Substitute Teacher job description.
A Substitute Teacher delivers instruction and manages classroom activities in the temporary absence of the regular teacher. They follow lesson plans, maintain classroom order, and ensure student safety and continuity of learning during the assignment.
The Substitute Teacher job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Substitute Teacher Reports to: School Principal or Assistant Principal
A Substitute Teacher delivers instruction and manages classroom activities in the temporary absence of the regular teacher. They follow lesson plans, maintain classroom order, and ensure student safety and continuity of learning during the assignment.
- Follow lesson plans left by the regular classroom teacher
- Maintain classroom discipline and a safe learning environment
- Take attendance and follow school administrative procedures
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
School Principal or Assistant Principal
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Follow lesson plans left by the regular classroom teacher
- Maintain classroom discipline and a safe learning environment
- Take attendance and follow school administrative procedures
- Adapt instruction as needed when lesson plans are incomplete
- Supervise students during transitions, breaks, and activities
- Communicate any incidents or concerns to school administration
- Grade or collect completed assignments as directed by the regular teacher
- Follow school policies on student safety, emergencies, and reporting
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- High school diploma or equivalent; bachelor's degree often required by district
- Substitute teaching credential or permit as required by state
- Background check clearance as required by employer
- Strong classroom management and communication skills
- Prior teaching, tutoring, or childcare experience
- Subject-matter familiarity in core K-12 subjects
- Experience working with diverse student populations
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Substitute Teacher job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Substitute Teacher job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (School Principal or Assistant Principal) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Does a substitute teacher need a full teaching licence?
- Requirements vary by state and district; many require a substitute teaching credential or permit rather than a full teaching licence, as required by state.
- Do substitute teachers need to prepare their own lesson plans?
- Usually not; they typically follow lesson plans left by the regular teacher, though they may need to adapt on short notice.
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This Substitute Teacher job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.