Supports for Newly-Hired Educators

Our professional support for teachers who are new to the Cambridge Public Schools is differentiated to acknowledge the different types of experience that newly-hired teachers bring with them to our district. An overview of our New-to-CPS Teacher Orientation, Induction & Mentoring Program can be found here.

Please check back soon for more information!

Please check back soon for more information!

Substitute teachers play an important role in keeping our students safe and engaged when their regularly-assigned teacher is absent. However, the day-to-day experience of different substitute teachers can vary greatly based on the specific type of substitute teaching role you have been hired to perform. For this reason, the Cambridge Public Schools offers different types of orientation and induction experiences for different types of substitute teachers. Please see below for our August 2024 onboarding activities for new substitute teachers.

Extended-Term Substitute Teachers

Extended-term substitute (ETS) teachers function as primary teachers for an extended period of time, due to an anticipated long-term teacher absence. An ETS teacher assumes the same essential duties as they would if they were serving as a licensed teacher (planning lessons, monitoring student progress, communicating with parents, etc.). For this reason, ETS teachers participate in the same professional development activities as licensed teachers. This includes the Welcome-to-CPS Teacher Orientation, which will take place from Wednesday August 21st to Friday August 23rd (please click here for more information). This three-day orientation will equip new ETS teachers with the information and resources they need to confidently step in for the absent teacher and get the school year off to a successful start. ETS teachers will be paid at their hourly rate for attending this orientation.

Building Substitute Teachers

Building subs play a critical utility role in the buildings to which they are assigned. When a teacher is temporarily absent the building sub is often the first person to be considered for short-term classroom coverage. They are full members of the school community and must prioritize relationship-building and an understanding of school routines and protocols as their first order of business. To prepare for the school year, we invite our new building subs to participate in a one-day orientation alongside our newly-hired paraprofessionals on Monday, August 26th (Please click here for more information). Building substitutes will be paid at their hourly rate for attending this orientation.

Day-to-Day Subs

Day-to-day subs have one of the most important roles in the district, as they are often called upon due to an unexpected absence. This role also requires flexibility and a positive attitude, since the substitute teacher may have little previous understanding of the school, the classroom dynamics, or the particular strengths and needs of the students. In acknowledgement of the key skills required to successfully support such a broad range of students and school communities, we have designed a special training just for new day-to-day subs. Please click here to learn more!

Please click here to learn more about our orientation program for paraprofessionals who are new to the Cambridge Public Schools.