Across the nation cities are seeing an increase of applicants for substitute teaching and Abilene ISD is no different. "Well I've hired 186 people in the last 3 months, in the first 5 months just the first 5 months just 143, so it's expanded quite a bit since the first of the year," says AISD's Susbtitute Coordinator, Richard McElfresh.
McElfresh says the unemployment rate and people needing jobs has a lot to do with the surge.
"Well, we are having middle aged people applying to be substitutes, mostly what we use to get was the younger ones. Now older people are applying and that's unusual, I just believe it's because of the economy."
Although AISD officials say there has been a 50% increase in applications for substitute teachers, they are always looking for more applicants.
More applicants means more competition for those substitutes that already have been hired like Leah Nobles.
"I just currently started subbing again at the beginning of this year and I noticed that there's a big difference this year than previously because I use to be able to pick from about five different jobs a day and it was pretty easy and now it's very competitive," says Substitute Teacher, Leah Noble.
In order to apply to be a substitute teacher at AISD, applicants must have 60 hours on a college transcript to be able to substitute in a certified position. Meanwhile, applicants that wish to be a substitute aide are only required to fill out an application.
Applications can be picked up at the AISD Administration Building on Pine Street.
