Substitute Teachers In Demand In Manatee County: Report

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — As the school year comes to an end, the School District of Manatee County is facing a substitute teacher shortage, reports said.

There were nearly 18,700 requests for substitute teacher during the 2020-21 school year, WFTS reported.

“Demand for subs nearly doubled this year over last,” Charlie Kennedy, Manatee County School Board chair said.

On one Friday in April alone, more than 330 teachers in the county called out sick, representing about 10 percent of the county’s teachers. The district was only able to fill 199 of those openings, Bay News 9 reported.

"I remember a week where I had about 600 doctor's notes sitting on my desk," Wendy Mungillo, human resources director for Manatee County schools, said.

To draw more substitutes to the district, the school board has set $750,000 aside to pay for additional teachers. The school board will also hold a workshop this summer to determine how to meet the demand for substitute teachers, reports said.

Those interested in becoming substitute teachers must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma. Learn more about how to apply online here.