Substitute Teacher Information
If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher in the Festus R-VI School District, you must apply for and receive a Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Substitute Certificate (Missouri certified teachers no longer need to apply for the Substitute Certificate), pass an FBI/Highway Patrol Background check, and apply to become a substitute teacher in the Festus R-VI School District. Once that is complete, you can set up an appointment for the Festus R-VI Substitute Teacher Orientation.
Substitute teachers may substitute a maximum of 129 hours a month with the exception of long term positions. Substitutes are paid $95 per day for individuals who hold a valid MO Teacher Certificate and $90 per day for individuals with a MO Substitute Teacher Certificate. Pay increases $10/day every 10 days worked, to a maximum of $150/day. The hourly rate for a paraprofessional substitute is $12.50/hour with a 25-minute non-paid lunch.
DESE SUBSTITUTE CERTIFICATION PROCESS (Missouri certified teachers may skip this step)
Information about the DESE Substitute Certification Process can be found here, including how to apply for the substitute certificate.
A Content Substitute certificate is for individuals wishing to substitute teach in the K-12 classroom setting (elementary, middle/high school content areas, special education, art, music, PE, etc.). A Content Substitute certificate may be granted to an individual who has completed a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit from a regionally accredited, academic degree-granting, college or university. Verification of these hours must be provided with an original transcript from each institution the applicant has attended. This change from 60 semester hours of credit to 36 semester hours of credit occurred as a part of Senate Bill 681, which was signed by Governor Parsons and became effective as of June, 2022.
The 20 hours of online training to be a substitute teacher is available through Frontline Education, as well as several Missouri colleges and universities. A Content Substitute certificate may now be granted to an individual who has successfully completed a minimum of twenty (20) clock hours of department-approved substitute teacher training.
FBI/HIGHWAY PATROL BACKGROUND CHECK
Missouri law requires school districts to perform an FBI background check on "any person employed after January 1, 2005, authorized to have contact with pupils." DESE requires the applicant make an appointment as per instruction on the FBI/Highway Patrol Background Form to submit fingerprints. You will need to check your online profile through DESE Web Applications to see when it clears.
To obtain the required FBI/Highway Patrol background check, click here and follow the directions for obtaining your fingerprint background check.
FESTUS R-6 SUBSTITUTE TEACHER APPLICATION
Once you have obtained your substitute certificate and you FBI/Highway patrol background check, click here to apply to become a substitute teacher in the Festus R-VI School District.
Each applicant must attend an orientation conducted by the Assistant Superintendent. The 30-40 minute orientation is held at the Roy D. Burnside Administration Building. You can call 636-937-4920 or email Barb Womack at womackbarbara@festusedu.com to schedule your appointment.
CHECKLIST
Before calling to schedule your orientation, please make sure you have completed the steps below: