Responding to the Teaching Substitute Crisis: One Course Is Filling a Critical Need

In 2020, the state of Nebraska faced a critical substitute teacher shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nebraska’s high standards for substitutes include required human relations training. Traditionally, this was available only with a three-credit semester-long course in a teacher education program. Central Community College took on the task of creating an engaging, informative course that could be completed inexpensively and quickly, from any location, and would still meet statutory requirements. Faculty Resource Center staff created a two-week one-credit online course. The course addresses the history of our pluralistic society, bias, human relations and the student experience, and fostering a sensitive learning environment through discussions, videos, readings, and reflections. In the year and a half since its creation, over 700 aspiring substitute teachers from across the state and nation have successfully completed the course, gained their certification, and begun to fill a critical need in their communities.

Innovators

• Elizabeth Anson, Instructional Design Consultant, Faculty Resource Center
• Amy Mancini, Dean, Instruction
• Abie Ott, Director, Faculty Resource Center
• Danielle Schwinn, Instructional Design Consultant, Faculty Resource Center
• Lauren Slaughter, Equity and Compliance Manager, Human Resources
• Tracy Watts, Instructional Design Consultant, Faculty Resource Center