendar was over that I didn't have a chance, but all told I'll have worked 4 days by the end of summer school.  Not too bad considering they pay twice as much to sub in