Getting a Job at School

Volunteering in the classroom is the best way to start IMO - it gives you an idea of how things work in the school and it also gives the teachers, administrators, and other active parents a chance to become familiar with you so that when an opening *does* come up and you apply, the folks at the school who are part of the hiring process will give you a closer look b/c they know you're already a dependable volunteer. As a regular volunteer, you're also more likely to be informed of openings before they get posted than someone who isn't around the school much. (I say this from experience - this is how I ended up getting a job at my girls' school)

if you have 60 hours college credit you can be a substitute, no teaching degree required.

A lot of schools will add you to their substitute pool if you can pass a background check and have some sort of schooling....and as you know, subs pretty much work when they want to! Check into it and good luck!

Teacher aides are usually students in the final stages of their teaching degrees at school (in our system anyway). You can easily get online and go to the school system website in your area and click on employment. Even with budget cuts in every system, some are maybe looking for lunchroom help or other misc. jobs. You can contact the Board of Education about becoming a substitute teacher but you have to be able to go in at the last minute because a teacher may call you that morning at 5-6 a.m. because she's sick and you'll be asked to fill in with a 2 or 3 hour time frame.

I sub at my son's school and have also been room mom for several years. I also volunteer for a variety of things like book fair, santa secret shop, etc. I have been offered a teacher assistant job in the past but turned it down at the time it wasn't right for me. People in the office actually suggested the job for me. Just try to be around alot and familarize your self with the teachers, kids and office personnel. Schools can always use the extra help. Then if perhaps someone leaves, or the job presents itself, you're already there and established. Good luck!

Schedule an appointment with the Human Resources folks, but first look online. Working for a school district is not a simple process and there is no promise that you will be hired for their school.

Check online under the "Employment" section. Very often the application is online. You must complete that application and attach all necessary documents. You will then either be "cleared" or it will get bounced back. You will also need to be fingerprinted and go through a series of interviews. You will be put on a list to be considered and if something comes up, they'll call you!

Where I live it's hard to get a teachers aid job unless you know somebody or your credentials are fabulous. Being a volunteer in the office duties or PTO officer(huge commitment) which puts you in contact with the school teachers and principal all the time seem to be another way in. Now our child nutrition(cafeteria cooks and servers) alway seem to have openings but maybe not where your children go to school. The best thing about the cafeteria is that when the kids are not in school neither is the cafeteria. They only work about 3 extra days during the school year for opening, closing the kitchen and training. And the shift ends about 2pm or so.

Perhaps think on a different scale. Schools often need help you could start by volunteering. I believe that most teacher/ teacher aid jobs do require some sort of a degree. Maybe look into working in the cafeteria, schools always need some one to "help" the kids open the lunch items and maintain order. Or behind the lunch lines as a cafeteria cook, or the recess monitor. Call your school secretary and as how you would go about being cleared/hired for a school job.
Good Luck