Rarely does a week in the summer go by without at least one of your classes needing a substitute teacher. Your team of teachers has worked tirelessly all year, and after surviving Nationals (or your studio’s big summer intensive) they deserve to take a family vacation or two.
But filling those classes with substitutes can get tricky in the middle of July and August. EVERYONE is going on vacation at this time of year—not just your staff teachers.
To keep you from getting left high and dry this summer, we recommend you beef up that go-to sub list, so that if one teacher can’t do it, another one can. No need to cancel class—we’ve got you covered!
You’re welcome!
1. Start with your pool of regular teachers
Your current staff should be at the top of your studio-wide substitute list. They know what your kids need and are your best chance of holding a class that doesn’t disrupt the flow of their dance education. Organize your teachers into genre, and have the list include their name, e-mail and phone number for quick last-minute contact.
2. Reach out to all previous subs
Next, include the list of teachers who have substituted classes at your studio previously. This takes a little bit of planning. Be sure that any time someone subs any class at your studio, they leave their name, e-mail, number and teaching focus. Unless the last time they taught was a total disaster, if they have subbed for you before, you can feel confident in bringing them back in again.
3. Contact your graduated, former students
You trained them, so you can feel confident that they know what they are doing! Make sure you keep a list of all previous students with teaching aspirations on your substitute-teaching list. Many of them are likely home from college, or even living near the studio, and would love the chance to teach for you.
4. Post a listing on social media
Announce on your studio’s social-media pages that you are looking for substitutes for summer classes. You may even have teachers from other studios reaching out and looking for extra work. Of course do your due diligence in discovering if they are qualified before bringing them in to your studio.
*If you don’t get many responses, consider posting the specific dates that you need a substitute closer to the dates.
5. Tap in to your nearest college dance school program
Reach out to the head of the dance program at the college nearest to you, and request the names and contact info of people who might be interested in taking on substitute opportunities. College students are always looking for the chance to make a little extra cash.
6. Pull from your studio’s adult class
If there are any talented dancers who attend your studio’s adult class, don’t be afraid to reach out to them to discover their previous teaching experience, and see if they might be interested in doing more of it.
