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- Edustaff for Substitute Positions
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Edustaff Frequently Asked Questions
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1 - Where can I apply to substitute for CPS?
- Go to www.edustaff.org to begin your application.
- Our support team is available for assistance throughout the application process.
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2 - How do I contact a local Edustaff representative?
District Service Representatives - Columbia, MO
Carissa Keedy: ckeedy@edustaff.org
Jim Smith: jsmith@edustaff.org
OR Call: (573) 214-3404
For immediate assistance: Please contact our customer support team at 877-974-6338 or contact@edustaff.org .
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3 - Does Edustaff provide training to their substitutes?
Yes. All Edustaff classroom substitutes are provided entry-level training.
- We require and provide an orientation workshop prior to approval for work in our school district.
- We provide professional development training for our hired substitutes via their Edustaff Access Account.
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4 - Do I get to choose where and when I work?
Yes. Edustaff substitutes can choose when, where and how often they work throughout Columbia Public Schools facilities.
- We encourage substitutes to serve as often as they are able. There are half-day, whole day and multi-day positions available throughout the school year. With a wide variety of positions to fill and facilities to support, there are numerous daily opportunities to serve as a substitute.
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5 - Do I get to choose what positions I substitute in?
Yes.
Our substitutes can select from a variety of positions across the district to sub for as they are requested by the schools each day as partial-day, single-day and multi-day assignments.
- Clerical
- Classroom Aides
- Paraprofessionals
- Instructional Aides
- Teachers
Other Positions:
Long-term Substitutes: These are individual substitute (most often substitute teacher positions) jobs listed for 10 or more consecutive days. These job opportunities are shared with our subs as they are requested by the schools.
Building Substitutes: Building subs work at Elementary and Middle School buildings in CPS. These are substitutes who serve at a primary building each day and fill the last minute substitute needs determined by the building administration. These substitutes may sometimes flex to serve at another school when the need arises.
TEAM Substitutes (High School): These substitutes accept late-notice assignments primarily at high schools each day while maintaining a minimum 75% attendance rate. These substitutes may flex to serve different schools from day to day as the need arises.
TEAM Substitutes (Learning Specialist): These substitutes accept late-notice assignments primarily serving special education programs in Learning Specialist (teacher) positions each day while maintaining a minimum 75% attendance rate. These substitutes may flex to serve different schools from day to day as the need arises.
More information will be provided during the orientation workshop.
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6 - How often can I expect work to be available as a substitute?
Edustaff substitutes serve in over 40 buildings throughout Columbia, MO. With so many faculty and staff serving our young scholars, you can bet there are abundant substitute job opportunities daily in our district.
While the demand for substitutes is always generally high in a district our size, many of our substitutes work in more than one facility during a school year to serve the wide variety of needs of our schools.
Substitutes are needed daily, with Fridays and Mondays seeing the most absences needing to be filled.
For those with limited time available to work, serving even just a couple days per month can be a real help to our schools.
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7 - What are the background check requirements to sub for Columbia Public Schools
- ALL applicants must pass a fingerprinting background check.
- ALL applicants must complete registration with the Missouri Family Care Safety Registry.
(See related FAQs for directions.)
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8 - Do I need to be fingerprinted for Columbia Public Schools?
Yes.
- To work in Columbia Public Schools, ALL substitute applicants are required to complete a Missouri background check using the 4-digit registration number for CPS (see below) prior to employment.
- If you do not yet have a substitute certificate, we recommend completing your local fingerprinting using the CPS code BEFORE applying for certification through DESE to allow for dual use and reduced costs to you.
- Please review the following steps to register for an appointment at a location near you:
- Register for your FBI fingerprint clearance at machs.mo.gov
- Select “Click here to Register with the Fingerprint Portal”.
- Select “Click here to Register with MACHS”.
- Enter 4-digit Registration Number for CPS: 0213
- Requesting Entity should show ORI Name: Columbia 93
- In Section: REQUESTING ENTITY/TYPE OF SEARCH - question “Is this search being conducted for a position as a volunteer?” the answer is “NO”
- Enter your Contact Information. NOTE: You will need to use the exact name on your identification. You cannot use nicknames in the required field. Then select “Register”
- Look over your Registration Summary, then select “Complete Registration”
- Read the Noncriminal Justice Rights and then select “Complete Registration”
- Confirm the person being fingerprinted by selecting “Correct”
- Select “For Digital Fingerprinting Services (Live Scan)”
- Enter your zip code to determine the fingerprinting location.
- Either select “Schedule” appointment or “Walk-In” (top of page)
- It should send you to “Registration Completed” NOTE: Make sure the Agency is Columbia 93.
- Take your valid picture ID AND your receipt (printed) that has your UEID # and TCN # to the appointment. Note: You will pay for the fingerprint fee at your appointment.
- Register for your FBI fingerprint clearance at machs.mo.gov
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9 - How do I complete a registration with the State of Missouri Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR)?
Registration with FCSR is a requirement to work in school settings in Missouri. It is a lifetime registry and only needs to be completed once.
- If you are unsure if you have met this requirement, the first step in the registration process directs you to enter your SSN to see if you are already registered. Visit the FCSR website to check your status or begin your registration today.
- Please click here for step by step directions on how to complete this registration.
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10 - How do I apply for a substitute certificate in Missouri?
- Visit the Missouri DESE website to review current processes and requirements for serving as a Substitute Teacher and to apply for a substitute teacher certificate: https://dese.mo.gov/educator-quality/certification/substitute-teachers
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11 - I am a certified (or retired) teacher. Can I get approved to sub quicker?
You may be able to.
- Edustaff has partnered with CPS to allow certified and retired teachers to bypass some training requirements and receive a personalized orientation meeting in place of the full orientation workshop.
- Please contact an Edustaff representative to coordinate expedited processing.
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12 - I am a current pre-service teacher. What do I need to do to get approved to substitute?
Contact a local Edustaff representative to get on the fast track to approval.
Freshman & Sophomores: Current pre-service teachers who are not yet juniors are encouraged to complete the application requirements and attend the required orientation workshop. To help with scheduling, you may attend a workshop prior to completing the required training modules in the application, substitute certification and background check requirements (see below*).
Juniors & Seniors: Current pre-service teachers who are at least a junior will have reduced training requirements in their application and be offered a brief personalized orientation meeting in place of a full orientation workshop. Contact your Edustaff representative to schedule a meeting once you've completed your application.
* - For Pre-service teachers who have not yet reached 36 semester credit hours, we encourage you to complete all application requirements while working towards a substitute certificate via the DESE-approved 20-hour online course. We can assist you through your application to ensure timely processing.
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13 - I'm a college student. Can I substitute, too?
Yes. We need substitutes from different types of educational backgrounds. Start your application at www.edustaff.org.
If you have 36 semester credit hours, you'll be able to apply for substitute certification at DESE.
If you do not yet have 36 semester credit hours, there is a DESE approved 20 hour online training course you can complete to meet the requirement needed to apply for substitute certification. Visit: Frontline Substitute Teacher Training Course
Visit the DESE website for substitute requirements and to apply for certification.
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14 - I haven't been to college (or have less than 36 semester credit hours). Can I substitute, too?
Yes. We need substitutes with different types of educational backgrounds. Start your application at www.edustaff.org.
In Missouri, an alternative path to substitute certification is available!
Visit the DESE website for information regarding substitute certification including:
"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. Training is now available at the links below."
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15 - When can I start working as a substitute in Columbia Public Schools?
- Once your application to Edustaff has been approved, you will receive an email from our processing team notifying you of the approval, and an email from the dispatching system to begin accepting jobs in our district.