What is a building sub?

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When you think of a substitute teacher, you often think of a person who works in a different school building every day.

But there are different types of substitute teachers, and some of them report daily to the same building, stepping in to sub wherever they are needed. Known as a building sub, this position offers many of the same benefits as substitute teaching but with a more consistent schedule and paycheck.

For the school principal, building subs can offer peace of mind: they know a substitute or two will be there every day. If it turns out there are no teachers absent, there is always something else for a building sub to do – helping with recess duty, filling in during teachers’ prep hours, clerical workin the school office, or working one-on-one with students.

The job duties are similar to those of a daily substitute teacher: following lesson plans from the regular classroom teacher, keeping students engaged in learning tasks throughout the day, and creating a positive learning environment. A building sub should be prepared to be flexible, because unlike daily subs who can choose their assignments, building subs won’t know until they arrive in the morning what subject or grade level they will be teaching that day.

For someone hoping to become a full-time teacher, being a building sub can have several advantages over being a daily sub:

• Getting to know the staff and administration: Substitutes who report to the same building each day get to know the regular teachers, and they grow accustomed to each teacher’s style and lesson plans. As they build connections with the staff, it becomes easy to ask for advice or guidance.
• Getting to know the students: A building sub will quickly become a familiar face to all the students in the school, offering continuity for students and making days in the classroom go more smoothly for the substitute.
• Possible higher pay: Many districts pay building subs at a higher rate than daily subs.
• Work-life balance: Unless they’re working in a longer-term assignment, a building sub is generally not responsible for lesson plans, grading papers, or meeting with parents. When the school day is over, their work is done.
• Possibility for a permanent job: A building sub will be well known to the administration, so when a new full-time teaching position opens up, a building sub who has made a good impression might be the first person they think of to fill it.
• Gaining classroom experience: Building subs work with students every day, learning valuable skills in classroom management that they can take with them to a full-time teaching role.

Similar to a building sub is a district substitute. Some school districts hire substitutes who report daily and could be placed anywhere in the school district, rather than just at one school building.  

Whether they serve a particular building or the whole district, these substitutes contribute to the school district culture in many ways and support its overall functioning by being a consistent presence who can be counted on every day.

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