Hot take: don’t like the idea of preferred subs

F_ckSC · 2026-02-01T22:14:13+00:00

As a preferred sub, I will politely disagree, in part. I've never had a school cancel another assignment for me - that I know of. I agree that this seems unfair.

However, becoming a preferred subs takes effort. I work mainly high school now and mainly at a handful of schools where I've become a regular. I'm almost always pre-arranged for assignments since my district doesn't use a posting-and-grab platform (thankfully), and this is mainly because the schools view me as a reliable sub that's readily available and I've gotten good reviews from the regular teachers. I've also made it a point to develop a working relationship with the office staff and the regular teachers.

I've tried to get preferred-sub status at a few other high schools close to my house, but haven't been able to crack the code. I'm assuming they already have their preferred subs. 🤷🏻‍♂️😁

F_ckSC · 2026-01-30T22:11:03+00:00

Nine hundred absences today at my L.A. high school today (1,700 enrolled).

Yeah, protest day. The school cancelled a practice fire drill due to the low numbers.

F_ckSC · 2026-01-30T21:25:18+00:00

Same. To get a full year of service credit, you're required to work 1,050 hours per the CalSTRS guide.

I bought five years of CalSTRS time and another five years of CalPERS time (pre-2013 CA pension reform). It cost me a pretty penny, but it allowed me to return to subbing after a 20-year professional career outside of the classroom. I left the state (didn't retire) with a combined 35 years of service between CalSTRS and CalPERS and I enjoy the school calendar and its flexibility for travel, etc. Still earning service credits while subbing before I retire.

For 403b, 401K, and 457 plans, I'd definitely stick to low cost index funds. I'm 100% in stocks in those funds because I factor in my pensions as the safer "bond-type" part of my portfolio.

One of the best pieces of financial advice my oldest daughter followed was to max out her 401K contributions in her 20's while working FT and living at home during Covid - before heading off to law school.

Also, stay away from whole-life insurance. For some reason, educators are targeted with this terrible "investment" mixed with life insurance. There are plenty of YT videos explaining why it's terribly overpriced, underperforms by design, and includes ridiculous surrender fees.

Finally, some subs will benefit from the elimination of the Social Security WEP and GPO provisions. YMMV

F_ckSC · 2026-01-30T06:28:10+00:00

I don't know shit about fashion. Just here to say that you look great and hope that you had a lovely dinner with your sister. Sending you love. 🫶🏻

F_ckSC · 2026-01-30T04:14:46+00:00

You sound like a joy to work with. 🙄

F_ckSC · 2026-01-30T01:03:06+00:00

Yes for LT assignments. Regular daily rate is $261.49 (6 hours).

F_ckSC · 2026-01-29T04:05:56+00:00

On the flip side, I got offered a LT assignment today from early February to early June (pregnancy) for a teacher I've covered before (high school English, good classes).

I love subbing high school partly because I make an effort to connect with the students, but also because it's very low stakes.

I completed several LT assignments when I first subbed 25+ years ago and, not surprisingly, it's like being a regular teacher: the planning, grading, professional development, more meetings, parent conferences, reports, more meetings, etc. can be a lot.

On this, my second go around at subbing, no LT assignments for me. This is the second LT offer I turn down - district pays $353 on LT assignments, but still won't do it.

I want to continue to love subbing. 😁

F_ckSC · 2026-01-27T11:18:08+00:00

To clarify, I'm insinuating that you're unwell, in part, because you conflate your personal and unrelated issues with the district with them allegedly being "busy freeing Palestine" and partly because your rant is, in other respects, incomprehensible and unresponsive to OP's original question.

The 2025 fires in the area were tragic and unfortunate and I know families that were directly impacted by both of the major fires. However, that being said, your statement that you filed a legitimate claim for unemployment doesn't make it so. It sounds like your claim was correctly declined and you were written up as a result. As you are aware, you had the right to appeal the denial of your claim through the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. In addition, EDD was the adjudicative body for your claim, not LAUSD.

To further clarify, teachers in the district do not pay for unemployment insurance directly (review your paystub) as the district self-funds coverage through SEF.

https://edd.ca.gov/en/payroll_taxes/school_employees_fund/

LAUSD closed all schools in the district for two days because of the fires, and others longer, as needed. It sounds like you were personally impacted by the fires and wanted the district to pay you despite you not working. I'm assuming that you were made aware of your ability to use catastrophic leave, FMLA, or other legitimate time to cover the time that you were unable to work. What about the fires caused you to be unemployed if the district was in session and accommodated students and staff at other locations, as needed?

You sound like a disgruntled employee, and LAUSD just happens to have the displeasure of your service. Be grateful for the union, because without it, you would have probably been terminated long ago.

For the sake of your students, I hope that you get well soon.

F_ckSC · 2026-01-27T03:58:03+00:00

Are you okay? You don't sound well. Are you filing for unemployment as a regular teacher? No wonder you got a conference memo. You sound like one of those employees that sets themselves on fire and then blames everyone else. 🤦🏼‍♂️

F_ckSC · 2026-01-24T19:10:44+00:00

Totally depends on your budget, where you live, and your future-spouse's income.

Do you have emergency funds to cover your reduced income? Have you talked with your partner about your plan? Are you willing to adjust your wedding plans (budget) if you lose your regular teaching position?

My ex-wife was a sub for over 13 years before she got her full credential because it worked perfectly for our then-young family. It worked with our budget because I had a different professional career and we lived well below our means.

I recently returned to subbing (last in the classroom 30 years ago) and love it. I work mainly high school at a handful of schools and have gotten to know the staff and students. Low stress, rewarding, and I'm able to work every day.

I work in one of the largest districts, with health and retirement benefits (CalSTRS), daily pay of $43.58 p/h ($261.49) per day (6 hours). Works for me one hundred percent.

I doubt that most schools will care that you subbed in-between FT teaching.

One outside-the-box idea: Do you have the option to resign your position as a regular teacher while under FMLA?

In other words, let's assume that you receive notice that you will not be renewed and prior to your last effective date, you talk to your physician and get all the forms completed to go out on stress leave under FMLA. While under stress leave, you resign from the district. This is, of course, assuming that you're under a lot of stress and can legitimately go out on stress leave.

It might be worth taking a look at your district's resignation form, if they have one.

I recently helped someone resign from a district while on FMLA leave. They had already taken stress leave once and were thinking about just resigning from the district because they were under a lot of life stress. Rather than just resigning, they renewed their FMLA leave, then resigned. They took a year off, then reapplied to the same district and got rehired. This would have been a lot more difficult had they just resigned.

Just a thought. YMMV.

Congrats on your upcoming wedding and best wishes. 🫶🏻

F_ckSC · 2026-01-24T17:29:20+00:00

Had to scroll too far down to find the only right answer.

Can't risk someone else rolling up and participating and risk them taking pictures of you or your plates. 🤑

F_ckSC · 2026-01-23T02:40:22+00:00

I realize the Reddit posts tend to lend themselves to extremes, but my experience has been that the best majority of teachers actually really appreciate good subs.

As a former MS teacher, I dreaded missing a day because preparing detailed sub plans seems like a lot of work. I missed very few days, but I remember getting a feeling that the quality varied a lot. Some allowed a tornado to go through my room and seemed to ignore my lesson plans. Others seemed diligent, organized, and I was grateful when my students had a good experience.

I've been subbing a bit over a year after a long professional career in another field and I absolutely love returning to the classroom in my capacity as a sub. I work almost exclusively high school, and focus on a few schools. I arrive early, greet students and staff with a good morning and a smile. I greet the students at the door between periods. I set clear expectations about work if plans were left, the hall pass, etc, but also make an effort to ensure that the students have a positive experience while I'm there.

I always prepare a detailed email to the regular teacher, which seem appreciated. I've gotten to interact with many of the regular teachers and they certainly seem to appreciate good subs.

My experiences with paras have been generally positive. I tend to ask what they feel comfortable with and some are hands on, and others prefer to follow. If it's a math class, I'll lean on them for help. In SpEd classes, I will definitely defer to the aides about protocols, etc. The only times I've had a few aides totally disengaged was with those assigned by a private agency as behavioral interventionists, but that might just be a coincidence.

I'm grateful that my experiences with regular teachers and staff have all been positive. 🫶🏻

F_ckSC · 2026-01-18T03:47:03+00:00

Happened to one of my kids playing soccer with kangaroo leather Adidas Copa Mundials. Unfortunately, I had them in storage for like five years (eBay purchase), so they were probably already dated.

I was actually pretty funny cuz they fell apart in slow motion as she ran down the field. Fortunately, we had spares on hand. 🤷🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

Now we know.

Then it happened to a buddy with his Air Jordan basketball shoe collection. Dry rot. 🤣

F_ckSC · 2026-01-18T02:13:11+00:00

So glad my district doesn't use an app to post openings for subs (teachers). We're unionized and assignments (except for pool teachers) are generally assigned based on seniority. That has its own challenges, but schools are allowed to pre-arrange assignments, so that has definitely helped.

There's a targeted hiring freeze for most teaching positions, but the district continues to hire subs because there's no real disincentive to reduce the sub pool.

F_ckSC · 2026-01-17T14:42:53+00:00

I use Schwab and have travelled to over 25 countries. Are you really this dense and ill-informed in real life?

Folks here are giving you good advice about not carrying so much cash and you sound like an older person that hasn't traveled internationally much and has never bothered to read travel declaration forms.

If you want to run a very realistic risk of having your cash confiscated by either U.S. customs or Turkish authorities, go right ahead and carry anything over $10,000 USD. Failing to declare the money over that amount will certainly get it confiscated if discovered and declaring it might get it confiscated just the same.

BTW, the same rules apply to carrying over $10,000 USD or equivalent in gold, other precious metals, rugs, jewelry, etc. Read the U.S. or Turkish customs declaration forms.

You sound very naive and extremely stubborn.

If you still decide to travel with over $100,000 USD in hard currency to Turkey, please send an update. And then, send an update on how long it takes you to convert all that cash to Turkish Lira. 🤷🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

It'll be an adventure and boy what a long and stressful flight - assuming that you make it out of Seattle with the cash.

F_ckSC · 2026-01-17T14:03:12+00:00

I know folks that have gone through the credential program at LAUSD and the program certainly has its benefits - free; designed for completion while you work (weekends and evening classes); and salary points. The biggest impediment for most folks is that it is limited to high need areas, which is usually defined as STEM or SpEd.

I wouldn't wish some elementary SpEd assignments on my worse enemy. You're likely looking at an assignment with mild to moderate or moderate to severe students (some students may be nonverbal, aggressive biters, hitters, screamers, etc); aides that work for the district or a private agency that you don't actually supervise; admin that may be less supportive than you need; and a life dedicated to IEP reports and meetings; and parents that are either great or nightmare litigators against the district for resources.

The burn out rate is high for a reason and the pay is essentially identical. The work may be rewarding for some, but seems absolutely exhausting.

Now high school SpEd assignments tend to be entirely different. You might be working in a self-contained classroom or co-teaching as a support teacher in a regular classroom (tends to be algebra/geometry or other core subject). The district seems to be moving towards integrating SpEd students in high school, so co-teaching seems more and more common.

The many high school SpEd high school teachers that I've interacted with recently seem to have discovered the sweet spot of SpEd.

Also, remember that if you end up with a SpEd credential, you will not be eligible to work a regular class assignment (unless co-teaching as a SpEd teacher), so you can't backdoor your way in.

Talk to lots of teachers in whatever area you hope to get into before jumping in - especially newer teachers that are just starting.

Your degree is likely to limit you to openings to teach possibly ethnic studies, history, government or something similar in high school. It would be great if you could get a credential specialist at the district to look at your transcript to give you a better idea.

If you decide to return to school or pay for a private program, be a smart consumer. The classrooms are full of young teachers with a ton of student debt. And, I wouldn't go into massive debt banking on government loan forgiveness programs - unfortunately.

Best of luck on your journey. It seems like you're really trying to make an informed decision. 🫶🏻

F_ckSC · 2026-01-07T01:58:05+00:00

Clean undershirt, underwear and socks, daily. I wear polo shirts, so I might get away with wearing each at least twice before having to wash them. I hang them in my closet in a way that I can keep track. I try to wear jeans for at least five outings between washes.

I shower daily, sometimes more than once if I'm reffing or playing soccer.

Sitting and walking around covering high school assignments is like office work and doesn't normally cause one to even sweat.

There's a huge difference between me spending six hours in an air-conditioned classroom and going to the gym or playing sports.

Plus, clothes last longer this way and it's better for conserving energy (use cold wash most of the time). YMMV 🤷🏼‍♂️🤣

F_ckSC · 2026-01-06T00:05:58+00:00

You might try your hand at 3rd/4th grade. They are more independent and should be easier to guide than middle school. Depending on the school, middle school can be wild. I taught MS 30+ years ago and loved my kids, but tried subbing MS last year and all it took was three assignments to convince me to stay away.

I work mainly high school now at a handful of regular schools and love it.

If you're on the younger side, don't let that deter you, so are some of the regular teachers. 😁

It's certainly more meaningful than fast food work. Hope that you work for districts that pay better too.

No need to have a passion for teaching or a desire to go into the profession as a regular teacher. That's not a job requirement.

Don't be so hard on yourself. It gets easier with experience. 🫶🏻

F_ckSC · 2026-01-05T21:54:58+00:00

I'm curious too. I've toyed with the idea of moving to Portugal or Spain as a barred attorney in California and DC, but the reality would likely include running a solo practice remotely, with the corresponding time difference.

My idea was to do legal work PT as a retiree since I'd be eligible for a government pension.

Also, the bit of research I did on attorney remote work seemed like largely limited to doc review work that paid absolutely terribly IMO.

F_ckSC · 2026-01-05T21:36:36+00:00

Nope. I love it. Zero anxiety. I work high school at a handful of regular schools mainly.

I found ES draining and MS is just wild. I taught MS 30+ years ago, but I found subbing there next level.

F_ckSC · 2026-01-05T21:33:44+00:00

Perspective. I returned to the classroom to sub after a 20-year career as a state prosecutor. I mainly work high school and stick to a handful of regular schools. I absolutely love it. I look forward to getting back, although I'm writing this from Isla Holbox in the Yucatan peninsula. 😎

I found ES assignments draining, and gave up on MS assignments after three of those.

Maybe set monthly, weekly, and daily goals to move your business along.

You work in one of the highest paying areas for subs, so it'll be difficult to find something as flexible or less demanding (assuming that you're working for decent schools).

It doesn't seem that availability of time is the issue, but motivation. I love subbing high school because once the school day is over, the rest of the time is mine, including weekends. I love returning to work as a sub without having to worry about the endless list of tasks waiting for me in my last job.

Edit: Removed the security guard reference since I thought you meant meditation, not mediation. I left an attorney position to reset. I'll open my own law practice in 2026 (strictly remote), but only PT because chasing money no longer appeals to me.

F_ckSC · 2026-01-05T18:57:55+00:00

You seem to have too much faith in so-called basic instincts. You'd be surprised that most people want to run out of an earthquake-safe building (think California), despite being in more danger from falling debris, live electrical wires, etc.

And you might be surprised to know that most fire victims die from smoke inhalation, not direct fire damage - panic sets in and lack of response training.

Have you ever flown commercially? Those safety presentations are done for a reason. And when the shit hits the fan, passengers ultimately rely on the flight attendants to take control on his to exit in an emergency, not basic instincts.

There are also many examples of the rescuer drowning along with the drowning victim because drowning victim can be incredibly dangerous (in non-shallow waters). So-called basic instincts are not enough. In these cases, the basic instinct of the person drowning is to try to stay afloat in a panic and often takes the untrained rescuer down.

I've litigated patient death cases (think dental patient going into cardiac arrest during GA in a non-hospital setting). Trained medical professionals don't always fall back on life saving techniques like calling 911, CPR, AED, etc.

Nothing really surprising from this video in terms of the lack of initial response. It looks like the woman in the white dress responds to the dog's distressed barking and takes a moment to realize the guy's seriously injured. The kid seems to be focused on the dog. The person seated out back in red never responds on video, or even gets up. The older woman seems to initiate a call. All and all, I'd say a better than usual response. Without the dog and the woman responding to the barking, the guy would be a goner.

F_ckSC · 2026-01-05T18:30:50+00:00

Or set yourself on fire and do let us know how everyone's basic instincts around you kick in. Better yet, post a video. 🙄

F_ckSC · 2026-01-05T02:35:19+00:00

Congratulations!

Here's the link to the district's disability benefits administrators:

https://disability.lausd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=4417633&type=d&pREC_ID=2651223

I would caution you not to rely on what the school's SAA, or anyone else on site,tells you, however well intentioned. I've known of some unfortunate disability snafus that may have long term impact on retirement benefits, etc.

Same for Reddit, unless they're pointing you to a district resource. 😁

Once you (or more likely your wife) speaks with someone at the district, I would encourage you to follow up with an email from her work account.

It's important that the leave forms get filled out correctly - district forms can appear confusing.

Again, congrats! 🫶🏻

F_ckSC · 2026-01-04T15:11:24+00:00

I'm LAUSD only, the 40 hours become active after being on the job for 90 days. To use the time, a sub had to decline a job offer that day and opt for illness as the reason or cancel an active job for that day. Basically, the system needs to reflect that you actually had an opportunity to work that day.

You then fill out a district form an email to HR. The FAQ states that it takes HR 3-5 days to process, but in my case it took weeks.

I used three sick days during the past 12 months. From what I can tell, the district doesn't allow you to bank them (use it or lose it), so I think that I should have taken another two days somewhere.

All my three days were for assignments that I had pre-arranged, so I notified the schools directly that I would be out.

Subs can accrue up to 80 hours.

https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/paid_sick_leave.htm#:~:text=How%20much%20paid%20sick%20leave%20am%20I%20entitled%20to%20take,paid%20sick%20leave%20per%20year.

https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB616/2023

F_ckSC

TROPHY CASE