Needs Improvement - Substitute Teacher ESS Employee Review

2.0
Mar 25, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There were many districts one could choose from, and a number of schools. Pay was weekly…though about 2 weeks behind.

Cons

Pay is pretty low for what subs have to deal with. No support from ESS. I had subbed at one school ,almost exclusively, for a few months with no problem,only to be told I couldn’t return to that particular school for classroom management. For cases like that ,ESS doesn’t respond to inquiries asking them to explain what happened so a sub could give their side of a story (such as: no lesson plans or emergency lesson plans or supplies for a music class) or to see where they could improve. Telling them via a generic email to sub at other schools in the district is not helpful. Assignments can be changed suddenly: Ex: Signing up for a particular class only to be a bathroom monitor or to fill in as a special ed aide. When I moved out of state, the representatives wouldn’t tell me what districts they serve in that state so I could potentially continue with the company.

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ESS Response
1y
Thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback. We are constantly working to make improvements to better our company whenever possible.

Explore other reviews about ESS

5.0
May 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pick your own schedule and flexible

Cons

Work less need more time making money

4.0
Jun 17, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The corporate support and recruitment team are excellent; they are professional and highly responsive. The onboarding and training process was comprehensive and genuinely prepared me for the realities of substitute teaching. The role offers a great deal of flexibility, opportunities to engage with the local population, and a clear pipeline for those seeking long-term subbing positions or a path toward a full-time teaching career. It is an excellent environment for networking within the education sector.

Cons

The day-to-day experience is heavily dependent on the specific district and school culture, which can vary significantly. Some districts provide free lunch, others don’t. Unfortunately, there is often a lack of respect at the school level; substitute staff are sometimes treated as expendable rather than as valued members of the team. There is a lack of job security, as pre-booked assignments are frequently canceled on short notice to accommodate other preferred substitutes. Subs have to work 4 days a month and it’s hard to meet when people are constantly being dropped from jobs. Additionally, the compensation is extremely low, and the benefits package is insufficient, making it difficult to rely on this position as a primary source of income.

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