Missouri Program Aims to Address Teacher Shortage and Support Schools with Qualified Substitute Educators

TROY, Mo., August 07, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Kelly Education, the nation’s leading provider of education workforce solutions, announced that it is approved as a vendor by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to provide substitute teacher training. To qualify for a substitute certificate, the State of Missouri requires that individuals with less than 36 hours of college credits complete a state-approved course. As one of only three approved vendors in the state, this designation allows Kelly Education to support Missouri schools by offering a diversified program featuring 20 hours of meaningful, comprehensive curriculum for individuals aspiring to become substitute teachers. Offered at a reduced cost, the training provides a convenient and cost-effective way for potential applicants like retired non-certified school personnel, parents, healthcare professionals, and other community members to secure employment as a substitute teacher.

"Kelly Education has a longstanding commitment to recruiting and retaining qualified substitute educators across the country," said Dr. Stephanie Wall, director of learning for Kelly Education. "Our curriculum combines practical know-how with advanced instructional strategies, meeting state standards. This ensures that approved candidates can begin making an impact in the classroom promptly, providing necessary relief for schools across the State of Missouri."

Leveraging more than 26 years of expertise, Kelly Education has developed rigorous curriculum materials for substitute teacher training in Missouri. As the only approved vendor whose core business is providing education workforce talent, Kelly Education utilized best practices in continuity of instruction and insights from in-house education experts. The comprehensive content covers essential areas such as supporting the role of the substitute, fostering a conducive learning environment, maintaining instructional continuity, and managing student behavior with professionalism.

Training modules range from basic instructional strategies to specialized practices for teaching children with autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Each module is interactive and includes relevant interactions and knowledge checks, including quizzes, to ensure learners are engaged with the material.

• Key Highlights of the DESE Certification Process & Kelly Education Training:

• Eligibility: To learn more about DESE’s requirements for substitute certification, visit https://dese.mo.gov/educator-quality/certification/substitute-teachers.

• Registration: To register, potential candidates should visit SubstituteTeachingPathways.com.

• Online Training Fee: Once registered, applicants will pay the $99.99 fee.

• Timing: Once started, applicants have 90 days to complete the training.

• Background Checks: Each applicant is required to complete a background check if he/she is requesting a new certificate or is considered to be a new hire at a school district. If an applicant has previously been fingerprinted for DESE, a new fingerprint clearance will be required if the previous one is over twelve months old.