Substitute Teachers
Applying to be a Substitute
To apply, please click HERE to visit the LPS Careers Page.
Carefully review the three substitute teacher applications described below to select the position you are eligible for (do not apply for more than one).
- Local Substitute Teachers are individuals who hold a completed bachelor’s degree or higher in an area other than Education or are currently a college student in a Teacher Program (minimum of 60 completed college credit hours) preparing to student teach. This permit allows for a student teacher to sub for their cooperating teacher when absent. Student Teachers are responsible for adhering to their university’s policy for subbing while student teaching. Please refer to your program advisor for specific restrictions.
Link to the: LOCAL SUB APPLICATION PROCESS
*If an LPS Superintendent Letter is necessary for your NDE application, please reach out to subteach@lps.org. (Note: it will not be necessary for most applications)
*Local substitute applications for the current school year can be submitted from June 1 – March 1.
- Certified Substitute Teachers are individuals who hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Education and have a Nebraska teaching certificate. Accepted Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Teaching Certificates are: Professional, Standard, Initial, and State Substitute. If you hold a certificate from another state other than Nebraska you will need to contact the Nebraska Department of Education to obtain a Nebraska certificate.
- Certified Substitute Teachers – LPS Current, Former, or Retired Teachers are individuals who have been hired as certified employees (LPS current or former) with Lincoln Public Schools. Must have a valid Nebraska teaching certificate. (This application does not require information that is already within the employee’s file or retaking the Gallup survey as part of the application process.)
In order to prevent processing delays of your application, please be sure to include email addresses for a minimum of three professional references and upload your unofficial transcripts and teaching certificate. Official transcripts and teaching certificate will be required for Human Resources at the time of hire.
Only complete applications will be processed and can take up to 4-6 weeks to finalize. Incomplete applications will be reviewed every two weeks and will be closed if still incomplete. Applicants will be notified via email when they are ready for hire.
After applying for the Local Substitute Teacher position, applicants must attend a mandatory orientation before being considered for employment. Orientations will be held via Zoom on the following dates:
- January 9th, 2025 — 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
- February 6th, 2025 — 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
AFTER you have submitted the LPS Local Substitute Teacher application, an email will be sent to you with the link to register for your preferred orientation date.
If you have questions about the orientation, please contact: subteach@lps.org
- Review the LOCAL SUB APPLICATION PROCESS
- Should attend an orientation session the semester prior to student teaching.
- Should attend an orientation session in a timely manner to allow the 6 to 8 week certification process to be completed early in the semester of student teaching.
- Meet the Nebraska Department of Education Human Relations requirement before applying to the NDE for certification.
- MUST complete the LPS Local Substitute application prior to registering for the orientation.
Current Substitute Teacher Information
As a valuable member of the Lincoln Public Schools’ team, we are excited to announce the continuation of a substitute teacher incentive to reward your hard work and dedication.
Each month you can receive a $150 bonus, if you choose to substitute on all of the Mondays OR all of the Fridays in that month.
EXAMPLE: | |
Sub every Monday school is in session, August 8/12, 8/19, 8/26 | $150 bonus |
Sub every Friday school is in session, August 8/16, 8/23, 8/30 | $150 bonus |
Total potential bonuses for the month | $300 bonus |
Please know that these incentives are applicable to anyone that subs on a daily basis (full or half days), including long term substitute assignments.
We will be running a report each month to identify those who reach each criteria and payment will be added to the next pay check automatically without any additional notification needed from you.
We are so excited to be able to offer these incentives to you as a way of saying thank you for your commitment to subbing!
There will be an additional $29 added to the daily rate of pay for subbing at the following locations:
Elementary Schools:
Clinton
Elliott
Huntington
McPhee
West Lincoln
Middle Schools:
Culler
Dawes
Goodrich
Mickle
Park
Schoo
2023-2024 Example Rates:
- Daily Local Substitute Rate: $160.60 + $29 = $189.60
- Daily Certified Substitute Rate: $177.47 + $29 = $206.47
These rates can also be in addition to a long term subbing assignment pay. 2023-2024 Example Rates:
- Long Term Local Substitute Rate: $177.58 + $29 = $206.58
- Long Term Certified Substitute Rate: $194.45 + $29 = $217.20
Our goal is not that we would experience higher unfilled rates at other buildings. We hope that you are able to increase the number of days that you sub for us, choosing one of our four schools mentioned above. Thank you for your continued support by choosing to substitute teach with Lincoln Public Schools. Please let us know if you have any questions.
If you are available and willing to sub in long term substitute assignments (more than 10 days in the same assignment), please respond by clicking on the link below and adding your name to the list. We will use this as a priority list that principals can use when they have assignments that need to be filled. Remember to routinely check the Substitute Web Page, Substitute Teacher Technology Assistance Web Page, and your LPS email for updated information.
LONG TERM SUB ASSIGNMENT LINK HERE
Click HERE for more information regarding Long Term vs. Short Term Subbing Assignments
Substitutes are to read and be familiar with the Substitute Teacher Handbook – Guide to Successful Substitute Teaching. Be sure to review the Safety and Security section which includes information about standard response protocols, infection control, and food allergies and the Working with Students section with information on Reporting Child Abuse and Harassment policies. There is valuable information for substitute teachers throughout the entire handbook.
Substitutes are also responsible for knowing the information in the Hourly Employee Handbook. Substitute teachers are highly encouraged to review both handbooks annually. Links to both the Substitute Teacher Handbook and the Hourly Employee Handbook are found below.
- Helpful Tips for the Substitute
- LPS District Maps
- Note From Your Substitute Teacher – Elementary
- Note From Your Substitute Teacher – Secondary
- Parking Information for High Schools
- Report to Administrator by Substitute Teacher
- School Directory
- School Start/End Times
- Secondary/Elementary Teacher Calendars
- Substitute Salary Schedule
- Workforce Management (WFM) Payroll Schedule & Dates
- WFM Substitute Pay Policies
- District news and important resources for staff can be found on the LPS Staff Center. Included HERE are links to the Portal, CORE, Docushare, Google Email/Calendar, Staff Directory, and more.
- Learn how to support student learning in your substitute placement LPS Student Supports: Effective Classroom Practices
- LPS Professional Learning
- Substituting in Specials presentation
- LPS Curriculum and Instruction
- Nebraska Department of Education
- STEDI Newsletter (subscribe to free biweekly substitute newsletter)
Technology Assistance
To further support instruction in LPS, all subs will need to obtain a LPS Chromebook from Computing Services.
You can start subbing prior to attending the Chromebook Orientation.
To pick up your Chromebook prior to your orientation, call Computing Services Help Desk at (402)436-1735.
Register for in-person Chromebook & SmartFind Orientation:
This session is for current LPS substitute teachers to receive a LPS Chromebook and basic instruction on using it to support instruction.
It will also include an overview of SmartFind, the system that substitute teachers use to find and manage their jobs.
Please bring your LPS badge and LPS username so that we can double check against the list of subs provided by Human Resources.
To sign up:
- Go to http://lps.org/go/pdcatalog
- Log In
- Search for Course # 24195
- Click Register next to the session that you plan to attend
- Click Next
You are now registered and will receive an email confirmation.
If you are new to Chromebooks, be sure to watch the Quick Orientation video embedded in the page. (LPS keyword: YEOW)
Technology used in teaching and learning places new expectations on the substitute teachers who ensure our students continue learning while their classroom teacher is away. Subs are also welcome to attend any workshop offered by Computing Services in the catalog.
If you are new to Chromebooks, be sure to watch the Quick Chromebook Orientation video embedded in the page. (LPS keyword: YEOW)
Substitute Teacher Advisor Committee Information
Click HERE for Sub Committee meeting dates, Sub kick-off events, and more!
Human Resources Support Staff Contact Information
Certified Substitutes (Teacher, Nurse, Psychologist, SLP)
Caitlin Marrow, subteach@lps.org, 402-436-1588
Paraeducator Substitutes
Jessie Edwards, jedward4@lps.org, 402-436-1583
Accompanist, OT/PT, Health Tech, Treatment Nurse substitutes
Cherry Cornell, ccornell@lps.org, 402-436-1582
Athletic Trainer, Campus Supervisor, Transportation Substitutes
Krissa Sanders, ksanders@lps.org, 402-436-1583
Office and Nutrition Service Substitutes
Cherry Cornell, ccornell@lps.org, 402-436-1590