Special Substitute

The Special School District (SSD) educates more than 23,000 students with disabilities at sites throughout St. Louis County, including 265 public schools operated by the other 22 public school districts in St. Louis County. SSD also provides technical education to about 2,000 area high school students at the district’s two technical high schools and at other satellite locations. Hailed as “one of the great success stories in public education in the St. Louis region” by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, SSD has become an icon for special education and technical education providers over the past half century. SSD’s unique status as a public school district ensures that all local students receive equal access to quality special education regardless of their socio-economic background or the neighborhood in which they live. In collaboration with partner districts, we provide technical education and a wide variety of individualized educational and support services designed for each student’s successful contribution to our community.

I will become a part of SSD beginning in 2013 as a substitute teacher. I applied for the job, participated in an on line assessment test, did a face-to-face interview, obtained required finger printing, provided original copies of my college transcripts, gave them names and contact information for 3 references, got a physical (and required TB skin test), attended a training session (mostly paperwork), provided proof of citizenship (license, social security card, passport), got a photo ID made, got into the SUB FINDER system with my employee ID. I still have a safety training course (an estimated 2 hours) to complete but I am almost ready to go.    

Mark Brackin gave me the name of veteran sub of whom I intend to call for insights. I’m reading Autism Spectrum Disorders, What Every Parent Needs to Know (a guide prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics) and generally getting my head wrapped around what I might be getting myself into.

School starts August 2 (just a few weeks away). More on this as things develop.