School districts are trying to get creative when filling substitute teacher openings leading Lehighton officials to look to student teachers in the future.

Superintendent Dr. Christina Fish said Monday night the district would look to take advantage of state legislation passed in 2021 that allows eligible college students to serve as substitute teachers.

“The state now allows student teachers to substitute in the classroom for the teacher they have been assigned to work with if that individual is out,” Fish said. “So while they could not be used districtwide, it would provide some help in filling those gaps.”

Fish said the district recently had 17 teachers out on one day and while Lehighton currently has over 20 substitutes on its active roster, not all of them are always available on a daily basis.

“They might be subbing for another district that day or whatever the case may be, but we did get hit a little hard in September and early October with a number of teachers out and trying to fill those slots,” Fish said. “We’re not the only district looking for substitutes and trying to be creative. It is a nationwide problem.”

Some school districts, like Palmerton, added temporary long-term substitute positions using Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money. Unlike a day-to-day substitute, a long-term substitute receives a regular full-time salary and benefits.

“We have looked at the possibility of having a full-time substitute on staff,” Fish said. “That’s a budget issue for the future.”

If a student teacher does cover a classroom in Lehighton, Fish said they wouldn’t be thrown into the deep end without any help. Administrators in each building would be required to develop a backup plan and another teacher from that content area or grade would be available to support them throughout the day.

“At the end of the day, these are candidates who we then hope would come back here for a full-time position, so we want to support them as much as we can,” Fish said.

School board members, upon hearing the plan Monday, gave the plan a thumbs up.

“I think it’s a great idea,” director Jeremy Glaush said.