COVID-19 pandemic adds complications to the substitute teacher shortage in Illinois

By Lynnea Domienik
Virus Outbreak Chicago Schools
Students at the Mt. Greenwood Elementary School in Chicago depart after a full day of classes Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. As hundreds of thousands of Chicago students remained out of school for a fourth day students at the South Side school were back in classes as the school had enough staff to defy the union's directive to teachers to stay home amid negotiations with the school district over COVID-19 safety protocols. Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Photo
Virus Outbreak Chicago Schools
Students at the Mt. Greenwood Elementary School in Chicago depart after a full day of classes Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. As hundreds of thousands of Chicago students remained out of school for a fourth day students at the South Side school were back in classes as the school had enough staff to defy the union's directive to teachers to stay home amid negotiations with the school district over COVID-19 safety protocols. Charles Rex Arbogast / AP Photo

COVID-19 pandemic adds complications to the substitute teacher shortage in Illinois

By Lynnea Domienik
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Lack of health insurance, low pay and long hiring processes are all factors contributing to a shortage of substitute teachers in Illinois.

Reset checks in with a reporter, a substitute teacher in a suburban district and a substitute teacher in Chicago Public Schools to hear what it’s been like.

GUESTS: Doris Zughoul, CTU substitute delegate and day-to-day substitute

Tim, substitute teacher in the northwest suburbs of Chicago

Sarah Karp, WBEZ education reporter