Use of Substitute Teachers Under Review, Superintendent Says

A special community group will be convened to review the use of substitute teachers in the Wayne Public School District, Superintendent Ray Gonzalez announced Monday.

Gonzalez issued a statement regarding a report last week that a substitute teacher abused two students at Pines Lake Elementary School. According to the report, the teacher allegedly hit two boys on their heads while they waited in line to sharpen their pencils because she wanted them to return to their seats.

“I’m confident that, working together, we can continue to enhance our district’s environment related to substitute teachers,” Gonzalez said in the statement. 

The group will review the "utilization of substitute teachers and, if appropriate, make specific recommendations," Gonzalez said.

The group will include parents, teachers and administrators, Gonzalez said, so ideas and suggestions “from various perspectives" can be offered for how to move forward from the alleged incident and prevent future incidents.

The group will not look into the recent alleged abuse allegation, said Michael Cherenson, a spokesman with Success Communications, the public relations firm that represents the district. 

Parents are outraged at district officials regarding the abuse allegation. Several have complained that there have been other problems with substitute teachers this school year.

“Regarding the district's approach to substitute teachers, it's important to note that, at a minimum, these adults are required to meet very specific, state-mandated requirements," Gonzalez said. "Furthermore, all adults who enter our building are expected to respect children and our policies and they are held accountable to do so."

The district uses Sources4Teachers, a third-part hiring agency, to provide substitutes teachers for classes.

“We continue to work closely with our current partner, Source4Teachers, to provide the district with qualified substitutes so that they may perform the services that would otherwise be taxing to the district," Gonzalez said.

Parents are expected to pack a Board of Education meeting Thursday night to speak about the substitutes. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the district’s administrative office at 50 Nellis Drive.

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