Guest Teacher Program

  • In response to the national substitute teacher shortage crisis, DCIU is offering a guest teacher program service as an effort to assist participating districts with obtaining substitute teachers on a daily basis.

    The Guest Teacher Program is designed to provide individuals with limited or no teaching experience with the necessary training required to become day-to-day substitutes. Any individual with a bachelor’s degree (in any content area) from an accredited university is eligible to apply to participate in the program. Upon completing the program, participants will receive an emergency permit used by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), enabling them to substitute in any participating district and career technical institute on a day-to-day basis.
     
    Guest Teacher Training is for individuals with a bachelor’s degree (in any field) who are interested in serving as substitute teachers. The training program will enable participants to substitute in DCIU classes as well as classes within participating school entities in Delaware County.


    Upcoming Training Dates

    Please check back for future training dates.


    Training Program Outline

    There will be two full days of training. During the training, participants will learn about:

    • Responsibilities of being a substitute teacher
    • Lesson planning
    • Classroom management and behavior techniques
    • PDE Mandates
    • Instructional strategies to engage learners
    • Special education overview
    • Professional ethics
    • Communication and collaboration strategies

     

    How to Participate

    In order to register for the training, the following paperwork must be submitted to DCIU Human Resources. Interviews will be scheduled after the deadline for all registered applicants.

    Required Paperwork 

    • $50.00 registration fee (check, money order, or online payment to be paid after program acceptance)
    • Complete online application
    • Official sealed transcripts 
    • PA mandated clearances and forms
      • Child Abuse History Clearance
      • PA Criminal Background Check
      • FBI Background Check information
      • PDE 6004 – Arrest or Conviction Form
      • School Personnel Health Record
      • PDE Form 338G
      • PSERS Information Form
    • Certification of Completion for Act 126 training (Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting) 
    Information about this training will be forwarded to qualified participants following a phone screening.
     
    All guest teachers must register on PDE’s new system, Teacher Information Management System (TIMS).
     

    Questions?

    If you have any questions about the DCIU Guest Teacher Program or any of the requirements to participate in the program, please do not hesitate to contact Deborah Terpstra at (610) 938-9000 x2017 or dterpstra@dciu.org.