Teachers and school staff are in short supply these days and it is spilling into those short-term staffers that fill in during the school year.

Substitute teachers are being sought just as much as full-time teachers. Dr. Lisa Taylor is the Superintendent of Heyworth Schools and feels they have done as much as they can to appeal to substitutes. 

According to Dr. Taylor, becoming a certified substitute teacher in Illinois is cumbersome and complicated. She feels that is what is keeping people from becoming substitutes.

Another challenge in the substitute shortage is when teachers are retiring, they are not returning to the classroom as quickly or as much as they used to. She understands the reasoning for a lot of retired educators not coming back to the classroom upon retirement.

Heyworth Schools has gotten creative in recruiting substitute teachers. Dr. Taylor has found appealing to qualified community members who have time to help has been effective.

Another drawback for some potential individuals who would perhaps be interested in being a substitute is the stigma that today's youth are not well-behaved. Dr. Taylor believes Heyworth schools have well-behaved, excellent kids in their halls.

Dr. Taylor directs anyone interested in being a substitute teacher in Heyworth to visit husd4.org. She feels they go to a lot of lengths to introduce potential individuals interested in being a sub to how it works.